Methods and apparatus for amplifying and transmitting signals

A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising:

• during a multi-tone mode of operation:
• performing a linear amplification operation on a multi-tone signal;
• transmitting the amplified multi-tone signal;
• during a single tone mode of operation:
• performing a non-linear amplification operation on a single tone signal;
• and
• transmitting the amplified single tone signal, said non-linear amplification operation and transmitting the amplified single tone signal being performed;
• switching from the multi-tone mode of operation to the single tone mode of operation as part of a change from transmitting traffic data to transmitting discovery information;
• and
• wherein said multi-tone and single tone modes of operation correspond to different non-overlapping periods of time.

A communications device comprising:

• means for performing linear amplification on a multi-tone signal during a multi-tone mode of operation;
• means for transmitting the amplified multi-tone signal;
• means for performing linear amplification on a first single-tone signal during a single-tone short range mode of operation;
• means for performing both linear and non-linear amplification on a second single tone signal during a single-tone long range mode of operation;
• and
• means for transmitting the amplified first single-tone signal and the amplified second single-tone signal.

A computer program product for use in a communications device, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to perform linear amplification on a multi-tone signal during a multi-tone mode of operation;
• code for causing said at least one computer to transmit the amplified multi-tone signal;
• code for causing said at least one computer to perform linear amplification on a first single-tone signal during a single-tone short range mode of operation;
• code for causing said at least one computer to transmit the amplified first single-tone signal;
• code for causing said at least one computer to perform both linear and non-linear amplification on a second single tone signal during a single-tone long range mode of operation;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to transmit the amplified single-tone signal.

A communications device comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• perform linear amplification on a multi-tone signal during a multi-tone mode of operation;
• transmit the amplified multi-tone signal;
• perform linear amplification on a first single-tone signal during a single-tone short range mode of operation;
• transmit the amplified first single-tone signal;
• perform both linear and non-linear amplification operation on a second single tone signal during a single-tone long range mode of operation;
• and
• transmit the amplified second single-tone signal;
• and
• memory coupled to said at least one processor.