Methods and apparatus for beaconing within a wireless network based on an indication of distance

A method comprising:

• receiving a wireless signal;
• based at least partially on the received wireless signal, obtaining an indication of distance between two anchor master devices within a Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) wireless network, the two anchor master devices including a first anchor master device of a first cluster and a second anchor master device of a second cluster;
• comparing the indication of distance with a distance threshold;
• determining, based at least partially on the comparison, whether to form a third cluster that includes the first cluster and the second cluster;
• choosing, responsive to the determination to form the third cluster, which one anchor master device of the two anchor master devices is to act as an anchor master of the third cluster;
• responsive to choosing the first anchor master device, causing the second anchor master device to relinquish acting as the anchor master of the second cluster;
• or
• responsive to choosing the second anchor master device, causing the first anchor master device to relinquish acting as the anchor master of the first cluster;
• and
• forming the third cluster with the chosen one anchor master device acting as the anchor master of the third cluster.

A first wireless communication device configured to act as an anchor master of a first cluster that is within a Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) wireless network, the first wireless communication device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a wireless signal;
• and
• a controller configured to
• (i) based at least partially on the wireless signal received by the transceiver, obtain an indication of distance between the first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device, the second wireless communication device being another anchor master of a second cluster within the NAN wireless network,
• (ii) compare the indication of distance with a distance threshold,
• (iii) determine, based at least partially on the comparison, whether to merge the first cluster and the second cluster into a third cluster,
• (iv) choose, responsive to the determination to merge the first cluster and the second cluster, whether the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device is to act as an anchor master of the third cluster,
• responsive to choosing the first wireless communication device, causing the second wireless communication device to relinquish acting as the anchor master of the second cluster, or
• responsive to choosing the second wireless communication device, causing the first wireless communication device to relinquish acting as the anchor master of the first cluster, and
• (v) cause the third cluster to be formed with either the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device acting as the anchor master of the third cluster.