# US 2013/0281142 A1 · Methods and apparatus for channel selection in a peer to peer network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0281142 A1 - Document ID: US20130281142A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/922,506 - Filed: 2013-06-20 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-08 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Junyi Li; Saurabh Tavildar; Aleksandar Jovicic; Hongseok Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130281142A1 ## CPC - H04W 72/04: Wireless resource allocation - H04W 72/02: Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal - H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals} - H04W 16/10: Dynamic resource partitioning - H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} - H04W 72/52: based on load - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a wireless terminal, comprising: generating a list of channels to be considered for monitoring; generating a list of channels to be monitored, wherein said generating a list of channels to be monitored includes determining for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and monitoring channels on said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further includes: comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold, adding said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold, proceeding to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold: determining if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and incrementing a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: determining a number of peer devices using a second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and comparing the number of peer devices using said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said threshold; and when said comparing indicates that the number of peer devices using the second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold, adding said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: when said comparing the number of peer devices using said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to the threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold: determining if said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and incrementing said count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said second channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and comparing said incremented count value to a stop value use to determine if no further channels in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be checked. ### Claim 7 A wireless terminal, comprising: means for generating a list of channels to be considered for monitoring; means for generating a list of channels to be monitored, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored includes means for determining for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and means for monitoring channels on said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The wireless terminal of claim 7, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further includes: means for comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and means for adding said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored, when said means for comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wireless terminal of claim 8, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: means for proceeding to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wireless terminal of claim 9, wherein said means for generating a list of channels to be monitored further comprises: means for determining if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and means for incrementing a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold. ### Claim 11 A computer program product for use in a wireless terminal, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium comprising: code for causing at least one computer to generate a list of channels to be considered for monitoring; code for causing said at least one computer to generate a list of channels to be monitored including code for causing said at least one computer determine for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring; and code for causing said at least one computer to monitor channels on said list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 12 A wireless terminal comprising: at least one processor configured to: generate a list of channels to be considered for monitoring; generate a list of channels to be monitored; determine for a first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, a number of devices using said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring, as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored; and monitor channels on said list of channels to be monitored; and memory coupled to said at least one processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wireless terminal of claim 12, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to: compare the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold; and add said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is greater than said threshold, as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wireless terminal of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to: proceed to determine if a next channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring should be added to said list of channels to be monitored without including said first channel in said list of channels to be monitored, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold, as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wireless terminal of claim 14, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to: determine if said first channel on said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals; and increment a count value used to determine when to stop checking for additional channels to be added to said list of channels to be monitored when it is determined that said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is also on said list of available channels for use in transmitting signals, when said comparing the number of peer devices using said first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring to a threshold indicates that the number of peer devices using the first channel in said list of channels to be considered for monitoring is less than or equal to said threshold, as part of being configured to generate a list of channels to be monitored.