Transitioning from an infrastructure based wireless connection to a peer to peer (P2P) wireless connection

Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine readable mediums which provide for device discovery and P2P negotiation in infrastructure mode and then a transition to P2P mode. This allows devices to take advantage of the robustness and improved device discovery of infrastructure mode and the reduced latency of P2P mode.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments pertain to wireless technologies. Some embodiments relate to efficient switching between infrastructure based wireless connections to P2P based wireless connections.

BACKGROUND

Typical Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) that are implemented in accordance with an Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards operate in an infrastructure mode. Infrastructure mode is where access points (APs) create and announce the presence of a WLAN. Client devices scan the air interface and read the announcements to discover the existence of the WLAN. Devices may then connect to these APs to receive services from the AP such as Internet access. The AP and the client devices each have defined roles which dictate how the client devices and the AP communicate with one another. All communications in infrastructure mode involve communicating through the AP. Thus, if two connected clients want to communicate with each other, they must communicate through the AP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For some applications, infrastructure mode is not optimal. For example, wireless media technologies allow for media sources (such as a computing device) to send or stream media to a sink device (e.g., a display). Using infrastructure mode for this application can cause media playback lag and in some cases jitter because of the increased latency introduced by the lack of a direct connection between the source device and the sink device.

Wi-Fi Direct is a wireless standard which specifies protocols and techniques used by devices to connect to one another without a wireless access point or other infrastructure. Wi-Fi Direct is an example of a wireless Peer-to-Peer technology (P2P) where two wireless devices talk directly to each other without the use of an intermediary such as an access point or a base station. Wi-Fi Direct devices communicate with each other using P2P Groups. A group owner (GO) provides functionality similar to that of a WLAN AP in a traditional infrastructure mode. Setting up a Wi-Fi Direct connection may involve device discovery, service discovery, group formation, authentication, and negotiating a group owner.

P2P technologies such as Wi-Fi Direct have been applied to a number of applications including media streaming applications such as wireless display. Wireless display applications use P2P to stream content from a source device (e.g., a mobile phone or other content source) to a sink device (a wireless display). P2P wireless display applications make more efficient use of the limited wireless spectrum and bandwidth than traditional infrastructure communications as the media is communicated directly from the source device to the sink device. While the performance of P2P wireless display applications may be faster because of the direct link, these P2P applications suffer from other issues. For example, device discovery and connection is less robust, takes longer to connect (due to the additional procedures required by P2P connection protocols), and adds additional complexity. For example, P2P wireless display applications may entail additional complexity where, for example, the P2P connection requires the P2P link to be on a different channel than the infrastructure connection (e.g., due to regulatory reasons).

In order to address these problems, attempts have been made to improve infrastructure mode that addresses the delay associated with the indirect connection between the source device and the sink device. Despite these improvements, these solutions depend on network administrators to properly configure and setup their networks to accommodate this solution. This is not always an acceptable or popular solution.

Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine readable mediums which perform wireless device discovery, P2P switching capability discovery, and P2P connection parameter messaging in infrastructure mode, and then transition to P2P mode. This allows wireless devices to take advantage of both the robustness and improved device discovery of infrastructure mode and the reduced latency of P2P mode. In some examples, the wireless device discovery, P2P switching capability discovery, and P2P connection parameter messaging may be done using communication protocols that are above a medium access control (MAC) layer in a protocol stack. For example, a transport or application protocol layer. In some examples, media streaming may also start over infrastructure mode and then transition to P2P mode to reduce a delay between connection and media streaming.

A first and a second wireless device first authenticate and associate with an infrastructure device (e.g., an AP) or otherwise become communicatively coupled to the infrastructure device. Communications occurring through the infrastructure device are termed infrastructure mode communications. Peer discovery then takes place using infrastructure mode communications. During peer discovery, the first and second wireless devices discover each other. Once the wireless devices discover each other they may determine whether they both are capable and willing to transition to a P2P connection. In some examples the wireless devices may determine their willingness to transition to a P2P connection using information exchanged in one or more discovery protocol messages sent as part of peer discovery. In some examples, in addition to the willingness information, the peers may exchange or discover P2P connection parameters, such as Group Owner, channel, MAC addresses, and the like.

In other examples, rather than exchange information through discovery messages, after peer discovery, the devices may establish one or more protocol connections to exchange information. Example protocol connections include transport layer and application layer protocol connections over the infrastructure mode. For example, the wireless devices may establish a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session. The wireless devices may determine their willingness to transition to a P2P connection using information exchanged over these protocol connections. In some examples, in addition to the willingness information, the peers may exchange or discover P2P connection parameters over the protocol connections. The wireless devices may also setup and begin streaming media using infrastructure mode communications over the protocol connections. For example, the wireless devices may establish TCP, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), and Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) connections and begin streaming media. These examples allow media to begin streaming faster than waiting until the switch to the P2P connection.

The peers may then switch to a P2P connection, in some examples, in accordance with the agreed upon P2P connection parameters. Communications using the P2P connection are termed P2P mode communications. If the wireless devices began streaming media using the infrastructure mode communications, the streaming may be switched to the P2P mode communications.

Turning now toFIG. 1, an example wireless connection environment1000is shown according to some examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless devices in a media streaming environment may be termed a source device—which designates this wireless device as the source of streaming media—or a sink device, which designates this device as a destination of the media. Source device1040and sink device1010are communicatively coupled to each other through WLAN Access Point1030. For example, source device1040is authenticated and associated with WLAN Access Point1030. Sink device1010is communicatively coupled to WLAN Access Point1030through network1020. Source device1040(shown as a laptop computer) may discover sink device1010(shown as a television) over the infrastructure mode communications provided by the WLAN Access Point1030and in some examples, other network elements (such as portions of network1020). In some examples, source device1040and sink device1010may be communicatively coupled (e.g., connected) wirelessly or through a wired connection directly to WLAN Access Point1030. In other examples, and as shown with respect to Sink1010inFIG. 1, one or both of the wireless devices may be communicatively coupled (wired or wirelessly) to WLAN Access Point1030by or through other network elements. InFIG. 1, a wireless connection is denoted by a dotted line, whereas a wired connection is denoted by a solid line.

Sink device1010and source device1040may discover each other by utilizing the infrastructure mode communications their common connectivity with WLAN Access Point1030affords. Once source device1040and sink device1010are communicatively coupled to WLAN Access Point1030, source device1040and sink device1010may utilize one or more discovery and connection protocols to discover each other and the services each device provides. Example protocols include Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS), mDNS over Application Service Platform 2 (ASP2), and the like. As an example discovery method, a device may broadcast, or multicast a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet to a designated IP address and port to advertise the device's availability and services. Other devices may listen for these packets to discover the sending device and the services it offers.

In some examples, the discovery messages may include an indication of the ability of the device to switch to a P2P mode. In some examples, the discovery messages may also convey one or more P2P connection parameters. Example P2P connection parameters include Group Owner (GO) polarity, GO channel, MAC addresses and the like. As a result of determining through the discovery messages that the source device1040and the sink device1010support switching to P2P mode, the source device1040and the sink device1010may establish a P2P connection1060(e.g., a Wi-Fi Direct connection, a 802.11z family of standards promulgated by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the like).

Once a P2P connection is established, the source device1040may setup a media streaming session (e.g., a wireless display session) and begin streaming media. For example, the source device1040and the sink device1010may setup RTSP and Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) sessions. Once these sessions are setup, the source device1040may send and the sink device1010may receive and consume the media. Consuming the media includes playing, presenting, or displaying the received streaming media. Streaming protocols may include Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP), Motion Picture Experts Group-Transport Stream (MPEG-TS), and the like using codecs such as H.264, H.265, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Linear Pulse-Code Modulation (LPCM), and the like.

In another example method of transitioning between infrastructure mode communications and P2P mode communications, once the source device1040discovers the sink device1010they may establish one or more protocol connections using infrastructure mode communications. This is in contrast to an implementation where the discovery protocols were used to exchange this information. For example, the devices may setup one or more transport and application layer protocol connections using protocols such as a TCP, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) session, and the like. One or both of sink device1010and source device1040may convey the ability to switch to a P2P connection to the other device using these protocols and the connectivity they provide. Additionally, one or more P2P connection parameters may be exchanged over the established infrastructure mode communications. For example, the devices may determine which device will be the Group Owner, which wireless channel the P2P session will use, exchange Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses, and other information. In some examples, if the infrastructure-based protocol connections includes an RTSP session, an RTSP GET PARAMETER (e.g., M3) message may be utilized to discover the capability and P2P connection parameters.

During this time, source device1040and sink device1010may setup a media streaming (e.g., wireless display) session using infrastructure mode communications and begin streaming media. For example, source device1040and sink device1010may setup a RTSP session (if it was not already setup previously) and a Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP) session. Once the RTP session is setup, source device1040may send and sink device1010may receive and consume the media. Consuming the media includes playing, or displaying the received streaming media. Streaming protocols may include Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP), Motion Picture Experts Group-Transport Stream (MPEG-TS), and the like using codecs such as H.264, H.265, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Linear Pulse-Code Modulation (LPCM), and the like.

Sometime during the streaming of the media from the source device1040to sink device1010, source device1010may signal the switch to a P2P connection. Once the switch to the P2P connection is signaled, the P2P link is established. In some examples, the P2P link is established according to the WiFi Direct standards. The establishment of the P2P link may be speed up by utilizing the P2P connection parameters exchanged over the established infrastructure protocol connections. In some examples an RTSP SET PARAMATER (e.g., M4) message may be utilized to signal an intention to switch to the P2P link.

Once the P2P link is established, the wireless display session is started on the P2P link. For example, parallel RTSP and RTP sessions are initiated over the P2P link, where the RTSP and RTP sessions are similar or the same as those instantiated over the WLAN AP1030and network1020infrastructure. The media stream is then routed over the P2P link and the infrastructure link may be torn down. For example, using RTSP, the media stream is “PAUSEd” on the infrastructure connection and then “PLAYed” on the P2P connection.

In some examples, source device1040may not begin streaming on the infrastructure connection, instead opting to wait until the P2P connection is established. This may introduce connection delay that is noticeable to a user. If source device1040streams over the infrastructure connection, the delay in establishing the P2P connection is fully masked from the user by overlapping the P2P connection establishment with the streaming over the infrastructure mode.

In some examples, the media streaming may be subject to content protection, such as High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). The source device1040may defer link HDCP until after the switch to the P2P connection.

Furthermore, in some examples, devices1040and1010may revert from streaming over the P2P connection to streaming across the infrastructure connection. For example, the P2P connection may become unreliable in that one or more quality metrics may deviate from a threshold quality level (e.g., a Received Signal Strength may be below a threshold, a packet error rate may exceed a threshold, and the like). To improve the speed of this transition, the infrastructure connection, including protocol connections such as TCP and RTSP may be left open while the P2P streaming is ongoing. Thus, all that needs to be done is to send a switch command. For example, a “PAUSE” command on the P2P connection and then a “PLAY” command on the infrastructure connection.

In some examples, source device1040or sink device1010may have one or more administrator policies that may dictate if and under what conditions sending or receiving media streams may occur over P2P and under what conditions sending or receiving media streams may occur over infrastructure modes. For example, in some scenarios, it is not possible to switch to a P2P connection without losing the “same channel” benefits of the infrastructure connection. These same channel benefits include improved display AV latency, WLAN power save, and the like. One example scenario is where sink device1010is provisioned as a group owner on a separate channel. In these examples, source device1040may utilize the administrator policies to determine how to proceed. Options include switching to P2P or staying with infrastructure mode.

Turning now toFIG. 2, a method2000of a first wireless device establishing a P2P connection with a second wireless device is shown according to some examples of the present disclosure. The wireless device may be a source device, a sink device, or any wireless device capable of both infrastructure communications and P2P communications. At operation2010, the first device becomes communicatively coupled with an infrastructure device. For example, associating and authenticating with an AP in accordance with an 802.11 family of standards. At operation2020, the first device may discover a second wireless device, the second wireless device that is communicatively coupled with the infrastructure, for example, source devices or sink devices. Discovery may be performed in accordance with one or more discovery protocols, such as Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS), mDNS over ASP2, and the like.

At operation2030, the first wireless device determines whether a discovered second wireless device supports switching to a P2P wireless connection. This discovery may be made during the device discovery of operation2030. For example, one of the discovery protocol messages (e.g., a broadcast message) announcing the presence of the second wireless device may also signal that the second wireless device is capable of switching to a P2P mode. Furthermore, the discovery protocol messages may be used to exchange P2P connection parameters. In other examples, the first wireless device and the second wireless device may establish one or more transport and/or application layer protocol connections in order to exchange information on the ability to switch to a P2P connection and P2P connection parameters.

In some examples, during this time, the source device1040and the sink device1010may setup a media streaming (e.g., wireless display) session using infrastructure mode communications and begin streaming media. This option allows for faster media connectivity and reduces delay experienced by a user.

At operation2040, the first wireless device and the second device may establish the P2P connection. If the first wireless device and the second wireless device exchanged P2P connection parameters, these may be used to establish the P2P connection. In an example, the P2P connection may be a Wi-Fi Direct connection, an 802.11z connection (also known as Tunneled Direct Link Setup TDLS), or the like. After the P2P connection is established the wireless devices may communicate with each other directly without the use of an infrastructure device such as an AP using P2P mode communications. For example, the devices could establish a wireless display session. If the devices established a wireless display session using infrastructure mode communications, the wireless display session may be moved to the P2P connection.

Turning now toFIG. 3, a more detailed method3000of a first wireless device establishing a P2P connection with a second wireless device is shown according to some examples of the present disclosure. InFIG. 3, the first wireless device establishes a connection to the second wireless device using infrastructure mode communications. For example, the first and second wireless device establishes a TCP connection, an RTSP connection, and in some examples, an RTP connection. At operation3010, the first wireless device becomes communicatively coupled with the infrastructure. For example, the first wireless device associates and authenticates with the infrastructure device. At operation3020, the first wireless device discovers a second wireless device. As already noted, this may be accomplished according to one or more discovery protocols. In addition to discovering the existence of the second wireless device, the discovery protocols provide a method of discovering contact information of the second wireless device, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

At operation3030, the first and second wireless devices establish a connection using the infrastructure mode communications. For example, the devices establish one or more of: a transport layer protocol connection (e.g., TCP), an application layer protocol connection (e.g., RTSP, RTP), and the like. In some examples, at operation3035, these protocol sessions are used to communicate an ability of the first and/or second device to switch to P2P mode, and in some examples, these protocol sessions may be used to exchange one or more P2P connection parameters.

At operation3040, the first and second wireless device may establish a media streaming session, such as a wireless display session. For example, one or more application layer protocol sessions may be established (if they were not already established at operation3030) such as RTSP and RTP. RTSP may be used to control the media stream, whereas the RTP session may be utilized to actually transfer media content. The first and second wireless devices may transmit video and/or audio from the source device (one of the first or second devices) to the sink device (the other of the first or second devices).

At operation3050, the first or second wireless device may signal an intention to switch to a P2P connection using infrastructure mode communications (such as the connection established in operation3030). At operation3060, the P2P connection may be established. In some examples, the connection establishment may be established using previously exchanged (e.g., at operation3030) P2P connection parameters. At operation3070, the first and second wireless device may establish a media streaming session (such as a wireless display session) on the P2P connection using P2P mode communications. For example, one or more transport layer protocol connections (e.g., TCP), application layer protocol connections, and the like may be established (if they were not already established at operation3060) such as RTSP and RTP. RTSP may be used to control the media stream, whereas the RTP session may be utilized to actually transfer media content. At operation3080, the first and second wireless devices may switch the transmitted video and/or audio from the infrastructure mode communications to the P2P mode communications.

Turning now toFIG. 4, a second method4000of a first wireless device establishing a P2P connection with a second wireless device is shown according to some examples of the present disclosure. InFIG. 4, the first and second devices exchange the capability of switching between infrastructure and P2P, and in some examples, P2P connection parameters during the discovery process rather than establishing transport and/or application layer connections. At operation4010, the first device becomes communicatively coupled with the infrastructure. For example the first wireless device associates and authenticates with the infrastructure device. At operation4020, the second wireless device is discovered and the ability of the second device to switch from an infrastructure connection to a P2P connection is also discovered. As already noted, this may be accomplished using discovery protocol messages of a discovery protocol. During this process, the first wireless device and second wireless device may also discover or negotiate one or more P2P connection parameters. At operation4030, the P2P link may be established. In some examples, the P2P link may be established in accordance with the P2P connection parameters. At operation4040, a media streaming session (e.g., a wireless display session) may be created on the P2P connection and media streaming may begin.

Turning now toFIG. 5, a logical schematic5000of a source wireless device5010and a sink wireless device5020are shown according to some examples of the present disclosure. A source wireless device5010is a device that sends media to a sink wireless device5020which consumes the media. The term “wireless device” as used herein is generic and encompasses either the source or sink wireless devices—thus, the operations ofFIGS. 2-4may be performed by either a source or a sink wireless device. Source wireless device5010and sink wireless device5020may communicate with each other using a P2P mode communications5005or using an infrastructure mode communication5007. Source wireless device5010and sink wireless device5020may have respective wireless components5030and5040. Wireless components5030and5040may implement one or more aspects, protocols and layers of a wireless communication standard, such as an IEEE 802.11 family of standards, Wi-Fi Direct standards promulgated by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an LTE family of standards promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an LTE-Advanced family of standards and the like. Wireless components5030and5040may implement a physical layer, medium access control layer (MAC), a logical link control layer and the like. Other protocols may include Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and the like. In some examples, wireless component5030may also setup one or more transport protocols such as TCP. Wireless components5030and5040may have P2P components5050and5070respectively which may handle the P2P connections and protocols for the wireless components5030and5040respectively. Similarly, wireless components5030and5040may have respective infrastructure components5060and5080to handle the infrastructure connections and protocols for the wireless components.

Source wireless device5010may have a media component5090responsible for streaming media to sink wireless device5020. Sink wireless device5020may also have a media component5100. These components5090and5100may implementing one or more application-layer protocols such as RTSP, RTP, and the like to implement media streaming such as wireless display applications. These components5090and5100may also implement one or more encoding or decoding operations.

Source wireless device5010and sink wireless device5020may have an infrastructure to P2P control component5110and5120, respectively. This component5110and5120may control the discovery of other wireless devices; P2P capability and connection parameter exchange over infrastructure communications mode; P2P establishment; media streaming establishment, termination and transfer; and the like. For example, the infrastructure to P2P control components5110and5120may control the processes described inFIGS. 2-4.

Source wireless device5010and sink wireless device5020may include respective data stores5130and5140for storing data. Data stores5130and5140may store P2P connection parameters, information about discovered wireless devices (e.g., IP address, MAC address, services provided, and the like), media files, and the like.

Sink wireless device5020may contain a display component5150that may interface with one or more integral or external displays and/or speakers. For example, media streamed from the source wireless device5010may be transmitted to sink wireless device5020using either P2P mode communications or infrastructure mode communications. Media component5100may decode the media and pass it to display component5150which may render one or more frames of video for presentation on a display.

Machine (e.g., computer system)6000may include a hardware processor6002(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory6004and a static memory6006, some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus)6008. The machine6000may further include a display unit6010, an alphanumeric input device6012(e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device6014(e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit6010, input device6012and UI navigation device6014may be a touch screen display. The machine6000may additionally include a storage device (e.g., drive unit)6016, a signal generation device6018(e.g., a speaker), a network interface device6020, and one or more sensors6021, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine6000may include an output controller6028, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).

The storage device6016may include a machine readable medium6022on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions6024(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. The instructions6024may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory6004, within static memory6006, or within the hardware processor6002during execution thereof by the machine6000. In an example, one or any combination of the hardware processor6002, the main memory6004, the static memory6006, or the storage device6016may constitute machine readable media.

OTHER NOTES AND EXAMPLES

Example 1 is a method comprising: at a first wireless device using a processor: establishing a first wireless connection with a wireless access infrastructure device; discovering, using the first wireless connection, a second wireless device, the second wireless device communicatively connected to the wireless access infrastructure device; determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to a peer-to-peer wireless connection using a communication protocol that is above a Medium Access Control Protocol in a protocol stack; and establishing a peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes, wherein determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-2 optionally include determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device, and wherein establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-3 optionally include: establishing a protocol connection with the second wireless device using the first wireless connection, wherein determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises utilizing the protocol connection, the protocol connection being one of: a transport layer protocol or an application layer protocol.

In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 optionally includes, wherein the protocol connection is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP).

In Example 6, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 4-5 optionally include, wherein the protocol connection is a Real Time Streaming Protocol.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 4-6 optionally include: determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using the protocol connection; and wherein establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 4-7 optionally include: streaming a media file to the second wireless device using the first wireless connection using the protocol connection; and subsequent to establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device, switching the streaming of the media file from the first wireless connection to the peer-to-peer wireless connection.

In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 8 optionally includes, wherein streaming the media file comprises streaming the media file using a Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP).

In Example 10, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-9 optionally include, wherein the peer-to-peer wireless connection is a Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Example 11 is a non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when performed by the machine cause the machine to perform the operations comprising: establishing at a first wireless device a first wireless connection with a wireless access infrastructure device; discovering, using the first wireless connection, a second wireless device, the second wireless device communicatively connected to the wireless access infrastructure device; determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to a peer-to-peer wireless connection using a communication protocol that is above a Medium Access Control Protocol in a protocol stack; and establishing a peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device.

In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 optionally includes, wherein the operations of determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device.

In Example 13, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-12 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device, and wherein the operations of establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 14, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-13 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise establishing a protocol connection with the second wireless device using the first wireless connection; and wherein the operations of determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises utilizing the protocol connection, the protocol connection being one of: a transport layer protocol or an application layer protocol.

In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 optionally includes, wherein the protocol connection is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP).

In Example 16, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 14-15 optionally include, wherein the protocol connection is a Real Time Streaming Protocol.

In Example 17, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 14-16 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using the protocol connection; and wherein the operations of establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 18, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 14-17 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise: streaming a media file to the second wireless device using the first wireless connection using the protocol connection; and subsequent to establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device, switching the streaming of the media file from the first wireless connection to the peer-to-peer wireless connection.

In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 optionally includes, wherein streaming the media file comprises streaming the media file using a Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP).

In Example 20, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-19 optionally include, wherein the peer-to-peer wireless connection is a Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Example 21 is a wireless device comprising: a processor; a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions, which when performed by the processor causes the processor to perform the operations comprising: establishing at a first wireless device a first wireless connection with a wireless access infrastructure device; discovering, using the first wireless connection, a second wireless device, the second wireless device communicatively connected to the wireless access infrastructure device; determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to a peer-to-peer wireless connection using a communication protocol that is above a Medium Access Control Protocol in a protocol stack; and establishing a peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device.

In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 optionally includes, wherein the operations of determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device.

In Example 23, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-22 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device, and wherein the operations of establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 24, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-23 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise establishing a protocol connection with the second wireless device using the first wireless connection; and wherein the operations of determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises utilizing the protocol connection, the protocol connection being one of: a transport layer protocol or an application layer protocol.

In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 24 optionally includes, wherein the protocol connection is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP).

In Example 26, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-25 optionally include, wherein the protocol connection is a Real Time Streaming Protocol.

In Example 27, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-26 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using the protocol connection; and wherein the operations of establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 28, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 24-27 optionally include, wherein the operations comprise: streaming a media file to the second wireless device using the first wireless connection using the protocol connection; and subsequent to establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device, switching the streaming of the media file from the first wireless connection to the peer-to-peer wireless connection.

In Example 29, the subject matter of Example 28 optionally includes, wherein streaming the media file comprises streaming the media file using a Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP).

In Example 30, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-29 optionally include, wherein the peer-to-peer wireless connection is a Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Example 31 is a wireless device comprising: means for establishing a first wireless connection with a wireless access infrastructure device; means for discovering, using the first wireless connection, a second wireless device, the second wireless device communicatively connected to the wireless access infrastructure device; means for determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to a peer-to-peer wireless connection using a communication protocol that is above a Medium Access Control Protocol in a protocol stack; and means for establishing a peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device.

In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 31 optionally includes, wherein the means for determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises means for using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device.

In Example 33, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 31-32 optionally include means for determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using information in a discovery protocol message sent by the second wireless device as part of discovering the second wireless device, and wherein the means for establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device comprises using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 34, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 31-33 optionally include: means for establishing a protocol connection with the second wireless device using the first wireless connection, wherein the means for determining that the second wireless device is capable of switching to the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises means for utilizing the protocol connection, the protocol connection being one of: a transport layer protocol or an application layer protocol.

In Example 35, the subject matter of Example 34 optionally includes, wherein the protocol connection is a Transport Control Protocol (TCP).

In Example 36, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 34-35 optionally include, wherein the protocol connection is a Real Time Streaming Protocol.

In Example 37, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 34-36 optionally include: means for determining a peer-to-peer connection parameter using the protocol connection; and wherein the means for establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection comprises means for using the peer-to-peer connection parameter.

In Example 38, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 34-37 optionally include: means for streaming a media file to the second wireless device using the first wireless connection using the protocol connection; and subsequent to establishing the peer-to-peer wireless connection with the second wireless device, means for switching the streaming of the media file from the first wireless connection to the peer-to-peer wireless connection.

In Example 39, the subject matter of Example 38 optionally includes, wherein streaming the media file comprises streaming the media file using a Real Time Transport Protocol (RTP).

In Example 40, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 31-39 optionally include, wherein the peer-to-peer wireless connection is a Wi-Fi Direct connection.