System and method for advertising and communicating within a neighborhood aware network

A mobile device for communication with other mobile devices comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive a first discovery message via a network advertisement protocol common to a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first discovery message includes information specific to a mobile device cluster that is a subset of the plurality of mobile devices;
• and
• use the information to communicate with at least a second mobile device of the mobile device cluster using a second cluster protocol that is different than the network advertisement protocol;
• in response to receiving the first discovery message, contend with other devices of the plurality of mobile devices to send discovery messages via the network advertisement protocol during a discovery interval;
• if a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a second discovery message associated with the mobile device cluster, cease contention for a remainder of the discovery interval;
• and
• if a mobile device of a second mobile device cluster that is not included in the mobile device cluster sends a third discovery message, continue contention for a remainder of the discovery interval or until a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a discovery message.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform a method of communication among mobile devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first mobile device, a first discovery message via a network advertisement protocol common to a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first discovery message includes information specific to a mobile device cluster that is a subset of the plurality of mobile devices;
• and
• using the information to communicate with at least a second mobile device of the mobile device cluster using a second cluster protocol that is different than the network advertisement protocol;
• in response to receiving the first discovery message, contending with other devices of the plurality of mobile devices to send discovery messages via the network advertisement protocol during a discovery interval;
• if a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a second discovery message associated with the mobile device cluster, ceasing contention for a remainder of the discovery interval;
• and
• if a mobile device of a second mobile device cluster that is not included in the mobile device cluster sends a third discovery message, continuing contention for a remainder of the discovery interval or until a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a discovery message.

An apparatus for communicating among mobile devices, comprising:

• means for receiving a first discovery message via a network advertisement protocol common to a plurality of mobile devices, wherein the first discovery message includes information specific to a mobile device cluster that is a subset of the plurality of mobile devices;
• and
• means for using the information to communicate with at least a second mobile device of the mobile device cluster using a second cluster protocol that is different than the network advertisement protocol;
• in response to receiving the first discovery message, means for contending with other devices of the plurality of mobile devices to send discovery messages via the network advertisement protocol during a discovery interval;
• if a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a second discovery message associated with the mobile device cluster, means for ceasing contention for a remainder of the discovery interval;
• and
• if a mobile device of a second mobile device cluster that is not included in the mobile device cluster sends a third discovery message, means for continuing contention for a remainder of the discovery interval or until a mobile device of the mobile device cluster sends a discovery message.