Patent Publication Number: US-2017359819-A1

Title: Neighborhood Awareness Network and Multi-Channel Operation over OFDMA

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 U.S. provisional application 62/280,148 entitled “NEIGHBORHOOD AWARENESS NETWORK AND MULTI-CHANNEL OPERATION OVER OFDMA” filed on Jan. 19, 2016, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosed embodiments relate generally to wireless communication, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for neighborhood awareness network and multi-channel operation over OFDMA. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wireless communication network has grown exponentially. In a traditional wireless network, each communication device connects to a fixed access point (AP). With the growing number of communication devices and growing number of applications on each device, the peer-to-peer wireless network is developed. In a peer-to-peer wireless network, the communications devices communicates with each other without setting up connectivity sessions with the fixed access point. Connections between peer communication devices can form one or more clusters such that each peer-to-peer connected devices can communicate with each other directly. Neighbor awareness network (NAN) for Wi-Fi is used for peer-to-peer communication. Multiple communication devices can exchange data without establishing connection sessions with the fixed wireless APs. 
     Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) are both wideband digital communication technologies that are widely used in the wireless communication system. OFDMA is the multi-user OFDM technology where users can be assigned on both TDMA and FDMA basis where a single user does not necessarily need to occupy all the sub-carriers at any given time. In the current wireless standard, some already support the OFDMA. With OFDMA, it allows simultaneous low data rate transmission from several users as well as it can be dynamically assigned to the best non-fading, low interference channels for a particular user and avoid bad sub-carriers to be assigned. 
     In the peer-to-peer network, OFDM is used. Therefore, one to one communication or broadcast communication is supported. However, one to multiple-point connection is not available for the peer-to-peer communications. 
     Improvements and enhancements are required for neighborhood awareness network and multi-channel operation over OFDMA. 
     SUMMARY 
     Apparatus and methods are provided for peer-to-peer communication network and multi-channel operation over OFDMA. In novel aspect, the communication device sends a first frame to reserve a time period for one or more peer-to-peer services in a wireless communication network, establishes one or more sessions with one or more peer-to-peer communication devices in the time period reserved for a subset of the one or more peer-to-peer services, transmits a second frame allocating radio resource for a subset of communications devices of the one or more communications devices, and sends or receives one or more data frames to/from one or more peer-to-peer communication devices concurrently using OFDMA, wherein the one or more data frames are received during the reserved time period. In one embodiment, the communication device is a non-AP or soft AP communication device. In another embodiment, the second frame indicates one or more resource blocks allocated for each of the one or more peer-to-peer communication devices. In another embodiment, the second frame further includes power control information for each of the one or more peer-to-peer communication devices. In yet another embodiment, the first frame is a request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) frame. In one embodiment, the peer-to-peer wireless network is a neighbor awareness network (NAN) Wi-Fi network. 
     Other embodiments and advantages are described in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system diagram of a peer-to-peer wireless network  100  with multiple communication devices. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary block diagram of a communication device operating in a peer-to-peer communication network with OFDAM in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary diagram of the resource allocation for multiple communication devices in the peer-to-peer networking using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary diagram of the communication devices in a peer-to-peer network sending and/or receiving data frames to/from multiple peer-to-peer communication devices using OFDMA using reserved time period in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary diagram for the NAN-wireless bridging (NWB) for the peer-to-peer network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for the NWB operation to set up OFDMA operation for the discovery window in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary flow chart for a communication device to receive multiple data frames concurrently in a peer-to-peer communication network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary flow chart for a communication device to send multiple data frames concurrently in a peer-to-peer communication network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system diagram of a peer-to-peer wireless network  100  with multiple communication devices. Peer-to-peer wireless network  100  includes multiple communication devices,  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108 . In peer-to-peer wireless communications network  100 , communication devices can communication with each other directly. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , communication device  105  communicates with communication devices  106 ,  107 , and  108  through links  111 ,  112 , and  116 , respectively. Communicate device  106  further communicates with communication devices  101 ,  107 , and  108  through links  114 ,  113 , and  115 , respectively. Similarly, communication device  102  communicates with communication devices  103 , and  104  through links  122 , and  123 , respectively. Communication device  103  further communicates with communication devices  104  and  101  through links  121 , and  131 , respectively. It is understood by one of ordinary skills in the art that the combination of the communication links is exemplary. Any other combination are supported if all communicate requirements are met. 
     In one embodiment, NAN is a Wi-Fi peer-to-peer communication network. A NAN network comprises all NAN devices that share a common set of NAN parameters that include the time period between consecutive Discovery Windows (DW), the time duration of the DW, the beacon interval and NAN channels. A NAN device is a communication device that supports the NAN. For a NAN topology, one or more NAN clusters are formed. A NAN cluster is a collection of NAN devices that share a common set of NAN parameters and are synchronized to the same time window schedule. For example, wireless network  100  has two NAN clusters, cluster  110 , and cluster  120 . The NAN clusters can be completely separated or can be overlapped. Cluster  110  includes devices  101 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108 . Cluster  120  includes devices  101 ,  102 ,  103 , and  104 . In this example, clusters  110  and  120  are overlapped. Communication device  101  belongs to both clusters  110  and  120 . The communication device at any time can be covered in one or more clusters. 
     In one embodiment, a communication device in the peer-to-peer network can transmit different data to different peer communication devices concurrently. For example, communication device  101  communicates with communication devices  103  and  106 . Communication device  101  can send different data frames to communication devices  106  and  103 . In another embodiment, different data frames are received different communication devices concurrently using OFDMA. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary block diagram of a communication device operating in a peer-to-peer communication network with OFDAM in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Communication device  200  includes an antenna  234 , a transceiver  233 , a processor  232 , and a memory  231 . Communication device also includes a timer reservation circuit  211 , a multi-session circuit, an uplink circuit, a downlink circuit  2214 , and a NAN and high efficient (wireless) bridge circuit  215 . Communication device  200  also includes transceiver module  233 , coupled with antenna  234 , receives RF signals from antenna  234 , converts them to baseband signals and sends them to processor  232 . Transceiver  233  also converts received baseband signals from the processor  232 , converts them to RF signals, and sends out to antenna  234 . Processor  232  processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to perform features in communication device  200 . Memory  231  stores program instructions and data to control the operations of communication device  200 . 
     Communication device  200  also includes functional modules  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215 , and  216  which carry out embodiments of the present invention. A time reservation circuit  211  sends a first frame to reserve a time period for one or more peer-to-peer services in a wireless communication network. A multi-session circuit  212  establishes one or more sessions with one or more peer-to-peer communication devices in the time period reserved for the one or more peer-to-peer services, wherein the one or more devices belong to a peer-to-peer communication network. An allocation circuit  213  transmits a second frame allocating radio resource for a subset of communications devices of the one or more communications devices. An uplink circuit  214  receives one or more data frames to one or more peer-to-peer communication devices concurrently using OFDMA, wherein the one or more data frames are received during the reserved time period. A downlink circuit  215  transmits one or more data frames to one or more peer-to-peer communication devices concurrently using OFDMA, wherein the one or more data frames are received during the reserved time period. A NAN high efficient (wireless) bridge (NWB) circuit  216  processes the schedule information from both the NAN and wireless interfaces and relays the information from one interface to another. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary diagram of the resource allocation for multiple communication devices in the peer-to-peer networking using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Communication devices  301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304  communicate with each other in a peer-to-peer network using OFDMA. In one embodiment, communication devices  301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304  are OFDMA enabled devices. With OFDMA, communication devices/users  301 ,  302 ,  303 ,  304  occupy a block of allocated resources for communications. The resource block for each of communication devices does not need to be consecutive. The resource block can be used to support multiple users concurrently. As an example, a time reservation frame  321  is sent to set a quiet period. Subsequently, resource blocks  311  for user  301  and  321  for  302  are sent. A time reservation frame  322  is sent to set a quiet period. Subsequently, resource block  322  for user  302 ,  331  for user  303 , and  341  for user  304  are sent. A time reservation frame  323  is sent to set a quiet period. Subsequently, resource block  332  for user  303 ,  342  for user  304 , and  312  for user  301  are sent. As shown, user/communication device  301  uses resource blocks  311  and  312 ; user/communication device  302  uses resource blocks  321  and  322 ; user/communication device  303  uses resource blocks  331  and  332 ; user/communication device  304  uses resource blocks  341  and  342 . In one embodiment, the peer-to-peer network is a NAN Wi-Fi network. In a NAN network, a NAN device obeys CCA rule before transmitting frames in pre-determined/negotiated time windows. In particular, the NAN synchronization protocol defines a Discovery Windows sixteen TU long and appears every 512 ms. The NAN data link protocol further defines a set of service window (further availability resource blocks) negotiated between service providers and subscriber. In one embodiment, OFDMA is used in both the Discovery Window of NAN and Service Window of NAN. The synchronization and service discovery beacons are sent in OFDMA mode. In another embodiment, multiple set of NAN services, such as NAN services for communication devices  301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304 , operate in service windows using OFDMA mode. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary diagram of the communication devices in a peer-to-peer network sending and/or receiving data frames to/from multiple peer-to-peer communication devices using OFDMA using reserved time period in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Communication devices  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404 ,  405 , and  406  communicate with each other in the peer-to-peer network. In one novel aspect, one to more multi-cast is supported for the peer-to-peer network using OFDMA. In one embodiment, as shown, communication device  401  receives concurrently uplink data frames from a subset of the one or more communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  404  using OFDMA via uplink  461 ,  462 , and  463 , respectively. The uplink data frames from different communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  404 , use pre-allocated radio resources. The contents of uplink data packets from different peer-to-peer communication devices can be different. For example, communication device  401  receives data frames concurrently from a subset of communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  404 , each of which can send different contents to communication device  401 . In another embodiment, as shown, communication device  401  sends downlink data frames to one or more peer-to-peer communication devices using OFDMA via downlink  451 ,  452 , and  453 , respectively. The downlink data frames use pre-allocated radio resources. The contents of data packets can be different for different receiving communication devices. For example, communication device  401  sends multicast data frames concurrently to communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  404 . The data frames include different contents to communication device  402 ,  403 , and  404 . 
     In order to support multiple communication sessions using OFDMA in the peer-to-peer network, the communication device makes a time reservation for other peer-to-peer communication devices. As shown, communication device  401  sends a data frame  411  to reserve a time period for communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  404 . In one embodiment, the time reserved is used by one or more peer-to-peer communication devices to send data frames concurrently to one communication device in the peer-to-peer communication network. As shown, multiple peer-to-peer sessions  412 ,  413 , and  414  are created for communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  403 , respectively. Communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  403  send data frames to communication devices  401  using the resource blocks in the OFMDA. In another embodiment, the time reserved is used by one or more peer-to-peer communication devices to receive data frames concurrently from one multicast communication device. As shown, multiple peer-to-peer sessions  412 ,  413 , and  414  are created for communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  403 , respectively. Communication devices  402 ,  403 , and  403  receive data frames from communication device  401  using the resource blocks in the OFMDA. 
     In one embodiment, the data frame sent by communication device  401  to reserve a time period indicates one or more resource blocks allocated for each of the one or more peer-to-peer communication devices. In another embodiment, the management frame sent by communication device  401  to reserve a time period further includes power control information for each of the one or more peer-to-peer communication devices. In yet another embodiment, request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) frame is used to reserve a time period for the one or more peer-to-peer communication devices. 
     A NAN device obeys CCA rule before transmitting frames in pre-determined/negotiated time windows. The NAN synchronization protocol defines a Discovery Windows. The NAN data link protocol further defines a set of service window (further availability resource blocks) negotiated between service providers and subscribers. NAN devices operate in pre-determined/negotiated windows. The timing of the discovery or service window is determined between a set of NAN devices. Thus, there is potentially increased contention and inefficiency due to lack of coordination between NAN scheduled operations and the 802.11 communications network operations. By utilizing OFDMA, certain NAN data operations can be supported more efficiently. Facilitating NAN device to operate in OFDMA mode will benefit both NAN operation and channel utilization of Wi-Fi BSSs. To enable NAN devices to operate in OFDMA mode in Discovery Window and Service Window, the system will send Synchronization and service discovery beacons in OFDMA mode. Multiple set of NAN services operate in service windows using OFDMA mode. 
     In one novel aspect, a NAN-Wireless bridging (NWB) layer is proposed for a dual role communication device to create the NWB above the NAN and wireless MAC/PHY interfaces. The layer processes the schedule information from both interfaces and relays the information from one interface to another. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary diagram for the NAN-Wireless bridging (NWB) for the peer-to-peer network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. A communication device  500  is a wireless and NAN dual role device. A NAN cluster covers the range of several 802.11ax BBSs. A wireless device follows the 802.11ax protocol. Communication device  500  has a PHY layer  501  and MAC layer  502 . In one embodiment, PHY layer  501  and MAC layer  502  follows the 802.11ax protocol. Communication device  500  has a NAN layer  503  communicates with MAC layer  502 . NAN layer  503  handles NAN protocol processing and further communicates with a NBH layer. A NBH layer with NAN  503  and MAC  502 , processes the schedule information from NAN layer  503  and MAC layer  502  interfaces and relays the information from one interface to another communicates. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for the NWB operation to set up OFDMA operation for the discovery window in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. During an initial phase, NAN cluster master creates a cluster in the SU mode. The NAN cluster master subsequently sends first synchronization beacons in a time window and sets up OFDMA operation for the DW. At step  611 , a NBH layer  610  syncs internally the NAN clock and the wireless clock. At step  612 , NBH layer  610  checks if the wireless interface has the time window schedule information. If step  612  determines no, NBH layer  610  sends a time window schedule request to the wireless interface. Subsequently, at step  621 , the wireless interface  620  upon receiving the time window schedule request from NBH  610 , a time window resource request frame to the wireless AP to reserve time period. The purpose of the time period is for wireless stations to avoid time window of NAN operation. At step  622 , wireless interface  620  receives trigger frame for quiet time period before every NAN DW. In one embodiment, the default resource allocation of OFDMA operation is based on NAN ID or any other methods. In one embodiment, NAN master devices send synchronization beacons in the time window using OFDMA mode. NAN devices belonging to different wireless APs follow the same operation. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary flow chart for a communication device to receive multiple data frames concurrently in a peer-to-peer communication network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. At step  701 , the communication device sends a first frame to reserve a time period for one or more peer-to-peer services in a wireless communication network. At step  702 , the communication device establishes one or more sessions with one or more peer-to-peer communication devices in the time period reserved for the one or more peer-to-peer services, wherein the one or more devices belong to a peer-to-peer communication network. At step  703 , the communication device transmits a second frame allocating radio resource for a subset of communications devices of the one or more communications devices. At step  704 , the communication device receives one or more data frames from a subset of the one or more communications devices concurrently using OFDMA, wherein the one or more data frames are received during the reserved time period. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary flow chart for a communication device to send multiple data frames concurrently in a peer-to-peer communication network using OFDMA in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. At step  801 , the communication device sends a first frame to reserve a time period for one or more peer-to-peer services in a wireless communication network. At step  802 , the communication device establishes one or more sessions with one or more peer-to-peer communication devices in the time period reserved for the one or more peer-to-peer services, wherein the one or more devices belong to a peer-to-peer communication network. At step  803 , the communication device transmits a second frame allocating radio resource for a subset of communications devices of the one or more communications devices. At step  804 , the communication device transmits one or more data frames to a subset of the one or more communications devices concurrently using OFDMA, wherein the one or more data frames are received during the reserved time period. 
     Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.