US 8,428,079 B1Granted

Systems and methods for discovering a wireless network in a peer-to-peer network

AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.

InventorsPaul A. Lambert, Lu Chang

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Abstract

An integrated circuit configured to operate in a mobile device includes a discovery generator module. The discovery generator module is configured to generate a corresponding random value for each beacon interval. A discovery control module is configured to determine a duration of time of a given beacon interval in which the mobile device is to operate in at least one of an active mode and a sleep mode. The duration of time is based on the corresponding random value generated for the given beacon interval. A physical layer (PHY) device is configured to wirelessly transmit a discovery request signal during the time the mobile device is operating in the active mode. The mobile device is partially powered down or fully powered down during the time the mobile device is operating in the sleep mode.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An integrated circuit configured to operate in a mobile device, the integrated circuit comprising:

a discovery generator module configured to generate a random value for each of a plurality of beacon intervals;
a discovery control module configured to, for a first beacon interval of the plurality of beacon intervals in which the mobile device is to operate in a sleep mode, determine a duration of the first beacon interval based on the random value corresponding to the first beacon interval;
and
a physical layer device configured to wirelessly transmit a discovery request signal (i) in a peer-to-peer network having a plurality of peer devices, and (ii) while the mobile device is operating in an active mode, wherein the discovery control module is configured to determine which of the plurality of peer devices are discoverable based on responses to the discovery request signal received from discovered ones of the plurality of peer devices, wherein none of the plurality of peer devices operates as an access point,
wherein the mobile device is partially powered down or fully powered down during the duration of the first beacon interval, and
wherein the discovery control module is configured to operate the mobile device in the sleep mode in response to whether the mobile device receives a response to the discovery request signal.

3 more elements

A method of operating an integrated circuit configured to operate in a mobile device, the method comprising:

generating a random value for each of a plurality of beacon intervals;
determining a first duration of one of the plurality of beacon intervals in which the mobile device is to operate in an active mode, wherein the first duration is based on the random value generated for the one of the plurality of beacon intervals;
determining a second duration of the one of the plurality of beacon intervals in which the mobile device is to operate in a sleep mode, wherein the second duration is based on the random value generated for the one of the plurality of beacon intervals;
wirelessly transmitting a discovery request signal from the mobile device during the first duration of the one of the plurality of beacon intervals the mobile device is operating in the active mode,
wherein the mobile device is partially powered down or fully powered down during the second duration of the one of the plurality of beacon intervals the mobile device is operating in the sleep mode;
operating the mobile device in a listen mode and in the sleep mode in response to whether the mobile device receives a response to the discovery request signal;
and
operating the mobile device in the listen mode during at least a portion of the first duration of the one of the plurality of beacon intervals the mobile device is operating in the active mode,
wherein for each respective one of the plurality of beacon intervals,
a duration of the listen mode is fixed, and
a duration of the sleep mode is based on the random value generated for the respective one of the plurality of beacon intervals.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/563,390Filed 21 Sep 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Sep 2008
Granted: 23 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04W 48/16
Access restriction ; Network selection; Access point selection: discovering, processing access restriction or access information
H04W 8/005
Network data management: discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
H04W 52/0216
Managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is leader and terminal is follower: using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic…
H04W 48/14
Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery: using user query or user detection