Abstract:
Methods and apparatus supporting group communications in a peer to peer wireless network are described. Methods and apparatus are directed to implementations with closed groups, e.g., where the number of group members are fixed at a given time and known to one or more members of the group. Various embodiments are well suited to decentralized peer to peer wireless networks including a plurality of individual traffic resources, e.g., traffic slots and/or traffic segments, which may be independently scheduled. Approaches for implementing distributed scheduling for traffic air link resources which may carry group traffic signals and/or peer to peer traffic signals are described. Various aspects are directed to the transmitter side including: group traffic transmission request transmissions, reception of request response signaling, transmitter yielding decisions, group rate determination and/or group traffic data signaling. Other aspects are directed to the receiver side including: reception of group traffic transmission request signals, receiver yielding decisions, transmitting group request responses signals, and/or receiving group traffic signaling.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/948,968 filed on Jul. 10, 2007, titled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SENDING BROADCAST/MULTICAST MESSAGES IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK”, and assigned to the assignee hereof and which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus related to supporting group communications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In a wireless communications system there is typically a fixed amount of air link resources available for utilization by wireless communications devices for combined control signaling and traffic signaling. In a wireless communications system lacking centralized control, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer network, the scheduling of traffic air link resources is a challenging task. 
         [0004]    At times a single device in a peer to peer network may desire to transmit the same data to a plurality of other devices in the network. One can simply transmit multiple copies of the same data to the plurality of intended recipients. However, this tends to waste the valuable traffic air link resources. It would be beneficial if new methods and apparatus were developed which supported group communications, thus allowing the same traffic signal to be communicated efficiently to multiple other group members. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Methods and apparatus related to group communications in a wireless communications system, e.g., a peer to peer wireless communications system, are described. Methods and apparatus directed to closed groups, e.g., where the number of group members are fixed at a given time and known to one or more members of the group, are described. Various embodiments are well suited to decentralized peer to peer wireless networks including a plurality of individual traffic resources, e.g., traffic slots and/or traffic segments, which may be independently scheduled in a decentralized manner. Approaches for implementing distributed scheduling for traffic air link resources which may carry group traffic signals and/or peer to peer traffic signals are described. 
         [0006]    Various aspects are directed to the transmitter side including: group traffic transmission request transmissions, reception of request response signaling, transmitter yielding decisions, group rate determination and/or group traffic data signaling. Other aspects are directed to the receiver side including: reception of group traffic transmission request signals, receiver yielding decisions, transmitting group request responses signals, and/or receiving group traffic signaling. 
         [0007]    An exemplary method of operating a first peer-to-peer communications device to implement group communications, in accordance with some embodiments, includes transmitting a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections, said first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a first data transmission block, individual ones of said multiple connections being between said first peer to peer communications device and other peer-to-peer communications devices in a communications group. The exemplary method further comprises transmitting data to said other peer-to-peer communications devices in said first data transmission block. 
         [0008]    An exemplary communications device, e.g., an exemplary peer-to-peer communications device, supporting group communications, in accordance with some embodiments, includes: a wireless transmitter; and a transmission request control module configured to control said wireless transmitter to transmit a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones of said multiple connections being between said peer to peer communications device and other peer-to-peer communications devices in a communications group. In some such embodiments, the exemplary communication device further comprises a data transmission control module configured to control said wireless transmitter to transmit data to said other peer-to-peer communications devices in said data transmission block. 
         [0009]    Another exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communications device to implement group communications, in accordance with some embodiments, includes: receiving a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first data transmission block. The exemplary method further comprises making a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response to another member of said group from which a transmission request was received as a function of a priority of a connection between the second communications device and said another member of said group and a priority corresponding to said non-group connection without taking into consideration transmission requests received from other members of said group. 
         [0010]    An exemplary communications device, e.g., a peer-to-peer communications device, supporting group communications, in accordance with some embodiments includes: a wireless receiver module configured to receive a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first data transmission block. The exemplary communications device further includes a group request response decision module configured to make a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response to another member of said group from which a transmission request was received as a function of a priority of a connection between the communications device and said another member of said group and a priority corresponding to said non-group connection without taking into consideration transmission requests received from other members of said group. 
         [0011]    While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, it should be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include the same features and some of the features described above are not necessary but can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features, embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in the detailed description which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer network, e.g., an ad-hoc communications network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal, e.g., a peer to peer mobile node supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4 , which comprises the combination of  FIGS. 4A and 4B , is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a mobile peer to peer communications device supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary timing structure and exemplary air link resources in an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer communications network, supporting peer to peer communications and group traffic signaling. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates the same wireless terminals of  FIG. 7  and provides additional information used to illustrate an example of group traffic signaling in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in a recurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources and connection identifier information associated with at least some of those resources. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated using the resources of  FIG. 9  in one exemplary scenario corresponding to  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in a recurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources and connection identifier information associated with at least some of those resources. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated using the resources of  FIG. 11  in another exemplary scenario corresponding to  FIG. 8 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a peer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a drawing of exemplary communications devices in a communications network which have established a group. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  illustrates exemplary air link resources in an exemplary recurring timing structure and exemplary signaling carried by those air link resources. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17 , comprising the combination of  FIG. 17A ,  FIG. 17B  and  FIG. 17C , is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a peer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network supporting group communications and peer to peer communications. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  illustrates exemplary resources allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of  FIG. 19 , for one traffic slot in a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network supporting group communications and peer to peer communications. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  illustrates exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of  FIG. 21 , for one traffic slot in a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer network  100 , e.g., an ad-hoc communications network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary network supports the establishment of groups and the transmission of group traffic signaling. Exemplary peer to peer network  100  includes a plurality of wireless devices (peer to peer communications device  1   102 , peer to peer communications device  2   104 , peer to peer communications device  3   106 , peer to peer communications device  4   108 , . . . , peer to peer communications device N  110 ) supporting peer to peer traffic signaling and group traffic signaling. In some embodiments, the network  100  includes a reference signal transmitter  116 , e.g., a beacon transmitter. 
         [0035]    The wireless devices ( 102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 , . . . ,  110 ) in the communications network  100  can establish connections with one another and form groups. There is a recurring timing structure used in the network  100 . In some embodiments a reference signal, e.g., an OFDM beacon signal from reference signal transmitter  116 , is used by a wireless device to synchronize with respect to the timing structure. Alternatively, a signal used to synchronize with the timing structure may be sourced from another device, e.g., a GPS transmitter, a base station or another peer to peer device. The timing structure used in the network includes a plurality of individual traffic slots. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of a flowchart  200  of an exemplary method of operating a first peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. Operation of the exemplary method starts in step  202 , where the first device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  204 . 
         [0037]    In step  204  the first device transmits a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones of said multiple connections being between said first peer to peer communications device and other peer to peer communications devices in a communications group. In some embodiments, the plurality of transmission requests are transmitted in a transmission request block. Operation proceeds from step  204  to step  206   
         [0038]    In step  206  the first device makes a decision whether or not transmit in said data transmission block based on signal received from non-group member peer to peer devices or lack thereof. In various embodiments, step  206  includes one or more of sub-steps  208  and  210 . In sub-step  208 , the first device makes the decision whether or not to transmit in said data transmission block as a function of the received power level of any transmission request responses corresponding to non-group member connections which have a higher priority than the highest priority connection of said multiple connections. In sub-step  210  the first device makes the decision whether or not to transmit in the data transmission block as a function of the number of responses received from group members. 
         [0039]    Operation proceeds from step  206  to step  212 . In step  212  the first device proceeds differently as a function of the decision of step  206 . If the decision is to transmit in the data transmission block, then operation proceeds from step  212  to step  214 . However, if the decision is not to transmit, then operation proceeds from step  212  to step  216 . 
         [0040]    Returning to step  214 , in step  214 , the first device transmits a pilot signal. Then in step  218  the first device receives a plurality of channel quality feedback signals from different members of the group. Operation proceeds from step  218  to step  220 . 
         [0041]    In step  220  the first device determines a data rate to be used for transmission of data in said data transmission block from said plurality of channel quality feedback signals. In some embodiments, step  220  includes sub-step  222 . In sub-step  222  the first device selects a data transmission rate which can be supported by a connection having the worst channel conditions indicated by said received channel quality feedback signals. 
         [0042]    Operation proceeds from step  220  to step  224 . In step  224  the first device transmits data to the other peer to peer communications devices in the data transmission block. Operation proceeds from step  224  to connecting node A  226 . 
         [0043]    Returning to step  216 , in step  216  the first device refrains from transmitting data to the other peer to peer communications devices in the data transmission block. Operation proceeds from step  216  to connecting node A  226 . 
         [0044]    Operation proceeds from connecting node A  226  to step  204 , where the first device transmits a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections corresponding to another transmission block. 
         [0045]    Consider several exemplary passes through the flowchart. For the first pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to in step  204 , is a first data transmission block. Consider that the first communications device has received transmission request responses corresponding to at least some non-group members which correspond to connections having higher priority than the highest priority connection of the multiple connections between the first device and the other devices in its group. Further consider that the received power level of the received transmission request responses corresponding to the non-group member of higher priority connections are below a threshold; the first device decides, in step  206 , that it is ok to transmit in the first transmission block since it anticipates that interference caused by its data transmission is acceptable from the perspective of the higher priority non-group member connections. Operations proceed along the path of steps  214 ,  218 ,  220  and  224  resulting in the transmission of data to the other peer to peer communications devices in the group in the first data transmission block. 
         [0046]    Now consider an exemplary second pass through the flowchart. For the second pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to in step  204 , is a second data transmission block. Consider that the first communications device has received transmission request responses corresponding to at least some non-group members which correspond to connections having higher priority than the highest priority connection of the multiple connections between the first device and the other devices in its group. Further consider that a received power level of a received transmission request response corresponding to a non-group member of a higher priority connection is above a threshold; the first device decides, in step  206 , to perform transmitter yielding and not to transmit in the second transmission block since it anticipates that interference that would be caused by its data transmission is unacceptable from the perspective of the higher priority non-group member connection. Operation proceeds to step  216  in which the first device is controlled to refrain from transmitting data to the other peer to peer device in the group in the second data transmission block. 
         [0047]    Now consider an exemplary third pass through the flowchart. For the third pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to in step  204 , is a third data transmission block. Consider that the first communications device has not received transmission request responses corresponding to any non-group members which correspond to connections having higher priority than the highest priority connection of the multiple connections between the first device and the other devices in its group. Further consider that the first device has transmitted transmission requests to a first number of group member in step  204 , e.g., 10 member, and consider that the first device has detected request responses, e.g., positive acknowledgments from a second number of the group member, e.g., 8 members. In this case the first device decides to proceeds with the transmission since a high number and/or high percentage of group member requested devices have positively responded. Operation proceeds along the path including steps  214 ,  218 ,  220  and  224  resulting in transmission of data by the first device in the third data transmission block. 
         [0048]    Now consider an exemplary fourth pass through the flowchart. For the fourth pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to in step  204 , is a fourth data transmission block. Consider that the first communications device has not received transmission request responses corresponding to any non-group members which correspond to connections having higher priority than the highest priority connection of the multiple connections between the first device and the other devices in its group. However the first communications device has detected one or more request response corresponding to lower priority connections. Further consider that the first device has transmitted transmission requests to a third number of group member in step  204 , e.g., 9 members, and consider that the first device has detected request responses, e.g., positive acknowledgments from a fourth number of the group member, e.g., 2 members. In this case the first device decides to not to proceed with the transmission since a low number and/or low percentage of group member requested devices have positively responded. Operation proceeds along the path including step  216  resulting in the first device refraining from transmitting data in the fourth data transmission block. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal, e.g., a peer to peer mobile node supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Wireless terminal  300  includes a wireless receiver module  302 , a wireless transmitter module  304 , user I/O devices  308 , a processor  306 , and memory  310  coupled together via a bus  312  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal  300  also includes a network interface  307  which couples the wireless terminal, e.g., via a backhaul network, to network nodes and/or the Internet. 
         [0050]    Memory  310  includes routines  318  and data/information  320 . The processor  306 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  318  and uses the data/information  320  in memory  310  to control the operation of the wireless terminal  300  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  200  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0051]    Wireless receiver module  302 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  314  via which the wireless terminal  300  receives signals from other wireless terminals. Received signals include, e.g., request response signals from group member peer to peer wireless terminals to which wireless terminal  300  has sent a request and request response signals from non-group member peer to peer wireless terminals, and channel quality feedback signals from group member peer to peer devices in response to a transmitted pilot signal. 
         [0052]    Wireless transmitter module  304 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  316  via which the wireless terminal  300  transmits signals to other peer to peer devices, e.g., to members of its group. Transmitted signals include individual request signals directed to individual members of its group, a pilot signal transmitted as a broadcast signal intended to be received and measured by members of its group, and a traffic signal directed to members of its group. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. 
         [0053]    User I/O devices  308  include, e.g., a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard, a keypad, a camera, switches, a display, etc. User I/O devices  308  allow an operator of wireless terminal  300  to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the wireless terminal  300 . 
         [0054]    Routines  318  include a communications routine  322  and wireless terminal control routines  324 . The communications routine  322  implements the various communications protocols used by the wireless terminal  300 . Control routines  324  include a transmission request control module  326 , a data transmission control module  328 , a transmission decision module  330 , a received power level determination module  332 , a priority module  334 , a group member identification module  336 , a pilot signal transmission control module  338 , a transmission rate determination module  340  and a response number counting module  342 . Data/information  320  includes timing structure information  344 , information identifying transmission request resources for group members  360 , generated request signals  362 , received signals  364 , power measurement information  366 , information identifying which received signals are from group members and which are from non-group members  368 , priority information  370 , pilot signal information  372 , received channel quality information  374 , rate information  376 , transmission decision criteria information  378 , traffic decision  380 , and a group-cast traffic signal  382 . 
         [0055]    Timing structure information  344  includes information corresponding to a plurality of intervals (interval  1  information  346  . . . , interval N information  348 ) in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Interval  1  information  346  includes transmission request air link resource information  350 , transmission request response air link resource information  352 , pilot signaling air link resource information  354 , rate signaling air link resource information  356 , and traffic air link resource information  358 . Transmission request air link resource information  350  includes information identifying a first traffic transmission request block including a plurality of individual transmission units associated with different connection identifiers and associated with different priority levels in the block. Transmission request response air link resource information  352  includes information identifying a first traffic transmission request response block including a plurality of individual transmission units associated with different connection identifiers and associated with different priority levels in the block. Pilot signaling air link resource information  354  includes information identifying resources to be used to carry pilot signals including a plurality of individual resources associated with different connection identifiers. Rate signaling air link resource information  356  includes information identifying individual resources associated with connection identifiers to be used to carry channel feedback information in response to a received pilot signal. Traffic air link resource information  358  includes information identifying a data transmission block, e.g. a traffic segment, to be used to carry traffic signals including a group-cast traffic signal. 
         [0056]    Transmission request control module  326  controls the wireless transmitter module  304  to transmit a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones of the multiple connections being between the peer to peer communications device  300  and other peer to peer communications devices in a communications group. The plurality of transmission requests are transmitted in a transmission request block, e.g., the transmission request block identified by information  350  corresponding to interval  1 . For example, consider that the requests are to be for using the traffic transmission block identified by information  358 . The transmission request control module  326  controls the wireless transmitter module  304  to transmit generated request signal  362  to its group members using transmission units identified by information  360  which are a subset of the transmission units identified by information  350 . 
         [0057]    Data transmission control module  328  controls the wireless transmitter module  304  to transmit data to other peer to peer communications devices in a data transmission block. For example, data transmission control module  328  controls the wireless transmitter module  304  to transmit group-cast traffic signal  382  using the traffic transmission block identified by information  358  in response to a positive decision to transmit in interval  1 . Data transmission control module  328 , which is responsive to the transmission decision module  330  controls the wireless transmitter module  304  to refrain from transmitting data in a data transmission block when the transmission decision module  330  decides not to transmit in the data transmission block. 
         [0058]    Transmission decision module  330  makes a decision whether or not to transmit in a data transmission block based on signals received from non-group member peer to peer devices or lack thereof. For example, detected request response signals above a threshold level from non-group member signals corresponding to a higher priority connection than the highest group member connection, in some embodiments, results in a decision not to transmit. Traffic decision  380  is an output of transmission decision module  330  and is used as an input by data transmission control module  328 . 
         [0059]    Received power level determination module  332  determines the received power level of request response signals from other peer to peer wireless terminals. Received signals  364  include request response signals, e.g., RX echo signals, signifying that the wireless terminal which received a transmission request agrees to proceed with the transmission. The received request response signals may be sourced from group member wireless terminals to which wireless terminal  300  sent a request and from other wireless terminals corresponding to connections of which wireless terminal  300  is not a member. Power measurement information  366  includes information output from received power level determination module  332  and used as input by transmission decision module  330 . 
         [0060]    Priority module  353  determines the transmission priority associated with the connections of the group to which requests have been transmitted by wireless terminal  300  and the transmission priority associated with other connection which are not associated with the group. Priority information  370  is an output of priority module  334  and is used as an input by transmission decision module  330 , e.g., in making transmission yielding decisions. 
         [0061]    Group membership identification module  336  identifies which of the received request response signals in received signals  364  are from a group member and which of the received signals are from non-group members. Information  368  is an output of group membership identification module  336  and is used by transmission decision module  330 . In some embodiments, individual transmission units within a transmission request response air link resource, e.g., the transmission request response block identified by information  352 , are associated with different connection identifiers, and such information is used by group membership identification module  336 . 
         [0062]    At times, the transmission decision module  330  determines whether or not to transmit in a data transmission block as a function of the received power level of transmission request responses corresponding to non-group member connections which have been received and which have a higher priority than the highest priority connection of multiple connections of the group to which wireless terminal  300  belongs. 
         [0063]    Pilot signal transmission control module  338  controller the transmitter module  304  to transmit, subsequent to the transmission of a plurality of transmission requests, a pilot signal. Pilot signal information  372  includes information specifying the characteristics of the pilot signal, e.g., transmission power level, signature and/or information of the pilot signal. In some embodiments, the pilot signal is a CDMA signal while the request signals are OFDM signals. In this embodiment, a single pilot signal is controlled to be broadcast intended to be detected by multiple group members, wherein individual transmission request signals are transmitted to individual group members. Pilot signal information  372  also includes information identifying the air link resource to be used to convey the pilot signal, e.g., the transmission unit or units within pilot signaling air link resource information  356  corresponding to one of the connections of the group. 
         [0064]    Receiver module  302  receives, prior to transmission by the transmitter module  304  of data in a data transmission block, a plurality of channel quality feedback signals from different members of the group to which the wireless terminal  300  sent transmission requests. Received channel quality information  374  includes information conveyed by those signals, e.g., a channel quality estimate, a received power level, and/or information identifying a data rate supported by the channel. Channel quality information communicated to the wireless terminal  300  is in response to and based upon the pilot signal previously transmitted by wireless terminal  300 . 
         [0065]    Transmission rate determination module  340  determines a data transmission rate to be used for transmission of data in a data transmission block based on a plurality of received channel quality feedback signals. In some embodiments, transmission rate determination module  340  determines a data transmission rate by selecting a data transmission rate which can be supported by a connection having the worst channel conditions indicated by the received channel quality feedback signals. In other embodiments, a different criteria is utilized for selecting a data transmission rate. For example, in one embodiment, the data transmission rate is chosen which satisfies a determined number or a determined percentage of the wireless terminals which have responded. In another embodiment, one or more outlier rate points, which deviate from a mean or median value are omitted in the consideration of the rate determination. 
         [0066]    Response number counting module  342  counts a number of responses received in response to the plurality of transmission requests which were transmitted by wireless terminal  300  in a request transmission block as part of a group request. In some embodiments, the transmission decision module  330  makes a decision whether or not to transmit data in a data transmission block based on the number of responses received from group members. In some embodiments, if a minimum number or minimum percentage of wireless terminals to which a request was transmitted have not positively responded, the transmission decision module  330  decides not to transmit in the data transmission block based on the count from the response number counting module  342 . For example, consider that wireless terminal has transmitted transmission request signals to 8 group members, but has only received one request response signal, in such a case, in some embodiments, the transmission decision module  330  may decide to refrain from transmitting in the data transmission block. 
         [0067]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart  400  of an exemplary method of operating a peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. Operation of the exemplary method starts in step  402 , where the communications device receives a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a communications group and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first data transmission block. In some embodiments, the first plurality of the transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group are received from a first transmission request block. In some such embodiments, the first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group and the at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection are received from the first transmission request block. In some embodiments, priority is conveyed by position of a request in the first transmission request block. Operation proceeds from step  404  to step  405 . 
         [0068]    In step  405 , the communications device identifies a received transmission request from another member of said group from among said first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to the communications group. In some embodiments, identifying the received transmission request from said another member of the group includes identifying the received transmission request from among said first plurality of transmission requests having the highest priority. In some embodiments, identifying the received transmission request from said another member of the group includes selecting the received transmission request from among said first plurality of transmission requests which has the highest priority as the identified received transmission request from said another member of the group. 
         [0069]    In step  406  the communications device makes a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response to another member of said group from which a transmission request was received as a function of a priority of a connection between the communications device and said another member of said group and a priority corresponding to said non-group connection without taking into consideration transmission requests from other members of said group. Step  406  includes sub-steps  408 ,  410 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  424 ,  426  and  428 . Step  406  may, and sometimes does, include sub-step  412 . 
         [0070]    In sub-step  408 , the communications device determines the priority of the received transmission request from said another group member. In sub-step  410  the communications device determines a priority of a received transmission request corresponding to said non-group member. In sub-step  412 , the communications device determines priority of a received transmission request corresponding to another non-group member. Sub-step  412  may be, and sometimes is, repeated multiple times corresponding to different received requests from non-group members, e.g., depending upon the number of received transmission requests from non-group members. 
         [0071]    Operation proceeds from sub-steps  408  and  410 , and  412  when performed, to sub-step  414 . In sub-step  414  the communications device determines whether or not the priority of the received transmission request from the another group member of sub-step  408  is higher than the priority of each of the received transmission requests corresponding to non-group members. If the priority of the received transmission request from said another group member is higher than the priority of the received transmission requests from non-group members, then operation proceeds from sub-step  414  to sub-step  426 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from sub-step  414  to sub-step  416 . 
         [0072]    In sub-step  414  the communications device calculates a receive signal quality value as a function of the received power of the transmission request from the another member of said group and the request from a non-group member request of higher priority. If there are multiple received transmission requests corresponding to non-group members of higher priority, then the calculation of the receive signal quality value in step  416  is, in some embodiments, also calculated as a function of the received power of the other non-group member requests of higher priority. Operation proceeds from sub-step  416  to sub-step  418 . In sub-step  418  the communication device compares the calculated signal quality value of sub-step  416  to a threshold. Operation proceeds from sub-step  418  to sub-step  424 . 
         [0073]    There may be, and sometimes are, a plurality of received requests corresponding to non-group member connections which have a higher priority than the request from the another group member. For example, consider that there are five received transmission requests corresponding to non-group members and three of the five are higher priority than the received transmission request from the another group member. In such as example, the communications device may determine the priority corresponding to each of the five received requests from non-group members. Then, in sub-step  416  the communications device may calculate the receive quality value as a function of the received power from the transmission request from the another member of the group and from the received power of three requests from non-group member requests of higher priority. 
         [0074]    Returning to step  424 , in step  424  the communications device determines whether or not the calculated value of sub-step  416  is below a threshold. If the calculated values of step  416  is below the threshold applied in the comparison of step  418 , then operation proceeds from step  424  to step  428 , where the communications device decides not to transmit a traffic transmission request to said another member of the group; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  424  to step  426 . The decision of step  428  not to transmit a traffic transmission request to said another group member is a receiver yielding decision to yield the traffic transmission resource. Returning to step  426 , in step  426  the communications device decides to transmit a traffic transmission request to said another member of the group. 
         [0075]    Operation proceeds from step  406  via connecting node A  430  to step  432 . If the decision of step  406  is to transmit a request response to said another group member from which a transmission request was received, then operation proceeds from step  432  to step  434 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  432  to connecting node B  444 . 
         [0076]    In step  434 , the communications device generates a transmission request response signal. Then, in step  436  the communications device transmits the generated transmission request response signal to said another member of said group. Operation proceeds from step  436  to step  438 , in which the communications device receives a group traffic signal from said another member of said group on a traffic transmission resource corresponding to the received transmission request from said another member of the group. Operation proceeds from step  438  to step  440 , in which the communications device generates an acknowledgment signal in response to successful recovery by the communications device of group traffic data communicated in the group traffic signal. Then, in step  442  the communications device transmits the generated acknowledgment signal to said another member of said group. Operation proceeds from step  442  to connecting node B  444 . In some embodiments, acknowledgment signaling corresponding to group traffic signaling is not employed and step  440  and  442  are not included. In such an embodiment, operation proceeds from step  438  to connecting node B  444 . 
         [0077]    Operation proceeds from connecting node B  444  to the input of step  404 , where the communications device receives a second plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a second data transmission block. 
         [0078]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  500 , e.g., a mobile peer to peer communications device supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary communications device  500  includes a wireless receiver module  502 , a wireless transmitter module  504 , a processor  506 , user I/O devices  508  and a memory  510  coupled together via a bus  512  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. In some embodiments, communications device  500  also includes network interface  507  also coupled to bus  512 . Network interface  507  allows the communications device  500  to be coupled to network nodes and/or the Internet via a backhaul network. 
         [0079]    Memory  510  includes routines  518  and data/information  520 . The processor  506 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  518  and uses the data/information  520  in memory  510  to control the operation of the communications device  500  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  400  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0080]    Wireless receiver module  502 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  514  via which the communications device  500  receives signals from other communications devices, e.g., device  300  of  FIG. 3 . Received signals include, e.g., group establishment signals, traffic transmission requests from group members, traffic transmission requests from non-group members, and group traffic signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. Wireless receiver module  502  may, and sometimes does, receive a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first data transmission block. 
         [0081]    Wireless transmitter module  504 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  516  via which the communications device  500  transmits signals to other communications devices, e.g., device  300  of  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g., group establishment signals, traffic transmission request response signals, group traffic acknowledgment signals, and peer to peer traffic acknowledgment signals. 
         [0082]    User I/O devices  508  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, camera, switches, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices  508  allow an operator of communications device  500  to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the communications device  500 . 
         [0083]    Routines  518  include a communications routine  522  and control routines  524 . The communications routine  522  implements the various communications protocols used by the communications device  500 . Control routines  524  include a transmission request detection module  526 , a group request response decision module  528 , a priority comparison module  530 , a receive signal quality calculation module  532 , a receiver yielding module  534 , a transmission request response control module  540 , a request priority determination module  542 , a group transmission request identification module  544  and a group traffic signal module  548 . Receiver yielding module  534  includes a threshold comparison sub-module  536  and a yielding decision sub-module  538 . Group transmission request identification module  544  includes a highest priority group transmission request identification module  546 . 
         [0084]    Data/information  520  includes timing/frequency structure information  550 , information identifying group members  552 , received group member transmission requests  554 , received non-group member peer to peer transmission requests  556 , determined priority information  558 , identified group member request for which to consider request response decision  560 , identified non-member transmission requests having higher priority than the identified group member request  562 , calculated signal quality value  564 , threshold information  566 , request response decision  568 , generated transmission request response signal  570 , received group traffic signal  572 , and generated group traffic acknowledgement signal  574 . 
         [0085]    Transmission request detection module  526  detects transmission request signals received by wireless receiver module  502 . Detected transmission requests can, and sometimes do, include a transmission request or requests corresponding to group members and a transmission request or requests corresponding to non-group members. At times, transmission request detection module  526  detects, corresponding to a first data transmission block, a first plurality of transmission request corresponding to a communications group of which device  500  is a member and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection. The first plurality of transmission requests, in some embodiments, are received from a first transmission request block. In some such embodiments, the at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection is also received from the same first transmission request block. For example, the first transmission request block corresponds to the first data transmission block, and the first transmission request block is used to carry traffic transmission requests requesting to transmit traffic signals in the first data transmission block, e.g., a traffic segment. 
         [0086]    Group request response decision module  528  makes a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response to another member of a communications group of which device  500  is a member, from which a transmission request was received, as a function of a priority of a connection between the communications device  500  and said another member of the group and a priority corresponding to a non-group connection without taking into consideration transmission requests received from other members of the group. Group request response decision module  528  may, and sometimes does, make its decision as a function of priorities corresponding to multiple non-members connection requests which were received. Group request response decision module  528  may, and sometimes does, make a decision to transmit a transmission request response to another member of the group when each of the received transmission requests from non-group members corresponding to connections have lower priority than the received transmission request from the another member of the group. 
         [0087]    Priority comparison module  530  determines if a priority corresponding to a non-group member from which a transmission request was received is higher than a priority corresponding to a transmission request from another member of the group. Priority comparison module  530  may, and sometimes does, perform a plurality of comparisons corresponding to a plurality of non-member received transmission requests for the same transmission request block. Receive signal quality calculation module  532  calculates a receive signal quality value as a function of the received power of a received transmission request from another member of the group and the receive power of a received non-group member transmission request of higher priority. Received signal quality calculation module  532  may, and sometimes does calculate a receive signal quality value as a function of the receive power of a received transmission request from another member of the group and from the received powers from a plurality of non-group member received transmission requests of higher priority. 
         [0088]    Receiver yielding module  534  compares a calculated receive signal quality value to a threshold, and when the calculated receive signal quality value is below a threshold, makes a decision not to transmit a transmission request response to the another member of said group from which the group member request was received and for which the calculated receive signal quality value applies. Threshold comparison sub-module  536  performs the comparison between the calculated receive signal quality value and the threshold. Yielding decision sub-module  538  makes the decision whether or not implement receiver yielding based on the threshold comparison determination. The output of the yielding decision sub-module  538  is used an input to the group request response decision module  528 . 
         [0089]    Transmission request response control module  540  controls the wireless transmitter module  504  to implement the decision of the group request response decision module  528 , e.g., transmitting a generated transmission request response signal when the decision is to transmit or controlling the wireless transmitter  504  to refrain from transmitting when the decision is not to transmit. Transmission request response control module  540  controls the wireless transmitter module  504  to transmit a transmission request response to the another member of the group when the group request response decision module  528  makes a decision to transmit a transmission request response to said another member of the group. In this exemplary embodiment, a request response signal transmitted in response to a group transmission request from another member of the communication group is a positive acknowledgment to the transmission request from said another member of the group. 
         [0090]    Request priority determination module  542  determines the request priority corresponding to group member transmission requests and non-group member transmission requests. Determined priority information  558  includes output information from request priority determination module  542 . In some embodiments, request priority is associated with location of a request in the transmission request block, e.g., in accordance with the timing/frequency structure information  550 . 
         [0091]    Group transmission request identification module  544  determines the transmission request from among a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group corresponding to a data transmission block for which a group request response decision is to be performed. Highest priority group transmission request identification module  546  identifies the highest priority request from among a plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group corresponding to a data transmission block. In some embodiments, the determined highest priority group transmission request determined by module  546  is the identified request of module  544 . 
         [0092]    Group traffic signaling module  548  controls the reception of a group traffic signal  572  by wireless receiver module  502 , the recovery of group traffic data from received group traffic signal  572 , the generation of a group traffic acknowledgment signal  574  and the transmission of the generated group traffic acknowledgment signal  574 . 
         [0093]    Timing/frequency structure information  550  includes information pertaining to a plurality of traffic slot air link resources, e.g., traffic slot intervals, in a recurring timing structure. In some embodiments, an individual one of the traffic slot air link resources includes information identifying transmission request air link resources, transmission request response air link resources, pilot signaling air link resources, rate signaling air link resources, traffic signaling air link resources, and traffic acknowledgment air link resources. In some embodiments the transmission request air link resources include a transmission request block which includes a plurality of individual transmission units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols, where an individual transmission unit is designate to carry a transmission request. In some embodiments, the traffic signaling air link resources includes information identifying a data transmission block, e.g., a traffic segment associated with the transmission request block. 
         [0094]    Information identifying group members  552  includes information identifying the members of the communications group to which communications device  500  belongs. Received group member transmission requests  554  and received non-group member peer to peer transmission requests  556  represent received transmission requests detected by transmission request detection module  528 . Determined priority information  558  includes information output by request priority determination module  542  and which is used as input by priority comparison module  530 , receive signal quality calculation module  532 , and/or highest priority group transmission request identification module  546 . Identified group member request for which to consider request response decision  560  is an output of group transmission request identification module  544 . Identified non-member requests having higher priority than the identified group member request  562  is an output of priority comparison module  530 . Calculated signal quality value  564 , e.g., an SINR value or SNR value, is an output of receive signal quality value calculation module  532  and is used an input by threshold comparison sub-module  536  along with threshold information  566 , e.g., a predetermined or dynamically determined value used to determine a minimum level of acceptable expected traffic signal reception quality at device  500  to allow the requested traffic transmission to proceed. Request response decision  568  is an output of group request response decision module  528  and is used as an input by transmission request response control module  540 . 
         [0095]    In some embodiments, some module or sub-modules shown in the example of  FIG. 5  are included as sub-modules in other modules. For example, in some embodiments, request priority determination module  542 , receiver yielding module  534 , priority comparison module  530  and receive signal quality calculation module  532  are sub-modules of group request response decision module  528 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 6  is a drawing  600  illustrating an exemplary timing structure and exemplary air link resources in an exemplary embodiment. Vertical axis  602  represents frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, while horizontal axis  604  represents time. The exemplary timing/frequency recurring structure includes a plurality of sets of air link resources associated with traffic. First exemplary set of air link resources associated with traffic includes connection scheduling air link resources  606 , rate scheduling air link resources  608 , data traffic air link resources  610  and traffic acknowledgment air link resources  612 . Exemplary nth set of air link resources associated with traffic includes connection scheduling air link resources  614 , rate scheduling air link resources  616 , data traffic air link resources  618  and traffic acknowledgment air link resources  620 . Connection scheduling air link resources  606  includes traffic transmission request resource  622  and traffic transmission request response resource  624 . Rate scheduling air link resources  608  includes pilot signaling resource  626  and channel quality feedback resource  628 . Data traffic air link resources  610  includes traffic segment  630 . Traffic acknowledgment air link resources  612  include traffic acknowledgment segments  632 . 
         [0097]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network  700 , e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer communications network, supporting peer to peer communications and group traffic signaling. Exemplary wireless communications network  700  includes a plurality of peer to peer wireless communications devices (wireless terminal A  702 , wireless terminal B  704 , wireless terminal C  706 , wireless terminal D  708 , wireless terminal E  710 , wireless terminal F  712 , wireless terminal G  714 , wireless terminal H  716 ). The exemplary wireless network  700  uses a recurring peer to peer timing structure such as that shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0098]    In the exemplary illustration of  FIG. 7 , various wireless terminals in the system have previously established peer to peer connections, e.g., via communications exchanges. In addition some of the wireless terminals have established a group, e.g., via communications exchanges. In this example, WT A  702 , WT B  704 , WT C  706  and WT D  708  are members of a group. Each wireless terminal of the group has a connection with the other members of the group. WT A  702  has connection ( 718 ,  720 ,  722 ) with (WT B  704 , WT C  706 , WT D  708 ), respectively. In addition WT B  704  has connection ( 724 ,  726 ) with (WT C  706 , WT D  708 ), respectively; WT C  706  has connection  728  with WT D  708 . In addition to the group connections, WT E  710  has a peer to peer connection  730  with WT F  712 , and WT G  714  has a peer to peer connection with WT H  716 . 
         [0099]    WT A  702  is currently situated close to WT F  712 . However WT G  714  and WT H are situated far away from the other WTs ( 702 ,  704 ,  706 ,  708 ,  710 ,  712 ). 
         [0100]    Drawing  800  of  FIG. 8  illustrates the same wireless terminals of  FIG. 7  and provides additional information used to illustrate an example of group traffic signaling in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. Drawing  800  illustrates exemplary uni-direction traffic flow direction connections and corresponding associated connection identifiers. Wireless terminal A  702  has connections ( 818 ,  820 ,  822 ) directed to (WT B  704 , WT C,  706 , WT D  708 ), respectively, associated with connection identifiers (CID  1   819 , CID  3   821 , CID  2   823 ), respectively. Wireless terminal E  710  has uni-direction traffic flow connection  830  associated with connection identifier  4  (CID  4   831 ). Wireless terminal G  714  has uni-direction traffic flow connection  832  associated with connection identifier  5  (CID  5   833 ). 
         [0101]    In the example of  FIG. 8 , assume that WT A would like to transmit a group traffic signal to WT B  704 , WT C  706 , and WT D  708 . Also assume that WT E would like to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal to WT F  712 , and that WT G  714  would like to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal to WT H  716 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in a recurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources and connection identifier information associated with at least some of those resources.  FIG. 10  illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated using the resources of  FIG. 9  in one exemplary scenario corresponding to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0102]    Drawing  901  of  FIG. 9  illustrates a transmission request air link resource  902 , a transmission request response air link resource  904 , a pilot signaling air link resource  906 , a channel quality feedback air link resource  908  and a traffic air link resource  910 . Drawing  903  of  FIG. 9  illustrates, that the various air link resources ( 902 ,  904 ,  906 ,  908 ,  910 ) include a plurality of transmission units e.g., OFDM tone-symbols. Drawing  903  also illustrates that priorities are associated with the transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  902  and transmission request response air link resource  904 . In particular, in this example there are 16 transmission units in the transmission request air link resource  902 , each associated with a different priority, P 1  through P 16 , where the lower priority number represents higher priority, e.g., P 1  represents the highest priority, P 16  is the lowest priority, and P 1  is higher in priority than P 2 , etc. Similarly, there are 16 transmission units in the transmission request response air link resource  904 , each associated with a different priority, P 1  through P 16 . 
         [0103]    Drawing  905  illustrates that different connection identifiers (C 1 , C 2 , C 16 ) are associated with different transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  902 , the transmission request response air link resource  904 , the pilot signal air link resource  906  and the channel quality feedback air link resource  908 . Drawing  903  and drawing  905 , viewed in combination, illustrate the linkage between different connection identifiers and different priorities corresponding to this exemplary traffic slot. 
         [0104]    Now consider the combination of  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT B  704  has connection identifier  1  (C 1 ) and has priority level P 6 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT C  706  has connection identifier  3  (C 3 ) and has priority level P 16 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT D  708  has connection identifier  2  (C 2 ) and has priority level P 11 . The connection associated from WT E  710  to WT F  712  has connection identifier  4  (C 4 ) and has priority level P 4 . The connection associated from WT G  714  to WT H  716  has connection identifier  5  (C 5 ) and has priority level P 2 . 
         [0105]    Drawing  901  of  FIG. 10  illustrates the transmission request air link resource  902 , the transmission request response air link resource  904 , the pilot signaling air link resource  906 , the channel quality feedback and link resource  908  and the traffic air link resource  910 . Drawing  1001  of  FIG. 10  illustrates exemplary signaling carried by those air link resources. 
         [0106]    Traffic transmission request signals are carried by the transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  902 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 1  with priority P 6 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT B  704 , as indicated by block  1002 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 3  with priority P 16 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT C  706 , as indicated by block  1004 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 2  with priority P 11 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT D  708 , as indicated by block  1006 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 4  with priority P 4 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT E  710  to WT F  712 , as indicated by block  1008 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 5  with priority P 2 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT G  714  to WT H  716 , as indicated by block  1010 . 
         [0107]    Traffic transmission request response signals, e.g., RX echo signals signifying a positive response to the a received traffic transmission request, are carried by the transmission units of the transmission request response air link resource  904 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 1  with priority P 6 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT B  704  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1012 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 3  with priority P 16 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT C  706  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1014 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 2  with priority P 11 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT D  708  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1016 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 4  with priority P 4 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT F  712  to WT E  710 , as indicated by block  1018 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 5  with priority P 2 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT H  716  to WT G  714 , as indicated by block  1020 . 
         [0108]    Wireless terminal A  702  has received the request response signals from WT B  704 , WT C  706  and WT D  708  to which it had sent request signals. WT A  702  also receives the request response signal from WT F  712 , which happens to be located very close to WT A  702 . WT A  702  may receive a very weak request response signal from WT H  716  or may not detect the request response signal from WT H  716 , which happens to be located very far away from WT A  702 . Connection  4  corresponding to the WT E-&gt;WT F connection has priority P 4  which is a higher priority than that of any of connections  1 ,  2 , or  3 , which correspond to WT A  702 . WT A  702  measures the signal strength of the request response signal from WT F  712  and makes a transmitter yielding decision as a function of the measurement. In this example, assume that the measurement exceeds a yielding threshold level and WT A  702  decides to yield the traffic transmission resource and refrain from transmitting in this traffic transmission segment. 
         [0109]    Continuing with the example, WT E  710 , has received the request response signal from WT F  712 , and decides to proceed with its traffic transmission. Similarly, WT G  714  has received the request response signal from WT H  712  and decides to proceed with its traffic transmission. WT E  710  generates and transmits a pilot signal using a resource of the pilot signal air link resource  906  as indicated by block  1022 . WT G  714  generates and transmits a pilot signal using a resource of the pilot signal air link resource  906  as indicated by block  1024 . WT F  712  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT E  710 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT E  710  and WT F  712  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT E  710  as indicated by block  1026 . WT H  716  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT G  714 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT G  714  and WT H  716  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT G  714  as indicated by block  1028 . 
         [0110]    WT E  710  receives and processes the channel quality feedback information from WT F  712 , determines a data rate for traffic signaling, generates traffic signals and transmits the peer to peer traffic signals to WT F  712  using the traffic air link resource  910 , e.g. traffic segment. WT G  714  receives and processes the channel quality feedback information from WT H  716 , determines a data rate for traffic signaling, generates traffic signals and transmits the peer to peer traffic signals to WT H  716  using the traffic air link resource  910 , e.g. traffic segment. 
         [0111]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in a recurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment, priority information associated with at least some of those resources and connection identifier information associated with at least some of those resources.  FIG. 12  illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated using the resources of  FIG. 11  in another exemplary scenario corresponding to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0112]    Drawing  1101  of  FIG. 11  illustrates a transmission request air link resource  1102 , a transmission request response air link resource  1104 , a pilot signaling air link resource  1106 , a channel quality feedback air link resource  1108  and a traffic air link resource  1110 . Drawing  1103  of  FIG. 11  illustrates, that the various air link resources ( 1102 ,  1104 ,  1106 ,  1108 ,  1110 ) include a plurality of transmission units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols. Drawing  1103  also illustrates that priorities are associated with the transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  1102  and transmission request response air link resource  1104 . In particular, in this example there are 16 transmission units in the transmission request air link resource  1102 , each associated with a different priority, P 1  through P 16 , where the lower priority number represents higher priority, e.g., P 1  represents the highest priority, P 16  is the lowest priority, and P 1  is higher in priority than P 2 , etc. Similarly, there are 16 transmission units in the transmission request response air link resource  1104 , each associated with a different priority, P 1  through P 16 . 
         [0113]    Drawing  1105  illustrates that different connection identifiers (C 1 , C 2 , C 16 ) are associated with different transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  1102 , the transmission request response air link resource  1104 , the pilot signal air link resource  1106  and the channel quality feedback air link resource  1108 . Drawing  1103  and drawing  1105 , viewed in combination, illustrate the linkage between different connection identifiers and different priorities corresponding to this exemplary traffic slot. 
         [0114]    Now consider the combination of  FIGS. 8 ,  11 , and  12 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT B  704  has connection identifier  1  (C 1 ) and has priority level P 6 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT C  706  has connection identifier  3  (C 3 ) and has priority level P 16 . The connection associated from WT A  702  to WT D  708  has connection identifier  2  (C 2 ) and has priority level P 11 . The connection associated from WT E  710  to WT F  712  has connection identifier  4  (C 4 ) and has priority level P 15 . The connection associated from WT G  714  to WT H  716  has connection identifier  5  (C 5 ) and has priority level P 2 . 
         [0115]    Drawing  1101  of  FIG. 12  illustrates the transmission request air link resource  1102 , the transmission request response air link resource  1104 , the pilot signaling air link resource  1106 , the channel quality feedback and link resource  1108  and the traffic air link resource  1110 . Drawing  1201  of  FIG. 12  illustrates exemplary signaling carried by those air link resources. 
         [0116]    Traffic transmission request signals are carried by the transmission units of the transmission request air link resource  1102 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 1  with priority P 6 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT B  704 , as indicated by block  1202 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 3  with priority P 16 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT C  706 , as indicated by block  1204 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 2  with priority P 11 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A  702  to WT D  708 , as indicated by block  1206 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 4  with priority P 15 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT E  710  to WT F  712 , as indicated by block  1208 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 5  with priority P 2 , carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT G  714  to WT H  716 , as indicated by block  1210 . 
         [0117]    Traffic transmission request response signals, e.g., RX echo signals signifying a positive response to a received traffic transmission request, are carried by the transmission units of the transmission request response air link resource  1104 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 1  with priority P 6 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT B  704  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1212 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 3  with priority P 16 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT C  706  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1214 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 2  with priority P 11 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT D  708  to WT A  702 , as indicated by block  1216 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 4  with priority P 15 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT F  712  to WT E  710 , as indicated by block  1218 . A transmission unit corresponding to connection C 5  with priority P 2 , carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT H  716  to WT G  714 , as indicated by block  1220 . 
         [0118]    Wireless terminal A  702  has received the request response signals from WT B  704 , WT C  706  and WT D  708  to which it had sent request signals. WT A  702  also receives the request response signal from WT F  712 , which happens to be located very close to WT A  702 . WT A  702  may receive a very weak request response signal from WT H  716  or may not detect the request response signal from WT H  716 , which happens to be located very far away from WT A  702 . Connection  4  corresponding to the WT E-&gt;WT F connection has priority P 15  which is a lower priority than that of the highest priority connection in the set of the group which correspond to WT A  702 , e.g., connection  1  has priority P 6 . Therefore WT A  702  will not yield to lower priority connection  4 . However, connection  5  between WT G  714  and WT H  716  has priority P 2  which is a higher priority than that of connection  1  which is P 6 . Therefore WT A  702  measures the signal strength of the request response signal from WT H  716 , if it can detect the signal, and makes a transmitter yielding decision as a function of the measurement. In this example, assume that the measurement is below a yielding threshold level and WT A  702  decides to proceed with the traffic transmission resource and transmit in this traffic transmission segment. 
         [0119]    Assume that WT A  702  and WT G  714  have decided to proceed with traffic transmission. WT A  710  generates and transmits a pilot signal using a resource of the pilot signal air link resource  1208  as indicated by block  1222 . Note that WT A  702 , in this exemplary embodiment, only transmits one pilot signal which is intended to be utilized by the members of its group. In this example, the pilot signal is transmitted using the pilot signal air link resource portion associated with the highest priority connection of the group. WT G  714  generates and transmits a pilot signal using a resource of the pilot signal air link resource  908  as indicated by block  1224 . WT B  704  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT A  702 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT A  702  and WT B  704  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT A  702  as indicated by block  1226 . WT C  706  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT A  702 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT A  702  and WT C  706  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT A  702  as indicated by block  1228 . WT D  708  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT A  702 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT A  702  and WT D  708  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT A  702  as indicated by block  1230 . WT H  716  receives and measures the pilot signal from WT G  714 , generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT G  714  and WT H  716  such as information indicating a maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WT G  714  as indicated by block  1232 . 
         [0120]    WT A  702  receives and processes the channel quality feedback information from WT B  704 , WT C  706  and WT D  708 , determines a data rate for traffic signaling, e.g., the lowest of three reported supported rates, generates group traffic signals conveying traffic data in accordance with the determined rate, and transmits the group traffic signals directed to WT B  704 , WT C  706  and WT D  708  using the traffic air link resource  1110 , e.g. traffic segment. WT G  714  receives and processes the channel quality feedback information from WT H  716 , determines a data rate for traffic signaling, generates traffic signals and transmits the peer to peer traffic signals to WT H  716  using the traffic air link resource  1110 , e.g. traffic segment. 
         [0121]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart  1300  of an exemplary method of operating a peer to peer communications device to implement group communications. Operation starts in step  1302 , where the peer to peer communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  1304 . In step  1304  the peer to peer communications device performs a communications exchange with potential group members to establish membership in the group. The group is, e.g., a group of peer to peer communications devices. Operation proceeds from step  1304  to step  1306 . In step  1306  the peer to peer communications device determines a set of communications resources to be used by group communications including a set of connection identifiers corresponding to connections between different members of the group. Operation proceeds from step  1306  to step  1308 . 
         [0122]    In step  1308  the peer to peer communications device transmits data to members of the group in a first signal directed to said group. Transmitting data to members of the group in a first signal includes transmitting the first signal using a communications resource corresponding to the communications connections. The data transmission resource is common for multiple connections of the group, e.g., a traffic segment carries a group cast traffic signal intended for reception by group members. In some embodiments, the first signal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone-symbols in a data traffic interval. In various embodiments, the transmitting of data to members of the group is performed at a data rate determined by information corresponding to each of the members of the group. 
         [0123]    Then, in step  1310  the peer to peer communications device monitors for acknowledgements from the members of the group indicating the data was received. In some embodiments, the monitoring for acknowledgments includes monitoring a plurality of individual communications resources, each of the plurality of individual communications resources being dedicated to one of the group members for the purposes of sending acknowledgements. Operation proceeds from step  1310  to step  1312 . 
         [0124]    In step  1312  the peer to peer communications device determines whether or not acknowledgments were received from each of the member of group indicating successful communication of the data in the first signal. If acknowledgments were received from each of the members of the group then operation proceeds to step  1320 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1312  to step  1314 . 
         [0125]    In step  1314 , the peer to peer communications device re-transmits the data in a second signal directed to a subset of the group, said subset including members of the group from which acknowledgments were not received and excluding at least one member of the group from which an acknowledgment was received. Re-transmitting data to members of the subset group in the second signal includes transmitting the second signal using a communications resource corresponding to communications connections of the subset. In some embodiments, the retransmitting of data is performed at a data rate determined by information corresponding to members of the subset of the group. In some such embodiments the information corresponding to the members of the subset is link quality feedback information. 
         [0126]    Then, in step  1316 , the peer to peer communications device monitors for acknowledgments of successful communication of said data from the second signal from members of the subset of the group. In some embodiments, monitoring for acknowledgements of successful communication of said data from the second signal does not involve monitoring for acknowledgments from members of said group which are not members of the subset. 
         [0127]    Operation proceeds from step  1316  to step  1320 . In step  1320  the peer to peer communications device determines whether or not it has more data to transmit to members of the group. If it does not have more data to transmit, then operation proceeds to step  1322 . However; if the peer to peer communications device does have additional data to communicate, then operation proceeds from step  1320  to the input of step  1308 . 
         [0128]      FIG. 14  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  1400 , e.g., a peer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Communications device  1400  includes a wireless receiver module  1402 , a wireless transmitter module  1404 , user I/O devices  1408 , a processor  1406 , and memory  1410  coupled together via a bus  1412  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. In some embodiments, the communication device  1400  also includes a network interface  1407  which couples the communications device  1400 , e.g., via a backhaul network, to network nodes and/or the Internet. 
         [0129]    Memory  1410  includes routines  1418  and data/information  1420 . The processor  1406 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  1418  and uses the data/information  1420  in memory  1410  to control the operation of the communications device  1400  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  1300  of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0130]    Wireless receiver module  1402 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  1414  via which the communications device  1400  receives signals from other communications devices. Received signals include, e.g., group membership establishment signals, channel quality feedback signals, acknowledgment signals in response to an initial group traffic data signal, and acknowledgments in response to a retransmitted traffic data signal. 
         [0131]    Wireless transmitter module  1404 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  1416  via which the communications device  1400  transmits signals to other communications devices, e.g., to other peer to peer devices which are members of a group to which it belongs and/or to other communications device which are potential members of a group. Transmitted signals include, e.g., group membership establishment signals, an initial group traffic signal directed to members of a group to which device  1400  belongs, and a re-transmission traffic signal directed to a subset of members of the group to which it belongs. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. 
         [0132]    User I/O devices  1408  include, e.g., a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard, a keypad, a camera, switches, a display, etc. User I/O devices  1408  allow an operator of communications device  1400  to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the communications device  1400 . 
         [0133]    Routines  1418  include a communications routine  1422  and control routines  1424 . The communications routine  1422  implements the various communications protocols used by the communications device  1400 . Control routines  1424  include a group signaling control module  1426 , an acknowledgment monitoring module  1428 , a re-transmission control module  1430 , a re-transmission acknowledgement module  1432 , a re-transmission sub-set identification module  1434 , an initial transmission data rate determination module  1436 , a re-transmission data rate determination module  1438 , a group establishment module  1440  and a resource determination module  1442 . 
         [0134]    Data/information  1420  includes timing structure information  1444 , traffic data to be transmitted  1461 , first signal information  1462 , second signal information  1464 , group membership information  1466 , group subset information  1468 , determined initial data rate  1470 , determined re-transmit data rate  1472 , group resources information  1474 , detected acknowledgments to the first signal  1476 , detected acknowledgements to the second signal  1478 , group channel quality feedback information  1480 , and group subset channel quality feedback information  1482 . 
         [0135]    Timing structure information  1444  includes information corresponding to a plurality of intervals (interval  1  information  1446 , . . . , interval N information  1448 ) in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Interval  1  information  1446  includes transmission request air link resource information  1450 , transmission request response air link resource information  1452 , pilot signaling air link resource information  1454 , rate signaling air link resource information  1456 , traffic air link resource information  1458 , and traffic acknowledgment air link resource information  1460 . Transmission request air link resource information  1450  includes information identifying a first traffic transmission request block including a plurality of individual transmission units associated with different connection identifiers and associated with different priority levels in the block. Transmission request response air link resource information  1452  includes information identifying a first traffic transmission request response block including a plurality of individual transmission units associated with different connection identifiers and associated with different priority levels in the block. Pilot signaling air link resource information  1454  includes information identifying resources to be used to carry pilot signals including a plurality of individual resources associated with different connection identifiers. Rate signaling air link resource information  1456  includes information identifying individual resources associated with connection identifiers to be used to carry channel feedback information in response to a received pilot signal. Traffic air link resource information  1458  includes information identifying a data transmission block, e.g. a traffic segment, to be used to carry traffic signals. The traffic air link resource identified by information  1458  can be, and sometimes is, used to carry an initial group traffic signal, e.g., a first signal, directed to each of the other members of a group to which communications device  1400  belongs. The traffic air link resource identified by information  1458  can be, and sometimes is, used to carry re-transmitted traffic data, e.g., a second signal, directed to a subset of members of the group to which communications device  1400  belongs. Traffic acknowledgment air link resource information  1460  identifies segments to be used to carry traffic acknowledgments from group members to which a traffic signal in the corresponding air link resource of information  1458  was directed. In some embodiments, dedicated acknowledgment segments are associated with connection identifiers and/or device identifiers, e.g., in accordance with stored timing and/or frequency structure information. In some other embodiments, a traffic acknowledgement segment is a shared resource, and the communications device sending the acknowledgment includes information used to identify the source of the acknowledgment. In some embodiments, the information used to identify the source of the acknowledgment enables a probabilistic identification of the source, e.g., a portion of an identifier is conveyed in the acknowledgment signal. 
         [0136]    Group signaling control module  1426  controls the wireless transmitter module  1404  to transmit data to members of a group in a first signal directed to said group. For example, the data to be transmitted is traffic data to be transmitted  1461  which is carried by the first signal corresponding to first signal information  1462 , and the first signal is directed to communications devices identified by group membership information  1466 . 
         [0137]    Acknowledgment monitoring module  1428  monitors for acknowledgments from members of a group indicating that data was received. For example, acknowledgment monitoring module  1428  monitors for traffic acknowledgment signals from communications devices identified by group membership information  1466  after having transmitted a first signal, which is an initial group data traffic signal intended for members of the group to which device  1400  belongs. Thus, although the first signal is transmitted as a signal directed to and intended to be recovered by a plurality of communications device, the acknowledgment monitoring module  1428  is attempting to recover individual acknowledgements from each of the group members to which the first signal was directed. This approach is in contrast to typical multi-cast implementations where the device transmitting the multi-cast signal does not monitor for or expect to recovery acknowledgment responses. Detected acknowledgments to first signal  1476  is an output of acknowledgment monitoring module  1428 . 
         [0138]    In some embodiments, the acknowledgement monitoring module  1428  monitors for acknowledgments from a plurality of individual communications resources, each of the plurality of individual communications resources being dedicated to one or the group members for the purposes of sending acknowledgments. In other embodiments, the communication resources used for transmitting acknowledgements are shared resources, and a device sending a traffic acknowledgment sends an acknowledgment signal using one of the shared resources, and the acknowledgment signal includes some device identification information. In some such embodiments, the device identification included provides information to make a probabilistic identification, but does not provide enough information to perform a certain identification, e.g., a truncated device identifier is communicated in the acknowledgment signal. 
         [0139]    Re-transmission control module  1430  controls the wireless transmitter module  1404  to re-transmit data in a second signal directed to a subset of a group, the subset of the group including members of the group from which acknowledgments were not received and excluding at least one member of the group from which an acknowledgment was received. For example, consider that the first signal which conveyed traffic data  1461  was positively acknowledged by some of the members of the group identified by information  1466 . Group subset information  1468  identifies group members which did not communicate a positive acknowledgment of the first signal. Therefore the re-transmission control module  1430  controls the second signal identified by information  1464 , which also conveys traffic data  1461  to be transmitted, where the second signal is directed to members of the subset. 
         [0140]    In some embodiments, the first signal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone symbols in a first data traffic interval, and the second signal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone-symbols in a second data traffic interval. 
         [0141]    Re-transmission acknowledgment module  1432  monitors for acknowledgments of successful communication of data from a second signal from members of a subset of a group. For example, re-transmission acknowledgment module monitors for acknowledgments to the second signal from the members identified by group subset information  1468 . Detected acknowledgments to the second signal  1478  is an output of re-transmission acknowledgment module  1432 . 
         [0142]    Re-transmission subset identification module  1434  identifies members of a subset of a group, the identified members being members from which the communications device  1400  has not received a positive acknowledgment in response to a first signal, e.g., a group data signal. Detected acknowledgments to first signal  1476  and group membership information  1466  are inputs to re-transmission subset identification module  1434 , while group sub-set information  1468  is an output of identification module  1434 . In some embodiments, re-transmission acknowledgment module  1432  limits its monitoring to members from the subset. 
         [0143]    Initial transmission data rate determination module  1436  determines the data rate to be used to transmit data to members of a group as a function of information corresponding to each of the members of the group. The information corresponding to each of the members of the group is, e.g., link quality feedback information corresponding to a plurality of links between the communications device  1400  and each of the other members of the group. Group channel quality feedback information  1480  comprising feedback reports, e.g., information communicating a maximum traffic data rate supported on a link, from each of the other members of the group is used an input to initial transmission data rate determination module  1436 , while determined initial data rate  1470  is an output of module  1436 . In some embodiments, the initial transmission data rate determination module  1436  determines the data rate to use for the first signal, e.g., an initial group data transmission signal, which supports the link with the lowest quality from among the group. 
         [0144]    Re-transmission data rate determination module  1438  determines the data rate to be used to for data to be re-transmitted to members of an identified subset of the group as a function of information corresponding to members of the subset of the group. The information corresponding to members of the subset of the group is, e.g., link quality feedback information corresponding to a plurality of links between the communications device  1400  and each of the members of the subset of group. Group subset channel quality information  1482  comprising feedback reports, e.g., information communicating a maximum traffic data rate supported on a link, from each of the members of the subset of the group is used an input to re-transmission data rate determination module  1438 , while determined re-transmit data rate  1472  is an output of module  1438 . In some embodiments, the re-transmission data rate determination module  1438  determines the data rate to use for the second signal, e.g., a re-transmission signal communicating at least some traffic data previously transmitted but not acknowledged by members of the subset, which supports the link with the lowest quality from among members of subset of the group. 
         [0145]    In some embodiments, link quality information is updated between the first signal, e.g., group data signal, and second signal, e.g., re-transmission data signal. For example, prior to the first signal transmission, the communications device  1400  transmitted a first pilot signal and received a first set of feedback reports, and prior to transmission of the second signal transmission, the communications device  1400  transmitted a second pilot signal and received a second set of feedback reports. 
         [0146]    In some embodiments, different determined data rates are associated with different transmission power levels. In some embodiments, different determined data rates are associated with different coding levels, rates, and/or schemes. 
         [0147]    Group establishment module  1440  participates in communications exchanges with potential group members to establish membership in a group. Group membership information  1466  includes information generated by group establishment, e.g., a list of group members admitted to the group. 
         [0148]    Resource determination module  1442  determines a set of communications resources to be used by group communications. In some embodiments, the determined set of communications resources includes a set of connection identifiers corresponding to connections between different members of a group of which communications device  1400  is a member. Group resources information  1474  is an output of resources establishment module  1442  and includes resource information associated with the group, e.g., connection identifiers, transmission request segments, transmission request response segments, pilot signaling segments, channel quality feedback segments, traffic segments, and traffic acknowledgment segments. For example corresponding to a particular interval in the timing structure and a particular connection identifier which corresponds to a connection between device  1400  and another group member, there is a dedicated transmission request segment in information  1450 , a dedicated transmission request response segment in information  1452 , a dedicated pilot signaling segment in information  1454 , a dedicated channel quality feedback segment in information  1456 , and a dedicated traffic acknowledgment segment in information  1460 , which correspond to a traffic segment of information  1458 . 
         [0149]      FIG. 15  is a drawing  1500  of exemplary communications devices in a communications network which have established a group. The exemplary communications devices (wireless terminal A  1502 , wireless terminal B  1504 , wireless terminal C  1506 , WT D  1508 ) are, e.g., mobile peer to peer communications devices supporting group communications. The wireless terminals ( 1502 ,  1504 ,  1506 ,  1508 ) are, e.g., wireless terminals such as exemplary wireless terminal  1400  of  FIG. 14  and/or wireless terminals implemented to perform the method of flowchart  1300  of  FIG. 13 . Connections have been established for the purpose of transmitting traffic data signals. The connections include: connection  1510  between WT A  1502  and WT B  1504  which is associated with connection identifier  1   1516 , connection  1512  between wireless terminal A  1502  and WT C  1506  which is associated with connection identifier  3   1518 , and connection  1514  between wireless terminal A  1502  and WT D  1508  which is associated with connection identifier  2   1520 . In this example, assume that wireless terminal A  1502  has traffic data that it would like to transmit as a group data signal to each of other members of the group (WT B  1504 , WT C  1506 , WT D  1508 ). 
         [0150]      FIG. 16  includes a drawing  1600  illustrating exemplary air link resources in an exemplary recurring timing structure and a drawing  1650  which illustrating exemplary signaling carried those air link resources. Drawing  1600  includes a vertical axis  1602  representing frequency and a horizontal axis  1603  representing time. The exemplary air link resources include: pilot signal air link resource for slot  1   1604 , channel quality feedback air link resource for slot  1   1606 , traffic air link resource for slot  1   1608 , traffic acknowledgment air link resources for slot  1   1610 , pilot signal air link resource for slot  2   1612 , channel quality feedback air link resource for slot  2   1614 , traffic air link resource for slot  2   1616 , and traffic acknowledgment air link resources for slot  2   1618 . Other air link resources are included in the timing structure such as traffic transmission request air link resources and traffic transmission request response air link resources. In some embodiments, transmission units within at least some of air link resources are dedicated to be used for a particular connection associated with a particular connection identifier. 
         [0151]    Assume that wireless terminal A  1502  desires to transmit the same traffic data to the other members of the previously established group including WT A  1502 , WT B  1504 , WT C  1506  and WT D  1508 . Assume that WT A  1502  has transmitted transmission request signals to WT B  1504 , WT C  1506  and WT D  1508 . Further assume that WT B  1504 , WT C  1506  and WT D  1508  have transmitted positive transmission request response signals to WT A  1502 , and that WT A  1502  has decided to proceed with the group data transmission in traffic slot  1 . 
         [0152]    Wireless terminal A generates and transmits a pilot signal  1652  in air link in a segment of pilot signal air link resource  1604 . The pilot signal  1652  is intended to be received and measured by WT B  1504 , WT C  1506  and WT D  1508 . Wireless terminals (WT B  1504 , WT C  1506 , WT D  1508 ) receive and measure the pilot signal, and then they generate channel quality feedback reports which are conveyed back to WT A  1502  via signals ( 1654 ,  1656 ,  1658 ), respectively, using segments of channel quality feedback air link resource  1606 . WT A  1502  receives the rate reports from WT B  1504 , WT C  1506  and WT C  1508 . For example, the rate report from WT B indicates that the link between WT A and WT B supports data rate level  3 , while the rate report from WT C indicates that the link between WT A and WT C supports data rate level  1 , while the rate report from WT D indicates that the link between WT A and WT D supports data rate level  2 , where data rate level  1  is a lower data rate than data rate level  2  and where data rate level  2  is a lower data rate than data rate level  3 . 
         [0153]    Wireless terminal A  1502  determines to transmit the group data signal at a data rate supported by each of the links, so wireless terminal A  1502  decides to generate and transmit group traffic data signal  1660  which communicates the traffic data at data rate level  1 . The group data traffic signal  1660  is transmitted using a transmission segment of traffic air link resource  1608 . 
         [0154]    Now assume that WT B  1504  and WT C  1506  successfully receive signal  1660  and successfully recover the data being communicated. WT B  1504  generates and transmits a traffic acknowledgment signal  1662  to WT A  1502  using a segment of traffic acknowledgment air link resources  1610 . WT C  1506  generates and transmits a traffic acknowledgment signal  1664  to WT A  1502  using a segment of traffic acknowledgment air link resources  1610 . 
         [0155]    However, assume that wireless terminal D  1608  is unsuccessful in the reception of signal  1660  and/or unsuccessful in the recovery of the data being communicated in signal  1660 , e.g., due to an obstruction in the communications path during the time of transmission of group traffic signal  1660 , due to a repositioning of the receive antenna direction of WT D  1508 , and/or due to local interference surging during the time of the transmission of group traffic signal  1660 . Therefore WT D  1508  does not transmit an acknowledgment signal in traffic acknowledgment air link resource  1610 . 
         [0156]    WT A  1502  monitors for traffic acknowledgments from each of the other members of its group to which it directed group traffic signal  1660 . Since it does not receive a positive acknowledgment from WT D  1508 , WT A decides to retransmit the traffic data. WT A  1502  sends pilot signal  1666  in pilot signal air link resource  1612 . Wireless terminal D  1508  responds with a rate report signal  1668  in channel quality feedback air link resource  1614 . WT A  1504  determines the data rate to use for the traffic retransmission signal as a function of the received rate report signal  1668  information. WT A  1504  generates and transmits traffic signal  1670  to a group subset using traffic air link resource  1616 , the group subset including WT D  1508  but not including group members WT B  1604  and WT C  1606 . In this slot, WT D  1508  successfully receives and recovers the traffic data being communicated. WT D  1508  generates and transmits acknowledgment signal  1672  to WT A  1618  using traffic acknowledgment air link resource  1618 . WT A  1502  monitors for and detects the acknowledgment signal from WT D  1508  confirming successful communication of the traffic data to WT D  1508 . Now the traffic data has been successfully communicated to each of the members of the group to which it was directed. 
         [0157]      FIG. 17 , comprising the combination of  FIG. 17A ,  FIG. 17B  and  FIG. 17C , is a flowchart  1700  of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Operation of the exemplary method starts in step  1702 , where the first communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  1704  and step  1706 . In step  1704 , which is performed on an ongoing basis, the first communications device determines whether or not it wants to join and/or form a group. If it does want to join and/or form a group, then operation proceeds from step  1704  to step  1708 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1704 , back to the input of step  1704 . 
         [0158]    In step  1708 , the first communications device stores group membership information indicating the members of a group to which the first communications device belongs. Operation proceeds from step  1708  to step  1710 , in which the first communications device acquires transmission request resources. In some embodiments, the acquired transmission request resources include a single transmission request resource for each of a plurality of transmission request time periods, e.g., a single OFDM tone-symbol for each of a plurality of transmission request time periods. Then, in step  1712  the first communications device communicates to other members of the group information indicating that the acquired transmission request resources are to by used by the first communications device as transmission request resources corresponding to the group. Operation proceeds from step  1712  to step  1713 . In step  1713 , the first communications device receives from other members of the group information indicating transmission request response resources to be used by other members of the group as group transmission request response resources. Operation proceeds from step  1713  to connecting node A  1718 . 
         [0159]    Returning to step  1706 , in step  1706  which is performed on an ongoing basis, the first communications device determines whether or not the first communications device wants to establish a peer to peer connection with a second communications device. If the first communications device wants to establish a peer to peer connection with a second communications device, then operation proceeds from step  1706  to step  1714 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from the output step  1706  to the input of step  1706 . 
         [0160]    In step  1714 , the first communications device stores peer to peer connection information indicating a peer to peer communications connection with a second device. In some embodiments, the second communications device may be, and sometimes is, a member of the group, and the first communications device is a member of the group and maintains a peer to peer connection with the second device at the same time. Then in step  1716  the first communications device acquires transmission request resources and transmission request response resources correspond to the connection. Operation proceeds from step  1716  to connecting node A  1718 . 
         [0161]    From connecting node A  1718 , operation proceeds to step  1720 . In step  1720 , the first communications device determines if it desires to transmit data to the group and to the second device. If it does have data to be transmitted to the group and data to be transmitted to the second communications device, then operation proceeds from step  1720  to step  1722 ; otherwise operation proceeds from step  1720  to step  1724 . 
         [0162]    In step  1722  the first communications device determines whether or not the group request priority is higher than the peer to peer connection request priority. If the group request priority is higher, then operation proceeds from step  1722  to step  1728 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1722  to step  1738 . 
         [0163]    Returning to step  1724 , in step  1724  the first communications device decides whether it desires to transmit data to the group to which it belongs. If it does, then operation proceeds from step  1724  to step  1728 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1724  to step  1726 . In step  1726  the first communications device decides if it desires to transmit data to the second communications device over the established peer to peer connection. If the first device desires to transmit data to the second device, then operation proceeds from step  1726  to step  1738 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1726  to connecting node B  1746 . 
         [0164]    Returning to step  1728 , in step  1728  the first communications device transmits during a first period of time a transmission request used to signal an intent to transmit to members of said group on a group transmission request resource corresponding to the first communications device. In some embodiments, the group transmission request resource corresponding to the first communications device is part of a set of transmission request resources also including connection based transmission request resources. Then, in step  1730  the first communications device monitors to detect transmission request responses in group transmission request response resources corresponding to individual members of the group. Operation proceeds from step  1730  to step  1732 . 
         [0165]    In step  1732  the first communications device determines whether or not it has detected at least one request response from a group member. If the first communications device has detected at least one request response from a group member, then operation proceeds from step  1732  to step  1734 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1732  to connecting node C  1736 . In step  1734  the first communications device transmits traffic data using traffic resources corresponding to the transmitted group transmission request. Operation proceeds from step  1734  to connecting node C  1736 . 
         [0166]    Returning to step  1738 , in step  1738  the first communications device transmits during a second period of time in a transmission request resource corresponding to the peer to peer connection a request to transmit data to the second communication device over the peer to peer connection. Operation proceeds from step  1738  to step  1740 . 
         [0167]    In step  1740  the first communications device monitors to detect a transmission request response in a transmission request response resource corresponding to the peer to peer connection. Operation proceeds from step  1740  to step  1742 . In step  1742 , the first communications device determines whether or not it has detected a request response from the second device. If the first communications device has detected a request response from the second device, then operation proceeds from step  1742  to step  1744 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1742  to connecting node C  1736 . In step  1744  the first communications device transmits traffic data using traffic transmission resources corresponding to the transmitted peer to peer transmission request. Operation proceeds from step  1744  to connecting node C  1736 . 
         [0168]    Returning to connecting node B  1746 , operation proceeds from connecting node B  1746  to step  1748  and step  1752 . In step  1748  the first communications device monitors for group transmission request from other members of the group. Step  1748  may, and sometimes does, includes sub-step  1750 , in which the first communications device receives during a second period of time a group transmission request from another member of said group on a group transmission request resource corresponding to said another member. 
         [0169]    Returning to step  1752 , in step  1752  the first communications device monitors for a transmission request from the second device corresponding to the peer to peer connection. Step  1752  may, and sometimes does, include sub-step  1754 . In sub-step  1754  the second communications device receives during a second period of time a transmission request from the second device on a transmission request resource corresponding to the second device. Operation proceeds from step  1748  and/or step  1752  to step  1756 . 
         [0170]    In step  1756  the first communications device determines if both a group transmission request from a member of the group to which the first communications device belongs was received and a peer to peer transmission request from the second communications device with which the first communications device has a peer to peer to peer connection was received. If both were received, then operation proceeds from step  1756  to step  1758 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1756  to step  1762 . 
         [0171]    Returning to step  1758 , in step  1758  the first communication device performs a priority determination. Then in step  1760 , the first communications device proceeds depending upon the priority determination. If the group request has higher priority, then operation proceeds from step  1760  to step  1764 ; however, if the request corresponding to the peer to peer connection with the second device has higher priority, then operation proceeds from step  1760  to step  1766 . 
         [0172]    Returning to step  1762 , in step  1762 , the first communications device determines if a group request was detected. If a group request was detected, operation proceeds from step  1762  to step  1764 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1762  to step  1763 . In step  1763 , the first communications device determines if a transmission request was received from the second communications device corresponding to the peer to peer connection. If a request was received, then operation proceeds from step  1763  to step  1766 ; otherwise, operation proceeds from step  1763  to connecting node C  1772 . 
         [0173]    Returning to step  1764 , in step  1764  the first communications device transmits a group transmission request response on a group transmission request response resource corresponding to the first communications device. Then in step  1768 , the first communications device receives traffic data using traffic resources corresponding to the detected group transmission request. Operation proceeds from step  1768  to connecting node C  1772 . 
         [0174]    Returning to step  1766 , in step  1766  the first communications device transmits a peer to peer transmission request response on a transmission request response resource corresponding to the peer to peer connection with the second device. Then, in step  1770  the first communications device receives traffic data using traffic transmission resources corresponding to the detected transmission request response from the second device corresponding to the peer to peer connection. Operation proceeds from step  1770  to connecting node C  1772 . 
         [0175]    From connecting node C  1772 , operation proceeds to the input of step  1720 , e.g., for consideration as to whether or not the first communications device desires to transmit in a subsequent slot. 
         [0176]      FIG. 18  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  1800 , e.g., a peer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications and supporting peer to peer communications. In accordance with a feature of this exemplary embodiment different approaches are used for group communications and for peer to peer connection communications, e.g., regarding resource allocation and usage for traffic transmission request/response signaling for group communications as opposed to peer to peer connection transmission request/response signaling. For group communications, a resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit, is associated with a device of the group, while for peer to peer communications, a resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit, is associated with a connection identifier associated with the two devices of the peer to peer connection. In some embodiments, a particular resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit in a timing/frequency structure may during some times be associated with a group member device, while at other times the resource may be associated with a peer to peer connection. Thus in such as embodiment, the balance between resource allocation to groups and to peer connections may be dynamically varied to accommodate current needs. In other embodiments, some resources may be dedicated for group usage while other resources may be dedicated for peer to peer connection usage. 
         [0177]    Communications device  1800  includes a wireless receiver module  1802 , a wireless transmitter module  1804 , user I/O devices  1808 , a processor  1806 , and a memory  1810  coupled together via a bus  1812  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. In some embodiments, communications device  1800  includes a network interface  1807  which is also coupled to the bus  1812 . The network interface  1807 , where implemented, allows communications device  1800  to couple to network nodes and/or the Internet, e.g., via a wired backhaul network. 
         [0178]    Memory  1810  includes routines  1818  and data/information  1820 . The processor  1806 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  1818  and uses the data/information  1820  in memory  1810  to control the operation of the communications device  1800  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  1700  of  FIG. 17 . 
         [0179]    Wireless receiver module  1802 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  1814 , via which the communications device  1800  receives signals, e.g., signals  1850 , from other communications devices. Received signals include, e.g., signals communicating: group membership information, group resource allocation information, a group member traffic transmission request, a group member traffic transmission request response, traffic data from a group member, peer to peer connection information, peer to peer connection resource information, a peer to peer connection traffic transmission request, a peer to peer connection traffic transmission request response, and peer to peer traffic data. 
         [0180]    Wireless transmitter module  1804 , e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  1816 , via which the communications device  1800  transmits signals to other communications devices. Transmitted signals include, e.g., e.g., signals communicating: group membership information, group resource allocation information, a group traffic transmission request, a group traffic transmission request response, group traffic data, peer to peer connection information, peer to peer connection resource information, a peer to peer connection traffic transmission request, a peer to peer connection traffic transmission request response, and peer to peer traffic data. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for both the receiver and the transmitter. 
         [0181]    User I/O devices  1808  include, e.g., a microphone, a keyboard, a keypad, switches, a camera, a speaker, a display, etc. User I/O devices  1808  allow an operator of communications device  1800  to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some function of the communications device  1800 . 
         [0182]    Routines  1818  include a communications routine  1822  and control routines  1824 . The communications routine  1822  implements the various communications protocols used by the communications device  1800 . The control routines  1824  include a group information storage module  1826 , a group transmission request control module  1828 , a group request response monitoring module  1830 , a resource acquisition module  1832 , a resources communication module  1834 , a group resources detection module  1836 , a group traffic signaling control module  1838 , a group request monitoring module  1840 , a group transmission request response control module  1842 , a peer to peer information storage module  1844 , and a peer to peer transmission request control module  1846 . 
         [0183]    Data/information  1820  includes group membership information  1848 , received signal  1850 , a generated group transmission request  1852 , a detected request response from a group member  1854 , timing/frequency structure information  1874 , information identifying acquired group related resources for the device  1858 , a resource communications signal  1860 , detected group resource information  1862 , a generated group traffic signal  1864 , a detected group transmission request  1866 , a generated group transmission request response  1868 , peer to peer connection information  1870 , information identifying peer to peer connection resources  1872 , a generated peer to peer connection transmission request  1874 , a received peer to peer connection transmission request response  1876  and a generated peer to peer traffic signal  1878 . Timing/frequency structure information  1874  includes information corresponding to a plurality of traffic slots in a recurring timing structure (slot  1  information  1880 , . . . , slot N information  1882 ). Slot  1  information  1880  includes request resource information  1884 , request response resource information  1886  and traffic segment information  1888 . 
         [0184]    Group information storage module  1826  stores group membership information indicating the members of a group to which the first communications device belongs. Group membership information  1848  is an output of module  1826 . 
         [0185]    Group transmission request control module  1828  controls the wireless transmitter module  1804  to transmit during a first period of time a transmission request used to signal an intent to transmit to members of its group on a group transmission request resource corresponding to communications device  1800 . In some embodiments, the group transmission request resource corresponding to communications device  1800  is part of a set of transmission request resources, the set of transmission request resources also including connection based transmission request resources. 
         [0186]    Group request response monitoring module  1830  monitors received signals to detect transmission request responses in group transmission request response resources corresponding to individual members of the group. Received signals  1850  is an input to module  1830 , while detected group transmission request  1866  is an output of module  1830 . 
         [0187]    Resource acquisition module  1832  acquires transmission request resources available to be used subsequently, e.g., group transmission request resources associated with device  1800  and a group to which device  1800  belongs. Information identifying acquired group related resources for this device  1858  includes information which is an output of resource acquisition module  1832 , e.g., information identifying a transmission unit in each of a plurality of slots to be used by device  1800  to transmit a group traffic transmission request. In some embodiments, the acquired transmission request resources include a single transmission request resource, e.g., a single OFDM tone-symbol, for each of a plurality of request time periods. For example, the acquired transmission request resources correspond to one transmission unit for each of a plurality of traffic transmission slots, e.g., one transmission unit identified in request resource information  1884  for slot  1 , . . . , one transmission unit identified in the request resource information for slot N. 
         [0188]    Resources communication module  1836  communicates to other members of the group to which device  1800  belongs group information indicating that the acquired transmission request resources are to be used by device  1800  as transmission request resources corresponding to the group. Resource communication signal  1860  is a generated signal from module  1836  which communicates group resource information pertaining to device  1800 . 
         [0189]    Group resources detection module  1836  detects from received signals from other members of the group to which device  1800  belongs, information indicating transmission request response resources to be used by other members of the group as group transmission request response resources. The detection of module  1836  occurs prior to monitoring for transmission request responses in group transmission request response resources corresponding to individual members of the group. Thus information obtained by group resources detection module  1836 , e.g., detected group resources information  1862 , which may be part of group set-up or group establishment signaling, allows device  1800  to know where to look within the request response resources for request response signals from its group members, e.g., which transmission units within request response resource information  1886  are currently associated with its group members. 
         [0190]    Group request response resources are, in some embodiments, also allocated to individual members of a group and such information is also exchanged between group members. Resource acquisition module  1832 , in some embodiments, acquires transmission request response resources to be used subsequently, e.g., by device  1800  when transmitting a request response signal in response to a received group member transmission request. Resources communications module  1836 , in some embodiments, communicates information identifying the acquired group transmission request response resources associated with communications device  1800  to the other members of its group. Group resources detection module  1836 , in some embodiments, detects from received signals from other members of the group to which device  1800  belongs, information indicating transmission request resources to be used by other members of the group as group transmission request resources. In some embodiments, a particular group transmission request resource is linked, e.g., by a predetermined timing/frequency structure implementation, to another particular group transmission request response resource. In such an embodiment, when a communications device acquires a particular group transmission request resource it also acquires a corresponding group transmission request response resource. 
         [0191]    Group traffic signaling control module  1838  controls the wireless transmitter module  1804  to transmit traffic data, e.g., generated group traffic signal  1864 , using traffic resources corresponding to a previously transmitted group transmission request, e.g., transmitted generated group transmission request  1852 , following detection by the group request response monitoring module  1830  of at least one response, e.g., of detected request response from group member  1854  signifying a positive response to the request to transmit group traffic data. 
         [0192]    Group request monitoring module  1840  is for detecting a group transmission request from received signals from another member of the group to which device  1800  belongs on a group transmission request resource corresponding to the another member. In one exemplary embodiment, if the communications device  1800  intends to transmit a group traffic transmission request for the slot, the device does not monitor for group transmission requests in the same slot. For example, in a first slot corresponding to a first period of time, group transmission request control module  1838  is active, while in another slot corresponding to a second period of time group request monitoring module  1840  is active. Detected group transmission request  1866  represents an exemplary output of module  1840 . 
         [0193]    Group transmission request response control module  1842  control the wireless transmitter module  1804  to transmit a group transmission request response on a group transmission request response corresponding to device  1800 . Generated group transmission request response  1868  is an exemplary response signal transmitted under the control of module  1842 , e.g., as a result of a decision by request response control module  1842  to acquiesce to the received group transmission request. 
         [0194]    Peer to peer information storage module  1844  stores peer to peer connection information indicating a peer to peer connection with a second device. Peer to peer connection information  1870 , which is an output of module  1844 , includes, e.g., information identifying an acquired connection identifier used to identify a peer to peer connection between device  1800  and the second device and/or used to identify air link resources associated with that connection, e.g., a transmission unit for carrying a traffic transmission request and a transmission unit for carrying a traffic transmission request response for each of a plurality of slots in the timing/frequency structure. Information identifying peer to peer connection resources  1872  identifying particular resources, e.g., transmission units, within the timing frequency structure  1874  currently associated with the connection is also an output of module  1844 . 
         [0195]    Peer to peer transmission request control module  1846  controls the wireless transmitter module  1804  to transmit in a transmission request resource corresponding to a peer to peer connection a request to transmit data to a second device over the peer to peer connection. Generated peer to peer connection transmission request  1874  is an exemplary peer to peer traffic transmission request transmitted under the control of module  1846  using a resource identified by information  1872  corresponding to a connection identified by information  1870 . 
         [0196]    In some embodiments, a second device with which the communication device  1800  has a peer to peer connection can be, and sometime is a member of a group to which device  1800  belongs, and thus device  1800  can be a member of the group and maintain the peer to peer connection with second device at the same time. In some such embodiments, communications device  1800  can, and sometimes does, maintaining both the group membership resources associated with the second device and peer to peer connection resources associated with second device. 
         [0197]      FIG. 19  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network  1900  supporting group communications and peer to peer communications. Exemplary communications network  1900  includes a plurality of wireless communications devices (communications device A  1902 , communications device B  1904 , communications device C  1906 , communications device D  1908 , communications device W  1910 , communications device X  1912 , communications device Y  1914 ). The wireless communications devices of  FIG. 19  may be, e.g., devices in accordance with device  300  of  FIG. 3  and/or implementing a method of flowchart  200  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 19  also indicates that communications device A  1902 , communications device B  1904 , communications device C  1906  and communications device D  1908  have formed group  1916  which supports group communications, e.g., group communications including group cast traffic signaling.  FIG. 19  also includes legend  1918 . Legend  1918  indicates that dashed lines  1920  indicate established peer to peer connections, while dash-dot lines  1922  indicate group communications connections. In this example, there are six group communications connections shown between the various members ( 1902 ,  1904 ,  1906 ,  1908 ) of the group  1916 . In addition, there is a peer to peer connection between communications device A  1902  and communications device W  1910 , and there is a peer to peer connection between communications device X  1912  and communications device Y  1914 . 
         [0198]      FIG. 20  illustrates exemplary resources allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of  FIG. 19 , for one traffic slot in a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. Drawing  2001  of  FIG. 20  illustrates a block of exemplary transmission request air link resources  2002 , a block of exemplary transmission request response air link resources  2004  and an exemplary traffic air link resource  2006 , e.g., a traffic segment. 
         [0199]    Drawing  2021  of  FIG. 20  illustrates exemplary individual transmission units corresponding to the different connections. Transmission request air link resources  2002  include: (i) transmission unit  2022  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  1902  to communications device B  1904  indicating that communications device A would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device B  1904 ; (ii) transmission unit  2024  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  1902  to communications device C  1906  indicating that communications device A would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device C  1906 ; (iii) transmission unit  2026  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device X  1912  to communications device Y  1914  indicating that communications device X  1912  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device Y  1944 ; (iv) transmission unit  2028  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  1902  to communications device D  1908  indicating that communications device A  1902  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; (v) transmission unit  2030  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device B  1904  to communications device C  1906  indicating that communications device B  1904  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device C  1906 ; (vi) transmission unit  2032  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device B  1904  to communications device D  1908  indicating that communications device B  1904  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; (vii) transmission unit  2034  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device C  1906  to communications device D  1908  indicating that communications device C  1906  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; and (viii) transmission unit  2036  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  1902  to communications device W  1910  indicating that communications device A  1902  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device W  1910 . 
         [0200]    Drawing  2021  also indicates that transmission request response air link resources  2004  which include: (i) transmission unit  2023  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device B  1904  to communications device A  1902  indicating that communications device B approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device B  1904 ; (ii) transmission unit  2025  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device C  1906  to communications device A  1902  indicating that communications device C  1906  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device C  1906 ; (iii) transmission unit  2027  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device Y  1914  to communications device X  1912  indicating that communications device Y  1914  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device Y  1914 ; (iv) transmission unit  2029  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device D  1908  to communications device A  1902  indicating that communications device D  1908  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; (v) transmission unit  2031  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device C  1906  to communications device B  1904  indicating that communications device C  1906  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device C  1906 ; (vi) transmission unit  2033  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device D  1908  to communications device B  1904  indicating that communications device D  1908  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; (vii) transmission unit  2035  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device D  1908  to communications device C  1906  indicating that communications device D  1908  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device D  1908 ; and (viii) transmission unit  2037  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device W  1910  to communications device A  1902  indicating that communications device W  1910  approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2006  intended for communications device W  1910 . 
         [0201]    Drawing  2041  of  FIG. 20  illustrates exemplary signaling for one scenario. In this example, communications device A  1902  desires to transmit a group traffic signal to the other members of its group ( 1904 ,  1906 ,  1908 ) using the traffic air link resource  2006 . Communications device A  1902  generates and transmits traffic transmission request signals ( 2042 ,  2044 ,  2046 ) using transmission request transmission units ( 2022 ,  2024 ,  2028 ), respectively, of transmission request air link resources  2002 . Communications devices (communications device B  1904 , communications device C  1906 , communications device D  1908 ) receive the traffic transmission request signals ( 2042 ,  2044 ,  2046 ), respectively. The devices which are members of the group are aware of the other members of the group and use such information in yielding consideration. For example, the device may detect a request directed to another member of the group and need not yield based on that request since both requests correspond to a group cast traffic transmission. The communications devices (communications device B  1904 , communications device C  1906 , communications device D  1908 ) generate and transmit traffic transmission request response signals ( 2050 ,  2052 ,  2054 ) using transmission request response transmission units ( 2023 ,  2025 ,  2029 ), respectively, of transmission request response resource  2004 . 
         [0202]    Communications device A  1904  detects the transmission request response signals ( 2050 ,  2052 ,  2054 ), signifying positive responses, generates group traffic signals  2058 , and transmits the group traffic signals  2058  intended for communications devices (communications device A  1904 , communications device B  1906 , communications device C  1908 ) using traffic segment  2006 . 
         [0203]    Note that the resource allocation approach for group communications utilized in the example of  FIG. 20 , e.g., a connection identifier based approach, has an advantage that it can be readily implemented and/or used in a system supporting peer to peer connections using connection identifiers. However, for large group sizes, this approach tends to use a large amount of transmission request and transmission request response resources. Another advantage to this connection based approach is that such an approach can accommodate transmissions intended for subsets of a group. 
         [0204]      FIG. 21  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network  2100  supporting group communications and peer to peer communications. Exemplary communications network  2100  includes a plurality of wireless communications devices (communications device A  2102 , communications device B  2104 , communications device C  2106 , communications device D  2108 , communications device W  2110 , communications device X  2112 , communications device Y  2114 ). The exemplary communications devices of  FIG. 21  are, e.g., communications devices in accordance with device  1800  of  FIG. 18  and/or implementing a method in accordance with flowchart  1700  of  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 21  also indicates that communications device A  2102 , communications device B  2104 , communications device C  2106  and communications device D  2108  have formed group  2116  which supports group communications, e.g., group communications including group cast traffic signaling.  FIG. 21  also includes legend  2118 . Legend  2118  indicates that dashed lines  2120  indicate established peer to peer connections, while dash-dot lines  2122  indicate group communications connections. In this example, there are six group communications connections shown between the various members ( 2102 ,  2104 ,  2106 ,  2108 ) of the group  2116 . There is also a peer to peer connection between communications device A  2102  and communications device B  2104 . In addition, there is a peer to peer connection between communications device A  2102  and communications device W  2110 , and there is a peer to peer connection between communications device X  2112  and communications device Y  2114 . 
         [0205]      FIG. 22  illustrates exemplary resource allocation and exemplary signaling corresponding to the example of  FIG. 21 , for one traffic slot in a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. Drawing  2201  of  FIG. 22  illustrates a block of exemplary transmission request air link resources  2202 , a block of exemplary transmission request response air link resources  2204  and an exemplary traffic air link resource  2206 , e.g., a traffic segment. 
         [0206]    Drawing  2221  of  FIG. 22  illustrates exemplary individual transmission units used to carry traffic transmission requests or traffic transmission request responses. Transmission request air link resources  2202  include: (i) transmission unit  2222  allocated to carry a group traffic transmission request from communications device A  2102  to the other members of its group indicating that communications device A would like to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for its group members; (ii) transmission unit  2224  allocated to carry a group traffic transmission request from communications device B  2104  to the other members of its group indicating that communications device B  2104  would like to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for its group; (iii) transmission unit  2226  allocated to carry a group traffic transmission request from communications device C  2106  to the other members of its group indicating that communications device C  2106  would like to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for its group; (iv) transmission unit  2228  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device D  2108  to the other members of its group indicating that communications device D  2108  would like to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for its group; (v) transmission unit  2230  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device X  2112  to communications device Y  2114  indicating that communications device X  2112  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device Y  2114  over its peer to peer connection; (vi) transmission unit  2232  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  2102  to communications device W  2110  indicating that communications device A  2102  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device W  2110  over its peer to peer connection with communications device W  2110 ; and (vii) transmission unit  2234  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A  2102  to communications device B  2104  indicating that communications device A  2102  would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device B  2104  over its peer to peer connection with communications device B  2104 . 
         [0207]    Drawing  2221  also indicates that transmission request response air link resources  2204  include: (i) transmission unit  2236  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device A  2102  to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffic transmission request indicating that communications device A  2104  approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for the group; (ii) transmission unit  2238  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device B  2104  to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffic transmission request indicating that communications device B  2104  approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for the group; (iii) transmission unit  2240  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device C  2106  to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffic transmission request indicating that communications device C  2106  approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for the group; (iv) transmission unit  2242  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device D  2108  to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffic transmission request indicating that communications device D  2108  approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for the group; (v) transmission unit  2244  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device Y  2114  to communications device X  2112  indicating that communications device Y  2114  approves of the request to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device Y  2114  over a peer to peer communications link with device X  2112 ; (vi) transmission unit  2244  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device W  2110  to communications device A  2102  indicating that communications device W  2110  approves of the request to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device A  2102  over a peer to peer communications link with device A  2102 ; (vii) transmission unit  2248  allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response from communications device B  2104  to communications device A  2102  indicating that communications device B  2104  approves of the request to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal in traffic air link resource  2206  intended for communications device A  2102  over a peer to peer connection with communications device A  2102   
         [0208]    Drawing  2251  of  FIG. 22  illustrates exemplary signaling for one scenario. In this example, communications device A  2102  desires to transmit a group traffic signal to the other members of its group ( 2104 ,  2106 ,  2108 ) using the traffic air link resource  2206 . Communications device A transmits generates and transmits traffic transmission request signals  2252  using transmission request transmission unit  2222  of transmission request air link resources  2202 . Communications devices (communications device B  2204 , communications device C  2206 , communications device D  2208 ) receive the traffic transmission request signal  2252 . The communications devices (communications device B  2104 , communications device C  2106 , communications device D  2108 ) generate and transmit traffic transmission request response signals ( 2254 ,  2256 ,  2258 ) using transmission request response transmission units ( 2238 ,  2240 ,  2242 ), respectively, of transmission request response resource  2204 . 
         [0209]    Communications device A  2102  detects the transmission request response signals ( 2254 ,  2256 ,  2258 ), signifying positive responses, generates group traffic signals  2260 , and transmits the group traffic signals  2260  intended for communications devices (communications device B  2104 , communications device C  2106 , communications device D  2108 ) using traffic segment  2206 . 
         [0210]    Note that the resource allocation approach for group communications utilized in the example of  FIG. 22 , e.g., a device based approach, is advantageous where there a large number of devices in the group. For example, in one embodiment with 10 members of a group using the connection based approach of  FIG. 20 , one would use 45 individual transmission request air link transmission units and 45 individual transmission request response air link transmission units to accommodate possible combinations of the group. In addition, if one also wants to take into account link direction, one would use twice that number of transmission units, or another approach could be utilized such as alternating between link directions for different slots. However, if instead for an embodiment with 10 members in the group, the device based approach is used, one can support the group communications with 10 individual transmission request transmission units and 10 transmission request response transmission units. In general, if we have a group of N members, where N is a positive number greater than or equal to 2, and if the connection identifier approach is used we would use N(N−1) uni-directional connection identifier associated transmission request units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols, to accommodate the possible group request signaling. However, under the same scenario if the device identifier approach is used we would use N device identifier associated transmission request units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols to accommodate the possible group request signaling. In some embodiments, we may count each connection ID as bi-directional. In other words, an exemplary device pair (A,B) of the group uses one connection ID. In that case, we would use N*(N−1)/2 bi-directional connection IDs. But the device based approach uses N IDs, each associated with one device. When N&gt;2, N*(N−1)/2 is greater than or equal to N. 
         [0211]    An additional advantage of the device based resource allocation approach for group communications is reduced signaling. In the connection identifier based resource allocation approach of  FIG. 20  WT A  1902  transmits  3  traffic transmission request signals, while in the device based resource allocation approach of  FIG. 22 , WT A  2102  transmitted one request signal. 
         [0212]    The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software, hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Various embodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., mobile nodes such as mobile access terminals, base stations including one or more attachment points, and/or communications systems. Various embodiments are also directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/or operating mobile nodes, base stations and/or communications systems, e.g., hosts. Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g., computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which include machine readable instructions for controlling a machine to implement one or more steps of a method. 
         [0213]    In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using one or more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or more methods, for example, transmitting a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multiple connections corresponding to a communications group, transmitting data to peer to peer communications devices in a communications group, receiving a first plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, making a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response to a group member from which a request was received, etc. Thus, in some embodiments various features are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many of the above described methods or method steps can be implemented using machine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without additional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium including machine executable instructions for causing a machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the above-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device, including a processor configured to implement one, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods of the invention. 
         [0214]    Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, or multiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/or operations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on the embodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does, include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computer program product may, and sometimes does, include code for each individual step of a method, e.g., a method of controlling a communications device or node. The code may be in the form of machine, e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device. In addition to being directed to a computer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processor configured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps, acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above. Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU, configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methods described herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., a communications device or other device described in the present application. 
         [0215]    In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one or more devices, e.g., communications devices such as wireless terminals are configured to perform the steps of the methods described as being as being performed by the communications device. Accordingly, some but not all embodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device, with a processor which includes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the various described methods performed by the device in which the processor is included. In some but not all embodiments a device, e.g., communications device, includes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the various described methods performed by the device in which the processor is included. The modules may be implemented using software and/or hardware. 
         [0216]    While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of the methods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a wide range of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/or non-cellular systems. 
         [0217]    Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of the various embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above description. Such variations are to be considered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and in various embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communications techniques which may be used to provide wireless communications links between access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the access nodes are implemented as base stations which establish communications links with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), or other portable devices including receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, for implementing the methods.