Independent direct link protocol

A method for initiating a direct wireless link between two wireless devices in the communicating range of an access point, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, from a first wireless device to a second wireless device via the access point, a first MAC data frame having a destination media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless device, wherein the first MAC data frame includes logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the first MAC data frame;
• receiving, at the first wireless device, via the access point, a second MAC data frame from the second wireless device, the second MAC data frame having a destination MAC address of the first wireless device, wherein the second MAC data frame includes logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the second MAC data frame;
• establishing, at the first wireless device, a direct wireless link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device utilizing overlapping communications parameters contained within the direct link information of the first and second MAC data frames.

A system, wherein a first wireless device is adapted to initiate a direct wireless link with a second wireless device, the first wireless device comprises:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a first MAC data frame and a third MAC data frame having a destination media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless device, from the first wireless device to the second wireless device, wherein the first MAC data frame and third MAC data frame include logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the respective first and third MAC data frames;
• a receiver, configured to receive a second MAC data frame from a second wireless device, the second MAC data frame having a destination MAC address of the first wireless device, wherein the second MAC data frame includes logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the second MAC data frame;
• a processor configured to establish a direct wireless data link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device utilizing parameters contained in the direct link information encapsulated at the logical link level in the third MAC data frame.

A first wireless device that can initiate a direct wireless link with a second wireless device, the first wireless device comprises:

• means for transmitting a first MAC data frame and a third MAC data frame having a destination media access control (MAC) address of the second wireless device, from the first wireless device to the second wireless device wherein the first MAC data frame and third MAC data frame include logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the respective first and third MAC data frames;
• means for receiving a second MAC data frame from a second wireless device, the second MAC data frame having a destination MAC address of the first wireless device, wherein the second MAC data frame includes logical link control level direct link information encapsulated within the second MAC data frame;
• means for establishing a direct wireless data link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device utilizing parameters contained in the direct link information encapsulated at the logical link level in the third MAC data frame.