Patent Publication Number: US-7898983-B2

Title: Methods and apparatus supporting traffic signaling in peer to peer communications

Description:
FIELD 
     Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus for wireless communication, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for use in peer to peer wireless communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wireless communications devices are common place. Many cellular systems use centralized controllers and/or other network based control mechanisms to control wireless device operation so that cellular devices operate in an efficient and relatively synchronized manner. Unfortunately, in peer to peer systems such centralized control and/or network based synchronization mechanisms are normally lacking. 
     In the case of peer to peer systems, it would be desirable if peer devices could discover the presence of other peer devices in the vicinity, detect when peer devices leave the vicinity and/or use knowledge of the presence of particular devices and/or the state of activity of such devices to make communication and/or paging decisions. It would also be desirable if a peer device could take active device information into consideration when making one or more communications and/or resource utilization decisions. 
     SUMMARY 
     Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. A peer to peer active connection list is maintained by a wireless communications device supporting peer to peer communications. In various embodiments, the active connection identifier list being maintained is in addition to a list of discovered peers in the local vicinity. Paging signaling, e.g., peer to peer paging signaling, is used to establish active connections. Air link peer to peer traffic resources include traffic control resources and traffic data resources. A wireless communications device seeking to transmit on a traffic data resource transmits a traffic request signal on a traffic control resource. An active connection identifier is, in some embodiments, associated with a particular subset of traffic control resources. Thus, a wireless communications device, in some embodiments, monitors the portion or portions of the traffic control resource corresponding to its active connections for traffic request signals, but need not monitor other portions. In some embodiments, the traffic control resource associated with a particular connection identifier is hopped over time in accordance with a predetermined hopping sequence. In some embodiments, a traffic control resource used for communicating a traffic request signal has a predetermined association to a particular traffic data resource, e.g., traffic data segment, in the peer to peer timing structure. 
     One exemplary embodiment includes a peer to peer recurring timing structure including peer discovery intervals, paging intervals, and traffic intervals. In some but not necessarily all such embodiments, the following event sequence occurs for the communication of user data in a peer to peer traffic segment. (1) Two peer wireless communications devices are powered on in a local vicinity and are coarsely synchronized with respect to the same peer to peer timing structure; (2) at least one of the wireless communications devices performs a peer discovery operation during a peer discovery interval detecting the presence of the other wireless communications device; (3) one of the wireless communications devices sends a page signal to the other wireless communications device; (4) an active connection is established; (5) one of the communications devices sends a traffic request signal to the other wireless communications device using a traffic control resource corresponding to the active connection; and (6) the wireless communications device which sent the traffic request signal sends traffic data using a traffic data resource. Some other embodiments include portions of the previously described sequence, e.g., one or more steps of the sequence. Some embodiments may use less than the full set of steps described in the exemplary sequence discussed above. 
     An exemplary method of operating a first communications device, in accordance with various embodiments includes: maintaining a list of active connection identifiers corresponding to communications devices with which said first communications device has received or sent at least one paging signal; and monitoring a traffic control resource during a traffic interval for a traffic request signal corresponding to at least one connection identifier included in said list of active connection identifiers. 
     An exemplary first communications device supporting peer to peer wireless operations in accordance with various embodiments includes: an active connection list maintenance module for maintaining a list of active connection identifiers corresponding to communications devices with which said first communications device has received or sent at least one paging signal; and a traffic resource request monitoring module for monitoring a traffic control resource during a traffic interval for a traffic request signal corresponding to at least one connection identifier included in said list of active connection identifiers. 
     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 are discussed in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is drawing of an exemplary recurring peer to peer communications system timing structure in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wireless terminal as part of a peer to peer communications system in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a mobile node using OFDM signaling and supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  comprising the combination of  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C and  5 D is a flowchart  500  of an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 13  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 14  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 16  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer timing structure in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates exemplary air link resources corresponding to an exemplary traffic interval of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  includes an exemplary peer to peer timing structure and an exemplary flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wireless terminal, e.g., a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 19  is a drawing illustrating the refinement of monitoring, by a wireless terminal, as a function of peer discovery operations and paging operations in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 20  is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to  FIG. 19  and further illustrating that the wireless terminal determines a portion or portions of the traffic control resources to use as a function of a connection identifier list. 
         FIG. 21  is an alternative to  FIG. 20  for an exemplary embodiment using CDMA signaling. 
         FIG. 22  is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 20  illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air link traffic control resources associated with an active connection pair remains fixed for multiple traffic control portions. 
         FIG. 23  is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 20  illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air link traffic control resources associated with an active connection pair varies between multiple traffic control portions. 
         FIG. 24  comprising the combination of  FIGS. 24A and 24B  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 25  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device to support communications with multiple peer wireless communications devices including a second communications device and a third communications device in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 26  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 27  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 28  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 29  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 30  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 31  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 32  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 33  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications network in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is drawing of an exemplary recurring peer to peer communications system timing structure  100  in accordance with various embodiments. The exemplary timing structure  100  includes a plurality of different types of slots including a peer discovery slot type, a timing synchronization slot type, a paging slot type, and a traffic slot type. In some embodiments, a timing synchronization slot is included as part of a peer discovery slot. In some other embodiments, a timing synchronization slot is non-overlapping with a timing synchronization slot, e.g., a timing synchronization slot follows a peer discovery slot. 
     A first iteration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communications system timing structure  100 , which starts at time mark reference  102 , has a timing structure repeat interval  122 , includes peer discovery slot  104 , timing synchronization slot  106 , paging slot  108 , traffic slot  110 , traffic slot  112 , paging slot  114  and traffic slot  116 . A second iteration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communication system timing structure has the same set of slot types in the same order. The second iteration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communication system timing structure starts at time mark reference  102 ′ and includes peer discovery slot  118  and timing synchronization slot  120 . 
     The duration of the timing structure repeat interval  122  is much larger than the duration of any individual slot. The duration of the timing structure repeat time interval is, e.g., 1 minute in duration. The duration of the peer discovery time interval  124  is, e.g., 2 or 3 milli-seconds in duration. The duration of the time between successive paging slots  126  is, e.g., 1 sec in duration. In various embodiments with regard to one iteration of the timing structure, the number of peer discovery slots is less than the number of paging slots, and the number of paging slots is less than or equal to the number of traffic slots. In some embodiments, there is only one peer discovery slot per iteration of the recurring timing structure. In various embodiments with regard to one iteration of the timing structure, the amount of time allocated to traffic slots is greater than the combined amount of time allocated to peer discovery and paging slots. In some such embodiments, the amount of time allocated to traffic is much larger than the combined amount of time allocated to peer discovery and paging slots, e.g., at least 5 times larger. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart  200  of an exemplary method of operating a wireless terminal as part of a peer to peer communications system in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step  202 , where the wireless terminal is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  204 . In step  204 , the wireless terminal checks for bandwidth availability. Then, in step  206  the wireless terminal derives a timing reference and in step  208 , the wireless terminal derives the timing structure. Operation proceeds from step  208  to steps  210 ,  212  and  214 , where the wireless terminal checks, on an ongoing basis, for different types of predetermined slots being used in the peer to peer communication system recurring timing structure, e.g., a timing structure such as timing structure  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In step  210 , the wireless terminal checks if it is time to perform peer discovery, and if it is, then operation proceeds from step  210  to step  216 . In step  212 , the wireless terminal checks if it is time allocated to perform paging operations, and if it is, then operation proceeds from step  212  to step  224 . In step  214 , the wireless terminal checks if it is time allocated to perform traffic operations, and if it is, then operation proceeds from step  214  to step  238 . 
     In step  216 , the wireless terminal performs peer discovery operations. Step  216  includes sub-steps  218 ,  220  and  222 . In sub-step  218 , the wireless terminal monitors to detect beacon signals from other peer nodes in the vicinity, and then in sub-step  220  the wireless terminal identifies wireless terminal and/or users associated with the received beacon signals. Operation proceeds from sub-step  220  to sub-step  222 . In sub-step  222 , the wireless terminal updates a local vicinity peer node present list as a function of determined wireless terminal and/or user identification information. In various embodiments, in at least some iterations of step  216 , the wireless terminal, in addition to or in place of sub-steps in step  216 , transmits a beacon signal to announce its presence to other wireless terminals in the vicinity. 
     In step  224 , the wireless terminal performs paging related operations. Step  224  includes sub-steps  226 ,  228 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234  and  236 . Different sub-steps may be, and sometimes are, performed at different times, e.g., in response to wireless terminal needs and/or interests and/or as a function of attributes of a particular paging slot, e.g., information identifying wireless terminals which can be paged in that particular slot. In sub-step  226 , the wireless terminal checks for incoming pages. Operation proceeds from step  226  to step  228 , where the wireless terminal checks the detected incoming pages and determines if the wireless terminal is being paged. If the wireless terminal determines that it is being paged, then operation proceeds from sub-step  228  to sub-step  236 . In sub-step  230 , the wireless terminal generates a page, and then in sub-step  232  the wireless terminal transmits the page. Operation proceeds from sub-step  232  to sub-step  234 , in which the wireless terminal monitors for a page response. If a page response is detected by the wireless terminal, then operation proceeds from sub-step  234  to sub-step  236 . In sub-step  236 , the wireless terminal sets up an active connection. The active connection set-up includes, e.g., the communication of a connection identifier. 
     Returning to step  238 , in step  238 , the wireless terminal determines if there is an active connection, and if there is then operation proceeds to step  240 , where the wireless terminal performs traffic operations. If there is not a current active connection, then the wireless terminal, in some embodiments, performs no further action with regard to the traffic slot, e.g., the wireless terminal goes into a power saving mode with regard to traffic slot. Step  240  includes sub-steps  242 ,  244   246  and  248 . In sub-step  242 , the wireless terminal follows traffic protocol rules to receive and/or send traffic related signals including user data signals. In sub-step  244 , the wireless terminal performs timer management operations and in sub-step  246 , the wireless terminal decides whether or not there is additional traffic to be communicated. If the wireless terminal determines in sub-step  246  that there is no additional traffic, then operation proceeds to sub-step  248  where the wireless terminal implements the tear down of the active connection. If there is still additional traffic to be communicated the active connection is left intact, e.g., and additional traffic can be communicated during a subsequent traffic slot. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart  300  of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device, e.g., a mobile node using OFDM signaling and supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step  302 , where the first communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  304 , where the first communications device determines a time reference point. Operation proceeds from step  304  to step  306 , in which the first communications device accesses stored timing structure information used to determine recurring peer discovery time intervals and traffic intervals. In various embodiments, the accessed stored timing information further includes information used to determine recurring paging intervals. In various embodiments, the stored timing structure information indicates that multiple paging time intervals occur between peer discovery time intervals during at least one period of time for which timing structure information is stored. In some embodiments, the traffic intervals occupy more time than the time occupied by the combination of paging time intervals and peer discovery time intervals during one iteration of a communications timing structure defined by said stored timing structure information. Operation proceeds from step  306  to step  308 . In step  308 , the first wireless communication device performs a peer to peer timing synchronization operation during a peer discovery time interval. In some other embodiments, the first wireless terminal performs peer to peer timing synchronization operation during a timing/synchronization time interval following a peer discovery time interval. Operation proceeds from step  308  to step  310 . In step  310 , the first wireless communications device performs paging operations during paging intervals determined to occur at points in time relative to said time reference point. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart  400  of an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step  402 , where the first wireless communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  404 . In step  404 , the first wireless communications device determines a time reference point. Step  404  includes sub-steps  406  and  408 . In sub-step  406 , the first wireless communications device receives a broadcast signal from a device, said device being different from the first wireless communications device, said device being one of: i) a satellite, ii) a base station in a cellular network, and iii) a beacon transmitter that doesn&#39;t transmit user data. In some other embodiments, the received broadcast signal is from one of: i) a broadcast transmitter broadcasting a government or international body defined reference signal and ii) a broadcast transmitter transmitting a commercial broadcast signal such as a reference signal used in television and/or radio signals. Operation proceeds from sub-step  406  to sub-step  408 . In sub-step  408 , the first wireless communications device uses the received broadcast signal to determine the time reference point. Operation proceeds from step  404  to step  410 . 
     In step  410 , the first communications device accesses stored timing structure information used to determine recurring peer discovery time intervals and traffic intervals. In various embodiments, the accessed stored timing structure information also indicates where recurring timing synchronization intervals occur relative to the determined time reference point. Operation proceeds from step  410  to step  412 . In step  412 , the first wireless communications device determines at least one of peer to peer receive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symbol timing based on said timing reference point. Then, in step  414 , the first wireless communications device detects a signal transmitted by a second wireless communications device, e.g., another mobile node. The detected signal is, e.g., a traffic signal used to communicate user data. Alternatively, the detected signal is, e.g., a predetermined broadcast signal. The predetermined broadcast signal is, in some embodiments, one of: (i) a multi-tone time varying signal and (ii) a predetermined time varying NP sequence signal. In some embodiments, the predetermined broadcast signal is a signal received from the second wireless communications device in one of a plurality of recurring timing synchronization intervals. Operation proceeds from step  414  to step  416 . In step  416 , the wireless terminal adjusts at least one of peer to peer receive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symbol timing as a function of the detected signal from step  414 . Operation proceeds from step  416  to step  418 . In step  418 , the wireless terminal transmits a predetermined broadcast signal in a time interval having a predetermined offset from said reference point. In some embodiments, the broadcast signal is a beacon signal annunciating the first wireless communication device&#39;s presence and is transmitted in a peer discovery interval. 
       FIG. 5  comprising the combination of  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C and  5 D is a flowchart  500  of an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step  502 , where the first wireless communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  504 . In step  504 , the first wireless communications device determines a time reference point, and then in step  506  the first wireless communications device accesses stored timing structure information used to determine recurring peer discovery time intervals and traffic intervals. In various embodiments, the accessed stored timing structure information also includes information used to determine recurring paging time intervals. Operation proceeds from step  506  to step  508 , in which the first wireless communications device determines recurring peer discovery time intervals and traffic intervals using said accessed stored timing structure information. Operation proceeds from step  508  to step  510 . In step  510 , the first wireless communications device determines recurring paging intervals using said accessed stored timing structure information. Operation proceeds from step  510  to step  512 . 
     In step  512 , the first wireless communications device receives a broadcast signal from a second wireless communications device during a peer discovery time interval. In various embodiments, the second wireless communications device is another wireless terminal such a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling. In some embodiments, the received broadcast signal is a user beacon signal. Then, in step  514 , the first wireless communications device recovers an identifier from the received broadcast signal, said identifier being one of a device identifier and a user identifier, and in step  516 , the first wireless communications device stores said recovered identifier in memory. Operation proceeds from step  516  to steps  518 ,  520  and, via connecting node A  522  to step  564 . 
     In step  518 , the first wireless communications device starts a timer used to determine when a predetermined period of time, e.g., a lifetime associated with said recovered identifier of step  514 , has expired. Operation proceeds from step  518  to step  524 . In step  524 , the first wireless communications device determines if a signal from said second wireless communications device has been detected within a period of time. If a signal is detected before the timer expires, then operation proceeds from step  524  to step  528 , where the first wireless communications device updates the timer, e.g., restarts the timer. If a signal is not detected and the timer expires, then operation proceeds from step  524  to step  526 , where the first wireless communications device deletes said recovered identifier, which was stored in step  516 , from memory. 
     Returning to step  520 , in step  520 , the first wireless communications device monitors to detect an event used to trigger sending of a paging message to the second wireless communications device. Operation proceeds from step  520  to step  530  for a detected event. In step  530 , the first wireless communications device selects between sending a peer to peer page to said second wireless communications device or sending a page through another device, e.g., a base station. Step  530  includes sub-steps  532  and  536 . In sub-step  532 , the first wireless communications device determines if said second wireless communications device is pagable by a peer to peer page. Sub-step  532  includes sub-step  534 , in which the first wireless communications device checks a list of stored identifiers associated with devices, said list being stored in memory. Operation proceeds from sub-step  532  to sub-step  536 , in which the first wireless communications device proceeds differently depending on the determination of sub-step  532 . If it is determined in sub-step  532  that the second wireless communications device is pagable by a peer to peer page, then operation proceeds from sub-step  536 , via connecting node B  538 , to step  542 . If it is determined in sub-step  532  that the second wireless communications device is not pagable by a peer to peer page, then operation proceeds from sub-step  536 , via connecting node C  540 , to step  554 . 
     In step  542 , the first wireless communications device determines one of said determined paging intervals to be used for transmitting a page as a function of said stored identifier. Operation proceeds from step  542  to step  544 . In step  544 , the first wireless communications device transmits a direct page to said second wireless communications device. Step  544  includes sub-step  546 , in which the first wireless communications device transmits a paging message to the second wireless communications device during an occurrence of one of the determined paging intervals. Operation proceeds from step  544  to step  548 . 
     In step  548 , the first wireless communications device participates in the communication of peer to peer session establishment information between the first and second wireless communications devices. Step  548  includes one or more of sub-steps  550  and  552 . In sub-step  550  the first wireless communications device sends peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. In sub-step  552  the first wireless communications device receives peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step  548  via connecting node D  562  to step  582 . 
     Returning to step  554 , in step  554 , the first wireless communications device transmits a wide area page to another node, e.g., a base station, to initiate a page to the second communications device. Operation proceeds from step  554  to step  556 . 
     In step  556 , the first wireless communications device participates in the communication of peer to peer session establishment information between the first and second wireless communications devices. Step  556  includes one or more of sub-steps  558  and  560 . In sub-step  558  the first wireless communications device sends peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. In sub-step  560  the first wireless communications device receives peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step  556  via connecting node D  562  to step  582 . 
     In step  564 , the first wireless communications device determines which of said recurring paging intervals can be used to direct pages to said first wireless communications device. Operation proceeds from step  564  to step  566 . In step  566 , the first wireless communications device monitors during a determined paging interval in which a page can be directed to the first wireless communications device for pages directed to the first wireless communications device. Operation proceeds from step  566  to step  568 . In step  568 , the wireless terminal determines if a page was received directed to the first wireless communications device and proceeds as a function of the determination. If a page was received directed to the first wireless communications device, then operation proceeds from step  568  to step  570 ; otherwise operation proceeds from step  568  to step  572 . 
     In step  570 , the first wireless communications device transmits a page response signal. Operation proceeds from step  570  to step  574 . In step  574 , the first wireless communications device participates in the communication of peer to peer session establishment information between the first and second wireless communications devices. Step  574  includes one or more of sub-steps  576  and  578 . In sub-step  576  the first wireless communications device sends peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. In sub-step  578  the first wireless communications device receives peer to peer session establishment information, wherein said peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step  574  via connecting node D  562  to step  582 . 
     Returning to step  572 , in step  572 , the first wireless communications device is operated to conserve power. Step  572  includes sub-step  580 , in which the first wireless communications device is controlled to refrain from monitoring for traffic data during at least one traffic interval following said paging interval in which no page was detected directed to the said first wireless communications device and prior to the occurrence of another paging interval. Operation proceeds from step  572  to step  566 , where the first wireless communications device monitors another paging interval. 
     Returning to step  582 , in step  582 , the first wireless communications device participates in the communication of user data between the first and second wireless communications devices via a direct wireless communications link during one of the traffic intervals. Step  582  includes one or more of sub-steps  584  and  586 . In sub-step  584 , the first wireless communications device receives user data, said user data including one of text data, image data, voice data, and application data. In sub-step  586 , the first wireless communications device sends user data, said user data including one of text data, image data, voice data, and application data. 
       FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  600  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  600  includes a peer discovery time interval  602  followed by a traffic interval  604 . Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  602 ′ followed by traffic interval  604 ′. Each peer discovery interval ( 602 ,  602 ′) has a duration of 9 msec, while each traffic interval ( 604 ,  604 ′) has a duration of 900 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  606  is 909 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the total time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. 
       FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  700  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  700  includes a peer discovery time interval  702  followed by ten traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   704 , . . . , traffic interval  10   706 ). Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  702 ′ followed by ten traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   704 ′, . . . , traffic intervals  10   706 ′). Each peer discovery interval ( 702 ,  702 ′) has a duration of 3 msec, while each traffic interval ( 704 , . . . ,  706 ,  704 ′, . . . ,  706 ′) has a duration of 30 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  708  is 303 msec, and the composite traffic time  710  in one iteration of the recurring timing structure is 300 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the total time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It may also be observed that the are 10 times as many traffic time intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. In some other embodiments, there are more than 10 times as many traffic time intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. 
       FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  800  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  800  includes a peer discovery time interval  802  followed by 100 traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   804 , traffic interval  2   806 , . . . , traffic interval  100   808 ). Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  802 ′ followed by traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   804 ′, traffic interval  2   806 ′, . . . , traffic interval  100   808 ′). Each peer discovery interval ( 802 ,  802 ′) has a duration of 3 msec, and each traffic interval ( 804 ,  806 , . . . ,  808 ,  804 ′,  806 ′, . . .  808 ′) has a duration of 3 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  810  is 303 msec, and the composite traffic time  812  in one iteration of the recurring timing structure is 300 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. The duration of a traffic interval is 3 msec; therefore, the duration of a peer discovery interval and the duration of a traffic interval is the same. It may also be observed that the total time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It may be observed there are 100 times as many traffic time intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. In various embodiments, there are at least 10 times as many traffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. 
       FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  900  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  900  includes a peer discovery time interval  902  followed by ten traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   904 , . . . , traffic interval  10   906 ). Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  902 ′ followed by traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   904 ′ . . . , traffic interval  10   906 ′). Each peer discovery interval ( 902 ,  902 ′) has a duration of 3 msec, and each traffic interval ( 904 , . . . ,  906 ,  904 ′, . . . ,  906 ′) has a duration of 100 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  908  is 1003 msec, and the composite traffic time  910  in one iteration of the recurring timing structure is 1 sec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the total time allocated to traffic intervals is approximately 333 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It may be observed there are 10 times as many traffic time intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. In various embodiments, there are more than 10 times as many traffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. It may also be observed that the gap time between two successive peer discovery intervals  912  is 1 sec. In some other embodiments, the gap time between two successive peer discovery intervals is greater than 1 sec. 
       FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1000  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1000  includes a peer discovery time interval  1002  followed by a timing synchronization interval  1004 , which is followed by a traffic interval  1006 . Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  1002 ′ followed by timing synchronization interval  1004 ′ followed by traffic interval  1006 ′. Each peer discovery interval ( 1002 ,  1002 ′) has a duration of 3 msec, each timing synchronization interval ( 1004 ,  1004 ′) has a duration of 3 msec and each traffic interval ( 1006 , . . . ,  1006 ′) has a duration of 1 sec. The timing structure repeat interval  1008  is 1006 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. In various embodiments, the timing synchronization intervals is a time interval used by the first wireless terminal to collect signal timing data from a signal received from a peer device, said signal timing data being for use in adjusting the first wireless terminal&#39;s signal timing. 
       FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1100  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1100  includes a peer discovery time interval  1102  followed by a paging interval  1104 , which is followed by a traffic interval  1106 . Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval  1102 ′ followed by timing paging interval  1104 ′ followed by traffic interval  1106 ′. Each peer discovery interval ( 1102 ,  1102 ′) has a duration of 9 msec, each paging interval ( 1104 ,  1104 ′) has a duration of 9 msec and each traffic interval ( 1106 , . . . ,  1106 ′) has a duration of 90 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  1008  is 108 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the duration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 10 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. In some other embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 10 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. 
       FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1200  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1200  includes a peer discovery time interval  1202  followed by a first paging interval, paging interval  1   1204 , which is followed by ten traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   1206 , . . . , traffic interval  10   1208 ), which is followed by a second paging interval, paging interval  2   1210 , which is followed by 10 additional traffic intervals (traffic interval  11   1212 , . . . , traffic interval  20   1214 ). Then, the pattern repeats starting with peer discovery intervals  1202 ′. Each peer discovery interval ( 1202 ,  1202 ′) has a duration of 3 msec, each paging interval ( 1204 ,  1210 ) has a duration of 9 msec and each traffic interval ( 1206 , . . . ,  1208 ,  1212 , . . . ,  1214 ) has a duration of 10 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  1216  is 221 msec. The gap between paging intervals  1218  is 100 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the duration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. The total time allocated to traffic intervals is approximately 11 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. In some embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 10 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. Each of the traffic intervals ( 1206 , . . . ,  1208 ,  1212 , . . . ,  1214 ) has a duration which is longer than the duration of any of the paging intervals ( 1204 ,  1210 ). The paging intervals have substantially the same duration as the traffic intervals. There are ten times as many traffic intervals as there are paging intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. 
       FIG. 13  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1300  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1300  includes a peer discovery time interval  1302  followed by a first paging interval, paging interval  1   1304 , which is followed by twelve traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   1306 , . . . , traffic interval  12   1308 ), which is followed by a second paging interval, paging interval  2   1310 , which is followed by 12 additional traffic intervals (traffic interval  13   1312 , . . . , traffic interval  24   1314 ). Then, the pattern repeats starting with peer discovery intervals  1302 ′. Each peer discovery interval ( 1302 ,  1302 ′) has a duration of 9 msec, each paging interval ( 1304 ,  1310 ) has a duration of 9 msec and each traffic interval ( 1306 , . . . ,  1308 ,  1312 , . . . ,  1314 ) has a duration of 9 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  1316  is 243 msec. The gap between paging intervals  1318  is 108 msec. 
     It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that the duration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 12 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. In some embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 10 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. Each of the traffic intervals ( 1306 , . . . ,  1308 ,  1312 , . . . ,  1314 ) has a duration which is the same as the duration of a paging interval. There are twelve times as many traffic intervals as there are paging intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. In various embodiments, there are at least 10 times as many traffic intervals as there are paging intervals in one iteration of the timing structure. 
       FIG. 14  is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1400  used by wireless terminals in accordance with various embodiments. In this exemplary embodiment, one recurring iteration of the timing structure includes a predetermined fixed number of equal duration time slots, e.g., 24062 indexed time slots (slot  1   1402 , slot  2   1404 , slot  3 ,  1406 , slot  4   1408 , slot  5   1410 , . . . , slot  403   1412 , slot  404   1414 , slot  405   1416 , slot  406   1418 , . . . , slot  804   1420 , . . . , slot  23662   1422 , slot  23663   1424 , slot  23664   1426 , . . . , slot  24062   1428 ). A predetermined pattern of different types of intervals associated with those slots shall now be described. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1400  includes a peer discovery time interval  1452  followed by a timing synchronization interval  1454 , followed by a first paging interval, paging interval  1   1456 , which is followed by four hundred traffic intervals (traffic interval  1   1458 , traffic interval  2   1460 , . . . , traffic interval  400   1462 ), which is followed by a second paging interval, paging interval  2   1464 , which is followed by four hundred additional traffic intervals (traffic interval  401   1466 , traffic interval  402   1468 , . . . , traffic interval  800   1470 ). This sequence of a paging interval followed by a set of 400 traffic intervals repeats for a total of 60 sets ending with paging interval  60   1472  followed by 400 traffic intervals (traffic interval  23601   1474 , traffic interval  23602   1476 , . . . , traffic interval  24000   1478 ). Then, the pattern repeats starting with peer discovery interval  1452 ′ corresponding to slot  1   1402 ′, timing synchronization interval  1454 ′ corresponding to slot  2   1404 ′, paging interval  1   1456 ′ corresponding to slot  3   1406 ′, traffic interval  1   1458 ′ corresponding to slot  4   1408 ′, etc. Each peer discovery interval ( 1452 ,  1452 ′) has a duration  1484  of 2.5 msec. Each timing synchronization interval ( 1454 ,  1454 ′) has a duration  1486  of 2.5 msec. Each paging interval ( 1456 ,  1464 , . . . ,  1472 ,  1456 ′) has a duration  1488  of 2.5 msec. Each traffic interval ( 1458 ,  1460 , . . . ,  1462 ,  1466 ,  1468 , . . . ,  1470 ,  1474 ,  1476 , . . . ,  1478 ,  1458 ′) has a duration of 2.5 msec. The timing structure repeat interval  1480  is 60.155 sec. The time between starts of successive paging slots  1482  is 1.0025 sec for paging slots within the same iteration of the recurring timing structure. The gap between successive paging slots is 1 sec for paging slots within the same iteration of the recurring timing structure. The time between starts of successive paging slots  1483  is 1.0075 msec for paging slots within different iterations of the recurring timing structure. The gap between successive paging slots is 1.0050 sec for paging slots within different iterations of the recurring timing structure. 
     The peer discovery intervals, which are 2.5 msec, are less than 10 msec. The paging intervals, which are 2.5 msec, are less than 10 msec. There are 24000 times as many traffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals; therefore there are at least 10 times as many traffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals. The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 24000 times the time allocated to peer discovery intervals; therefore there are at least 100 times as much time allocated to traffic intervals as allocated to peer discovery intervals. There are 400 times as many traffic intervals as there are paging intervals; therefore, there are at least 10 times the number of traffic intervals as there are paging intervals. The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 400 times the time allocated to peer discovery intervals; therefore there are at least 10 times as much time allocated to traffic intervals as allocated to peer discovery intervals. The time gap between two successive paging intervals is 1.0 sec for paging intervals within the same iteration of the recurring timing structure, and the gap between two successive paging intervals is 1.0050 sec for paging intervals in two different iterations of the recurring timing structure, which are both at least 100 msec. The time allocated for paging is 60 times the time allocated for peer discovery, which is at least twice the time allocated for peer discovery. 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step  1502 , where the wireless communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  1504 . In step  1504 , the wireless communications device accesses stored peer to peer timing structure information, said stored peer to peer timing structure information defining a pattern of different types of time intervals, said different types of time intervals including at least a peer discovery time interval and a traffic interval. Other types of intervals include one or more of a timing synchronization interval and a paging interval. Operation proceeds from step  1504  to step  1506 . Various exemplary peer to peer timing structures are illustrated in and described with respect to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 . 
     In step  1506 , the wireless communications device uses said accessed stored peer to peer timing structure information in determining an operation to be performed during a current time period. 
     In various embodiments, the pattern of different types of time intervals repeats over time. In some such embodiments, the pattern has a predetermined periodicity and wherein each period includes at least one peer discovery interval and at least one traffic interval. In some such embodiments, the duration of each peer discovery interval is less than 10 msec. In some such embodiments, the peer discovery interval duration is within the approximate range of 2 to 3 msec. 
     In various embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals included in each period has a duration which is longer than any of the peer discovery intervals in said period. In various embodiments, each time period includes at least 10 times as many traffic time intervals as peer discovery time intervals. 
     The traffic and peer discovery intervals, in some embodiments, have the same or substantially the same duration, and there are more traffic time intervals than peer discovery time intervals. 
     In some embodiments, two successive peer discovery time intervals in a time period including two repetitions of the recurring pattern are separated in time by a gap of at least 1 second. 
     In various embodiments, each period further includes a timing synchronization interval. The timing synchronization interval is, in various embodiments, a time interval for use by a wireless terminal to collect signal timing data from a signal received from a peer device, said signal timing data being for use in adjusting the wireless terminal&#39;s symbol timing. 
     In various embodiments, each period includes a paging interval, e.g., a paging interval having a duration of less than 10 msec. In some embodiments, pagings intervals have an approximate duration within the range of 2 to 3 msec. In some embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 10 times the total time allocated to paging intervals. 
     Some embodiments have a single traffic interval in one iteration of the recurring timing structure, while in other embodiments there are a plurality of traffic intervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure. In various embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals included in each period has a duration which is longer than the duration of any of the paging intervals in the period, wherein the period is one iteration of the recurring timing structure. 
     In some embodiments, there are more traffic intervals than there are paging intervals, e.g., at least 10 times the number of traffic intervals as the number of paging intervals in one iteration of a recurring timing structure. In some embodiments, there are more traffic intervals than there are paging intervals, and the traffic and paging intervals have the same or substantially the same duration. 
     The gap between two successive paging intervals, in various embodiments, are separated in time by at least 100 msec. In some embodiments, the total amount of time allocated to paging intervals is at least twice the total amount of time allocated to peer discovery intervals in one iteration of a recurring timing structure. 
       FIG. 16  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1600  in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1600  has a timing structure repeat interval  1608 . Each iteration of the peer to peer timing structure includes a peer discovery interval  1602 , a paging interval  1604  and a traffic interval  1606 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates exemplary air link resources corresponding to the exemplary traffic interval  1606  of  FIG. 16 . Drawing  1700 , which includes a vertical axis  1702  representing frequency and a horizontal axis  1704  representing time, illustrates exemplary traffic interval air link resources  1706  corresponding to traffic interval  1606 . The traffic interval air link resources  1706  include traffic control component resources  1708  and traffic component resources  1710 . Traffic control component resources are used for operations including user scheduling, interference management and rate scheduling. User scheduling operations include requesting to transmit user data and responding to a request to transmit user data. Interference management includes communicating signals used for SNR measurements and communicating SNR measurement data. Rate scheduling includes communicating data rate information and/or power information corresponding to user traffic. Traffic component resources are used for communicating user data between peers, e.g., communicating voice, audio, text, file, and/or image data. 
     Alternatively, the traffic interval air link resources may be, and sometimes are partitioned in a different manner. Exemplary traffic interval air link resources  1706 ′ represent one such alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the traffic interval air link resources include a plurality of distinct traffic control portions and traffic portions (traffic control portion  1   1712 , traffic portion  1   1714 , traffic control portion  2   1716 , traffic portion  2   1718 , traffic control portion  3   1720 , traffic portion  3   1722 ). The traffic control and traffic portions alternate in time in traffic interval air link resources  1706 ′. 
     Exemplary traffic interval air link resources  1706 ″ represent another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the traffic interval air link resources include a plurality of distinct traffic control portions and traffic portions (traffic control portion  1   1724 , traffic portion  1   1726 , traffic control portion  2   1728 , traffic portion  2   1730 , traffic control portion  3   1732 , traffic portion  3   1734 ), at least some of which at least partially overlap in time. In this example, traffic control portion  2   1728  occurs concurrently with traffic portion  1   1726 ; and traffic control portion  3   1732  occurs concurrently with traffic portion  2   1730 . 
       FIG. 18  includes exemplary peer to peer timing structure  1600  and an exemplary flowchart  1800  of an exemplary method of operating a wireless terminal, e.g., a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation of the exemplary method starts in step  1802 , where the wireless terminal is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start step  1802  to step  1804 . In step  1804 , which is performed during peer discovery interval  1602 , the wireless terminal transmits a signal, e.g., a beacon signal to signal its presence. Operation proceeds from step  1804  to step  1806 , which is also performed during peer discovery interval  1602 , the wireless terminal monitors to detect for peers, e.g., the wireless terminal monitors to detect for beacon signals associated with peers. In some embodiments, step  1806  includes at times multiple disjoint monitoring portions with the transmit of step  1804  being performed between two of those disjoint monitoring portions. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal performs one of step  1804  and step  1806  during a peer discovery interval iteration. 
     Operation proceeds from step  1806  to step  1808 . In step  1808 , the wireless terminal updates a list of peers in the vicinity as a function of information obtained from the monitoring of step  1806 . Operation proceeds from step  1808  to steps  1810  and step  1816 . 
     In step  1810 , which is performed during paging interval  1604 , the wireless terminal monitors for pages from the peers on the list of step  1808 . Then, in step  1812 , the wireless terminal processes received paging messages and identifies peers on the list directing a page to the wireless terminal. Operation proceeds from step  1812  to step  1814  if a page has been detected which was directed to the wireless terminal; otherwise operation proceeds to steps  1822  and  1828 . In step  1814 , the wireless terminal determines a connection identifier for the pair of the wireless terminal and the peer which was directing the page to the wireless terminal. Operation proceeds from step  1814  to steps  1822  and  1828 . 
     Returning to step  1816 , step  1816  is performed for a peer on the list of step  1808 , which the wireless terminal wants to send a page. In step  1816 , the wireless terminal generates a page message to a peer on the list. Operation proceeds from step  1816  to step  1818 . In step  1818 , which is performed during paging interval  1604 , the wireless terminal transmits the generated page message of step  1816 . Then, in step  1820 , the wireless terminal determines a connection identifier for the pair of the wireless terminal and peer to which the generated page is directed. Operation proceeds from step  1820  to steps  1822  and  1828 . 
     In step  1822 , the wireless terminal monitors traffic control resources associated with the determined connection identifier or determined connection identifiers for a traffic request. If a request is received, operation proceeds from step  1822  to step  1824 , where the wireless terminal responds to the peer request, e.g., granting the request. Operation proceeds from step  1824  to step  1826 , in response to a grant decision. In step  1826 , the wireless terminal receives traffic user data from the peer node which sent the request using a traffic data resource. 
     Returning to step  1828 , step  1828  is performed if the wireless terminal wants to communicate user data to peer with which the wireless terminal has a connection. In step  1828 , the wireless terminal transmits, using a traffic control resource associated with the determined connection identifier a traffic request. Operation proceeds from step  1828  to step  1830 . In step  1830 , the wireless terminal receives a response to the request, e.g., a grant from the peer. Operation proceeds from step  1830  to step  1832 , in response to a received grant. In step  1832 , the wireless terminal transmits traffic user data to the peer node, from which it has sent a request, using a traffic data resource. Steps  1822 ,  1824 ,  1826 ,  1828 ,  1830 , and  1832  are performed during traffic interval  1606 . 
       FIG. 19  is a drawing  1900  illustrating the refinement of monitoring, by a wireless terminal, as a function of peer discovery operations and paging operations in accordance with various embodiments. Block  1902  illustrates that there are N wireless terminals in a peer to peer communications system, e.g., N wireless terminals which can potentially power on and be in the same local vicinity and are implemented to support peer to peer communications in accordance with the peer to peer communications system protocols. The N wireless terminals, in some embodiments, represent the total number of wireless terminals which have registered and are provisioned to be able to participate in the peer to peer communications networks of a service provider. 
     In block  1904 , WT 1 peer discovery operations identify peers in its local vicinity and result in a list of N1 peers in vicinity, where N1≦N, and typically N1&lt;&lt;N. In block  1906 , WT 1 paging operations identify K active connection peers and this results in a list of connection identifiers, where K≦N1, and typically K&lt;&lt;N1. 
       FIG. 20  a is drawing illustrating an example corresponding to  FIG. 19  and further illustrating that the wireless terminal determines a portion or portions of the traffic control resources to use as a function of a connection identifier list. In this example, assume that there are 500 exemplary wireless terminals in the peer to peer communications system, e.g., N=500. As part of wireless terminal 1&#39;s peer discovery operations WT 1 forms peer discovery list  2002 , which identifies that 8 peer wireless terminals (WTs corresponding to identifiers 3, 7, 23, 156, 196, 200, 456 and 499) are in the local vicinity. In this example N1=8. 
     As part of WT 1&#39;s paging operations, WT 1 forms active connection list  2004 . Active connection list  2004  includes a first column  2006  which identifies wireless terminals from which WT 1 has received a page and wireless terminals to which WT 1 has sent a page. In this example, the number of K active connection peers=2, which are the wireless terminals corresponding to identifiers 7 and 499. Active connection list  2004  also includes a second column  2008  listing active connection identifiers. Active connection identifiers include an identifier corresponding to the pair of WT 1/WT 7 and an identifier corresponding to the pair of WT 1 and WT 499. 
     Drawing  2010  includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis  2012  vs time on the horizontal axis  2014  and is used to illustrate exemplary OFDM traffic control resources  2016 . Arrow  2018  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair identifier maps to resource  2020 . Arrow  2022  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to the resource  2024 . Each air link resource unit represented by a small square box, e.g., air link resource  2020  is, e.g., a set of OFDM tone-symbols, where one OFDM tone-symbol is one OFDM tone for the duration of one OFDM symbol transmission time period. In various embodiments, WT 1 selectively monitors traffic control air link resources as a function of an active connection list. For example, consider that the air link resource units of traffic control resources  2016  are used for requests for traffic; however, in this embodiment at this time, WT 1 need only monitor resource units  2020  and  2024  to detect for a peer requesting to send traffic to WT 1. This narrowing down of the traffic control resources to monitor and process is advantageous in that it can reduce the amounts of false alarms and improper response signaling. 
       FIG. 21  is an alternative to  FIG. 20  for an exemplary embodiment using CDMA signaling. Exemplary WT 1 peer discovery list  2002  and exemplary WT 1 active connection list  2004 , have already been described with respect to  FIG. 20 . Drawing  2110  includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis  2112  vs time on the horizontal axis  2114  and is used to illustrate exemplary CDMA traffic control resources  2116 . In this example, resources  2116  correspond to 64 different NP codes. Arrow  2118  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to NP code A. Arrow  2120  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to NP code D. In this example, WT 1 need only monitor for two (NP code A and NP code D) of the 64 different NP codes in the air link resource  2116 . 
       FIG. 22  is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 20  illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air link traffic control resources associated with an active connection pair remains fixed for multiple traffic control portions. The multiple traffic control portions, in some embodiments, are included in the same traffic interval. In some embodiments, the multiple control portions are included in different, e.g., successive traffic control intervals during which the active connection remains intact. Active table connection list  2004  has already been described with respect to  FIG. 20 . 
     Drawing  2200  includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis  2202  vs time on the horizontal axis  2204  and is used to illustrate exemplary OFDM traffic control resources (OFDM traffic control resource  1   2206 , OFDM traffic control resource  2   2216 ). Arrow  2208  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit  2210  in traffic control resource  1   2206 , while arrow  2218  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit  2220  in traffic control resource  2   2216 . Arrow  2212  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to resource unit  2214  in traffic control resource  1   2206 , while arrow  2222  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to resource unit  2224  in traffic control resource  2   2216 . 
     It may be observed that air link resource unit  2210  and air link resource unit  2220  occupy the same relative position in traffic control resource  1   2206  and traffic control resource  2   2216 , respectively. Similarly, air link resource unit  2214  and air link resource unit  2224  occupy the same relative position in traffic control resource  1   2206  and traffic control resource  2   2216 , respectively. 
       FIG. 23  is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 20  illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air link traffic control resources associated with an active connection pair varies between multiple traffic control portions. The multiple traffic control portions, in some embodiments, are included in the same traffic interval. In some embodiments, the multiple control portions are included in different, e.g., successive traffic control intervals during which the active connection remains intact. Active table connection list  2004  has already been described with respect to  FIG. 20 . 
     Drawing  2300  includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis  2302  vs time on the horizontal axis  2304  and is used to illustrate exemplary OFDM traffic control resources (OFDM traffic control resource  1   2306 , OFDM traffic control resource  2   2316 ). Arrow  2308  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit  2310  in traffic control resource  1   2306 , while arrow  2318  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit  2320  in traffic control resource  2   2316 . Arrow  2312  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to resource unit  2314  in traffic control resource  1   2306 , while arrow  2322  indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to resource unit  2324  in traffic control resource  2   2316 . 
     It may be observed that air link resource unit  2310  and air link resource unit  2320  occupy different relative positions in traffic control resource  1   2306  and traffic control resource  2   2316 , respectively. Similarly, air link resource unit  2314  and air link resource unit  2324  occupy different relative positions in traffic control resource  1   2306  and traffic control resource  2   2316 , respectively. 
     Although resource units corresponding to an active connection pair, e.g., resource unit  2210 , in  FIGS. 22 and 23  are shown as contiguous units in terms of time and frequency, in some embodiments, a resource unit such as resource unit  2210  comprises a plurality of components of which some may be, and sometimes are, disjoint, e.g., a set of OFDM tone-symbols which may be dispersed. 
     In some embodiments, the active connection identifier is an expressly defined value, e.g., associated with particular units in the traffic control resources. In some embodiments, the active connection identifier is implicitly conveyed, e.g., identification information maps to particular units of the air link resource. In some embodiments, the active connection identifier is fixed for particular wireless terminal identifiers, irrespective of time information. In other embodiments, the active connection identifier can vary for the same pair of wireless terminals, e.g., the active connection identifier is derived from information known to both peers, e.g., a common time reference, a value communicated in the paging, etc. 
       FIG. 24  is a flowchart  2400  of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device in accordance with various embodiments. For example, the first communications device is a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications using OFDM signaling. As another example, the first communications device is a wireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications using CDMA signaling. 
     Operation starts in step  2402 , where the first communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step  2404 . In step  2404 , the first communications device, during a paging interval preceding a traffic interval, performs operations. Step  2404  includes sub-step  2406 , and at times includes sub-step  2408 . In sub-step  2406 , the first communications device monitors for paging signals. In sub-step  2408 , the first communications device transmits a page to a second communications device having a second connection identifier. Operation proceeds from step  2404  to step  2410 . 
     In step  2410 , the first communications device maintains a list of active connection identifiers corresponding to communications devices with which said first communications device has received or sent at least one paging signal. Step  2410  includes sub-steps  2412 ,  2414 ,  2416 ,  2418 ,  2420   2422  and  2424 . In sub-step  2412 , the first communications device checks if a paging message or messages to the first communications device were received. If it is determined in sub-step  2412 , that a page directed to the first communications device was received, then operation proceeds from sub-step  2412  to sub-step  2418 ; otherwise step  2418  is bypassed and operation proceeds to connecting node A  2426 . In sub-step  2418 , the first wireless communications device updates said list of active connection identifiers so that the list includes connection identifiers corresponding to wireless communications devices from which a paging message directed to the first wireless communications device was received. 
     In sub-step  2414 , the first communications device determines if a page was transmitted by the first communications device, and if a page was transmitted then operation proceeds from sub-step  2414  to sub-step  2420 ; otherwise step  2420  is bypassed and operation proceeds to connecting node A  2426 . In sub-step  2420 , the first communications device updates said list of active connection identifiers to include said second connection identifier. 
     In sub-step  2416 , the first communications device determines if an active connection is no longer valid. In some embodiments, determining if an active connection identifier is no longer valid includes processing a connection termination signal corresponding to the communications device to which said active connection identifier also corresponds. In some embodiments, determining if an active connection identifier is no longer valid includes detecting expiration of a timeout trigger, said timeout trigger being a function of signals sent to the communication device corresponding to said active connection identifier or received from said communications device corresponding to said active connection identifier. Operation proceeds from step  2416  to step  2422 . In step  2422 , the first communications device checks if the determination of step  2416  indicates that an active connection is no longer valid, and if the connection is no longer valid, operation proceeds from step  2422  to step  2424 ; otherwise step  2422  is bypassed and operation proceeds to connecting node A  2426 . In step  2424 , the first communications device removes the active connection identifier determined to be no longer valid from said list of active connection identifiers. Operation proceeds from step  2410  via connecting node A  2426  to steps  2428  and  2430 . 
     In step  2428 , the first communications device determines a portion of a traffic control resource to be monitored as a function of connection identifiers included in said list of active connection identifiers. In some embodiments, determining the portion of the traffic control resource to be monitored is also a function of a time index of said traffic interval. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2428  to step  2432 . In step  2432 , the first communications device monitors a traffic control resource during a traffic interval for a traffic request signal corresponding to at least one connection identifier included in said list of active connection identifiers. In various embodiments, the traffic control resource includes a plurality of resource unit subsets, and monitoring a traffic control resource includes monitoring less than the full set of resource unit subsets. In some embodiments, monitoring a traffic control resource includes monitoring to detect the presence of a predetermined waveform on said traffic control resource. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is an OFDM waveform. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is a NP sequence waveform. In various embodiments, the predetermined waveform is a function of at least one connection identifier included in said list of active connection identifiers. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2432  to step  2434 . In step  2434 , the first communications device determines whether or not a traffic request signal was received. If a traffic request signal was received operation proceeds from step  2434  to step  2436 ; otherwise step  2436  is bypassed and operation proceeds to connecting node B  2442 . In step  2436 , the first communications device receives data in a traffic data resource from a communications device having the active connection identifier corresponding to a received traffic request signal. 
     Returning to step  2430 , in step  2430  the first communications device determines if there is data to be communicated, e.g., transmitted, to the second communications device. If there is data to be communicated to the second communications device, then operation proceeds from step  2430  to step  2438 ; otherwise steps  2438  and  2440  are bypassed and operation proceeds to connecting node B  2442 . In step  2438 , the first communications device transmits a traffic request to the second communications device following transmission of said page to the second communications device. Operation proceeds from step  2438  to step  2440 , in which the first communications device transmits traffic data to the second communications device using a traffic data resource. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2436  and step  2440  to connecting node B  2442 . From connecting node B  2442  operation returns to step  2404 , where operations are performed during another paging interval. 
       FIG. 25  is a flowchart  2500  of an exemplary method of operating a first communications device to support communications with multiple peer wireless communications devices including a second communications device and a third communications device in accordance with various embodiments. The exemplary first, second, and third communications devices are, e.g., wireless terminals such as mobile nodes supporting peer to peer communications. In some embodiments, the communications devices use OFDM signaling for peer to peer communications. In some embodiments, the communications devices use CDMA signaling for peer to peer communications. 
     The exemplary method starts in step  2502 , where the first communications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds from start step  2502  to step  2504 . In step  2504 , the first communications device performs a transmit timing synchronization operation based on a reference signal received from a fourth device to determine transmission symbol timing. In some embodiments, the fourth device is one of: a base station, a beacon signal transmitter which does not transmit user data, and a satellite. In various embodiments, the transmit timing is not adjusted based on signals received from said second and third communications devices. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2504  to step  2506 . In step  2506 , the first communications device receives a signal from a second communications device. In some embodiments, the received signal from the second communications device is one of a traffic signal sent from the second communications device to the first communications device and a traffic signal sent from the second communications device to another communications device. In some embodiments, the received signal from the second communications device is a wideband timing synchronization signal including at least some predetermined known modulation symbols and at least some intentional nulls. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2506  to step  2508 . In step  2508 , the first communications device generates first receive timing adjustment information from said received signal from the second communications device, said receive timing adjustment information for adjusting receive symbol timing relative to said determined transmission symbol timing when communicating with the second communications device. Then, in step  2510 , the first communications device stores said first receive timing adjustment information. Operation proceeds from step  2510  to step  2512 . 
     In step  2512 , the first communications device receives a signal from a third communications device. In some embodiments, the received signal from the third communications device is one of a traffic signal sent from the third communications device to the first communications device and a traffic signal sent from the third communications device to another communications device. In some embodiments, the received signal from the third communications device is a wideband timing synchronization signal including at least some predetermined known modulation symbols and at least some intentional nulls. 
     Operation proceeds from step  2512  to step  2514 . In step  2514 , the first communications device generates second receive timing adjustment information from said received signal from the third communications device, said receive timing adjustment information for adjusting receive symbol timing relative to said determined transmission symbol timing when communicating with the third communications device. Then, in step  2516 , the first communications device stores said second receive timing adjustment information. Operation proceeds from step  2516  to step  2518 . In step  2518 , the first communications device transmits to the second and third communications devices using said determined transmission symbol timing. Operation proceeds from step  2518  to step  2520 . 
     In step  2520 , the first communications device receives and processes an additional signal from one of said first and second communications devices. Step  2520  includes sub-steps  2522 ,  2524 ,  2526 ,  2528 , and  2530 . In sub-step  2522 , the first communications device determines if the additional signal is from the second or third communications device. If the additional signal is from the second communications device, then operation proceeds to sub-step  2524 ; however, if the additional signal is from the third communications device then operation proceeds to step  2528 . In step  2524 , the first communications device retrieves stored first receive timing adjustment information. Operation proceeds from sub-step  2524  to sub-step  2526 . In sub-step  2526 , the first communications device uses said retrieved first receive timing adjustment information in receiving and/or processing the additional signal. 
     Returning to step  2528 , in step  2528 , the first communications device retrieves stored second receive timing adjustment information. Operation proceeds from sub-step  2528  to sub-step  2530 . In sub-step  2530 , the first communications device uses said retrieved second receive timing adjustment information in receiving and/or processing the additional signal. 
       FIG. 26  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system  2600  supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary wireless communications system  2600  includes a plurality of mobile nodes (MN  1   2602 , MN  2   2604 , MN  3   2606 ) which may, and sometimes do, communicate with one other using peer to peer communication signaling connections. Exemplary system  2600  also includes a fourth node  2608 , e.g., a fixed location beacon transmitter. Fourth communications device  2608  transmits a reference signal  2610  which is used by the mobile nodes to achieve a coarse level of synchronization and in performing a transmission time synchronization operation. A mobile node, e.g., MN  1   2602 , implements the methods of flowchart  2500  of  FIG. 25 . Arrow  2616  indicates that MN  1   2602  and MN  2   2604  have a peer to peer communications connection; arrow  2614  indicates that MN  1   2602  and MN  3   2606  have a peer to peer communications connection. 
     MN  1   2602  includes a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, and memory  2618  which are coupled together and interchange data and information. Memory  2618  includes routines and data/information. The processor, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines and uses the data/information in memory  2618  to control the operation of MN  1   2602  and implement methods. Memory  2618  includes a transmit timing synchronization module  2620 , a receive timing adjustment determination module  2622 , and a receive and processing module  2626 . The receive and processing module  2626  includes a selection module  2628 . Memory  2618  also includes stored first receive timing adjustment information  2630  corresponding to MN  2  and stored second receive timing adjustment information  2632  corresponding to MN  3 . In this example, the magnitude of the stored second receive timing adjustment information  2632  is larger, at this time, than the magnitude of the stored first receive timing adjustment information, e.g., as a function of the positions of the MNs. 
     Transmit timing synchronization module  2620  performs a transmit time synchronization operation based on the reference signal  2610  received from the fourth node  2608  to determine transmission symbol timing to be used by MN  1 . Receive timing adjustment determination module  2622  determines receive timing information to be used by MN  1  corresponding to different peer MNs. Stored first receive timing adjustment information  2630  corresponding to MN  2   2604  and stored second receive timing adjustment information  2632  corresponding to MN  3   2606  are outputs of module  2622 . Receive and processing module  2626  receives and processes peer to peer communications signals from other MNs, e.g., MN  2  and MN  3 . As part of the receiving and processing operations stored timing adjustment information is retrieved and used by module  2626 . Selection module  2628  selects the appropriate stored timing adjustment information to use, e.g., one of information  2630  and information  2632 , to match the source of the signal. 
       FIG. 27  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  2700 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications device  2700  includes a wireless receiver module  2702 , a wireless transmitter module  2704 , a processor  2706 , user I/O devices  2708 , a clock module  2709 , and memory  2710  coupled together via a bus  2712  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  2710  includes routines  2714  and data/information  2716 . The processor  2706 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  2714  and uses the data/information  2716  in memory  2710  to control the operation of the communications device  2700  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  300  of  FIG. 3 . 
     Wireless receiver module  2702 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  2703  via which the communications device  2700  receives signals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used to determine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence of peers, signals used to perform a timing synchronization operation with respect to a peer or peers, traffic signals from a peer, and/or paging signals from a peer. 
     Wireless transmitter module  2704 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  2705  via which the communications device  2700  transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g., signals annunciating the presence of communications device  2700 , signals used for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page a peer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer. 
     User I/O devices  2708  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices  2708 , allow a user to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start a communications session with a peer node, terminate a communications session with a peer node, etc. 
     Clock module  2709 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  2700 , e.g., as the communications device  2700  is operated through a recurring timing structure. 
     Routines  2714  include a timing reference point determination module  2718 , an interval determination module  2720 , a paging module  2722 , a peer to peer timing synchronization module  2724 , a peer discovery module  2726 , and a traffic module  2728 . Data/information  2716  includes stored timing structure information  2728  and a determined time reference point  2730 . Stored timing structure information  2728  includes peer discovery time interval information  2732 , traffic interval information  2734  and paging interval information  2736 . 
     Timing reference point determination module  2718  determines a time reference point. For example, the peer to peer communications network, in some embodiments, follows a recurring timing structure and the recurring timing structure is referenced to an external signal, e.g., a broadcast signal from a satellite, a broadcast signal from a base station in a cellular network, or a beacon transmitter that doesn&#39;t communicate user data. The communications device  2700  upon powering up, may be unaware of the current position within the recurring timing structure being used by the peer to peer network. Timing reference point determination module  2718  performs a coarse level of synchronization with respect to the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Determined time reference point  2730  is an output of timing reference point determination module  2718 . 
     In this embodiment, the recurring timing structure used by the peer to peer network includes various predefined intervals such as peer discovery time intervals, traffic intervals and paging intervals. The interval determination module  2720  uses the stored timing structure information  2728  and determined time reference point  2730  to determine the particular type of interval corresponding to a point in time, e.g., a current time. Based on the result of the interval determination module  2720  operation is transferred to various other modules such as the peer discovery module  2726 , the peer to peer timing synchronization module  2724 , the paging module  2722 , and the traffic module  2728 . 
     Peer discovery module  2726  performs peer discovery operations during peer discovery intervals, e.g., detecting beacon signals identifying peer nodes in the vicinity. Peer to peer timing synchronization module  2724  performs timing synchronization during peer to peer timing synchronization intervals. In some embodiments, the peer to peer timing synchronization intervals are included as part of the peer discovery time intervals. The timing reference point determination module  2718  is used to achieve a coarse level of timing synchronization with respect to a recurring peer to peer timing structure, while the peer to peer timing synchronization module  2724  is used to provide a more refined level of synchronization between peer nodes. 
     Paging module  2722  performs paging operations during paging intervals, e.g., processing signals identifying that the communications device  2700  is being paged by a peer and/or generating a page signal directed to a peer node to indicate that communications device  2700  is paging the peer node. Traffic module  2728  performs traffic operations during traffic intervals, e.g., generating traffic signals communicating user data, e.g., voice, image, text, file data, etc., to a peer and/or processing received signals communicating user data from a peer. 
     The various modules ( 2722 ,  2724 ,  2726 ,  2728 ) also control operations within wireless receiver module  2702  and wireless transmitter module  2704 . 
     In various embodiments, the stored timing structure information  2728  indicates that multiple paging intervals occur between peer discovery time intervals during at least one period of time for which timing structure information is stored. In some embodiments, the traffic intervals occupy more time than the time occupied by the combination of paging time intervals and peer discovery time intervals during one iteration of a communications timing structure defined by the stored timing structure information. 
       FIG. 28  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  2800 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications device  2800  includes a wireless receiver module  2802 , a wireless transmitter module  2804 , a processor  2806 , user I/O devices  2808 , a clock module  2809 , and memory  2810  coupled together via a bus  2812  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  2810  includes routines  2814  and data/information  2816 . The processor  2806 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  2814  and uses the data/information  2816  in memory  2810  to control the operation of the communications device  2800  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  400  of  FIG. 4 . 
     Wireless receiver module  2802 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  2803  via which the communications device  2800  receives signals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used to determine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence of peers, signals used to perform a timing synchronization operation with respect to a peer or peers, traffic signals from a peer, and/or paging signals from a peer. 
     Wireless transmitter module  2804 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  2805  via which the communications device  2800  transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g., signals annunciating the presence of communications device  2800 , signals used for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page a peer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer. 
     User I/O devices  2808  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices  2808 , allow a user to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start a communications session with a peer node, terminate a communications session with a peer node, etc. 
     Clock module  2809 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  2800 , e.g., as the communications device  2800  is operated through a recurring timing structure. 
     Routines  2814  include a satellite broadcast signal processing module  2818 , a base station broadcast signal processing module  2820 , a beacon signal processing module  2822 , a peer node signal detection module  2824 , an interval determination module  2826 , a timing reference point determination module  2830 , a peer discovery module  2832 , a peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834 , a timing adjustment module  2840 , a paging module  2846 , a traffic module  2848 , and a broadcast signal generation module  2849 . Peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834  includes a peer to peer receive symbol timing module  2836  and a peer to peer transmit symbol timing module  2838 . Timing adjustment module  2840  includes a peer to peer receive symbol timing adjustment module  2842  and a peer to peer transmit symbol timing adjustment module  2844 . 
     Data/information  2816  includes stored timing structure information  2850 , a determined time reference point  2852 , detected peer node signal information  2854 , determined peer to peer receive symbol timing information  2856 , determined peer to peer transmit symbol timing information  2858  and broadcast signal offset information  2860 . Stored timing structure information  2850  includes peer discovery time interval information  2862 , traffic interval information  2864 , paging interval information  2866  and timing synchronization interval information  2868 . 
     Satellite broadcast signal processing module  2818  processes a received broadcast signal corresponding to a signal transmitted from a satellite, the received broadcast signal serving as a reference to be used in determining a timing reference point in a peer to peer timing structure. Base station broadcast signal processing module  2820  processes a received broadcast signal corresponding to a signal transmitted from a base station in a cellular network, the received broadcast signal serving as a reference to be used in determining a timing reference point in a peer to peer timing structure. Beacon signal processing module  2822  processes a received broadcast signal corresponding to a signal transmitted from a beacon transmitter that does not transmit user data, the received broadcast signal serving as a reference to be used in determining a timing reference point in a peer to peer timing structure. 
     Timing reference point determination module  2830  uses a received broadcast signal to determine a time reference point. For example, the peer to peer communications network, in some embodiments, follows a recurring timing structure and the recurring timing structure is referenced to an external signal, e.g., one of a broadcast signal from a satellite, a broadcast signal from a base station in a cellular network, or a beacon transmitter that doesn&#39;t communicate user data. In some embodiments, at different locations, different sources are used to obtain a reference broadcast signal. For example, in some locations where cellular networks exist, a base station is used to provide the reference broadcast signal; in some remote areas beacon transmitters are used to provide a broadcast reference signal for peer to peer timing; in some remote areas satellite broadcast signals are used to provide a broadcast reference signal for peer to peer timing The communications device  2800  upon powering up, may be unaware of the current position within the recurring timing structure being used by the peer to peer network. Timing reference point determination module  2830  performs a coarse level of synchronization with respect to the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Determined time reference point  2852  is an output of timing reference point determination module  2830 . 
     In this embodiment, the recurring timing structure used by the peer to peer network includes various predefined intervals such as peer discovery time intervals, traffic intervals, paging intervals, and timing synchronization intervals. The interval determination module  2826  uses the stored timing structure information  2850  and determined time reference point  2852  to determine the particular type of interval corresponding to a point in time, e.g., a current time. Based on the result of the interval determination module  2826  operation is transferred to various other modules such as the peer discovery module  2832 , the peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834 , the paging module  2846 , and the traffic module  2848 . 
     Peer discovery module  2832  performs peer discovery operations during peer discovery intervals, e.g., detecting beacon signals identifying peer nodes in the vicinity. 
     Peer node signal detection module  2824  detects a signal transmitted by a peer communications device. In some embodiments, the detected signal from the peer communications device is a traffic signal used to communicate user data. In some embodiments, the detected signal is a predetermined broadcast signal. In some such embodiments, the predetermined broadcast signal is one of a multi-tone time varying signal and a predetermined time varying NP sequence signal. The detected signal transmitted by a peer communications device is, in some embodiments, a predetermined broadcast signal received from a peer communications device in one of a plurality of recurring timing synchronization intervals. 
     Peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834  performs timing synchronization during peer to peer timing synchronization intervals. In some embodiments, the peer to peer timing synchronization intervals are included as part of the peer discovery time intervals. The timing reference point determination module  2830  is used to achieve a coarse level of timing synchronization with respect to a recurring peer to peer timing structure, while the peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834  is used to provide a more refined level of synchronization between peer nodes. Peer to peer receive symbol timing module  2836  determines determined peer to peer receive symbol timing information  2856  which is subsequently used by timing adjustment module  2842 . Peer to peer transmit symbol timing module  2838  determines determined peer to peer transmit symbol timing information  2858  which is subsequently used by timing adjustment module  2844 . 
     Timing adjustment module  2840  adjusts at least one of peer to peer receive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symbol timing as a function of the detected signal from peer node signal detection module  2824 . Peer to peer receive symbol timing adjustment module  2842  uses the determined peer to peer receive symbol timing information  2856  to adjust peer to peer receive symbol timing in wireless receiver module  2802 . Peer to peer transmit symbol timing adjustment module  2844  uses the determined peer to peer transmit symbol timing information  2858  to adjust peer to peer transmit symbol timing in wireless transmit module  2804 . 
     Paging module  2846  performs paging operations during paging intervals, e.g., processing signals identifying that the communications device  2800  is being paged by a peer and/or generating a page signal directed to a peer node to indicate that communications device  2800  is paging a peer node. Traffic module  2848  performs traffic operations during traffic intervals, e.g., generating traffic signals communicating user data, e.g., voice, image, text, file data, etc., to a peer and/or processing received signals communicating user data from a peer. 
     Broadcast signal generation module  2849  generates a predetermined broadcast signal to be transmitted in a time interval having a predetermined offset from the determined time reference point. The predetermined offset is indicated in broadcast signal offset information  2860 . The generated broadcast signal is, e.g., a user beacon indicating the presence of communications device  2800  to other peer communications devices which may be in the local vicinity. Alternatively, and/or in addition, the generated broadcast signal is, e.g., a timing synchronization signal, such as a wideband synchronization signal to be used by a peer node in the vicinity of communications device  2800  to achieve symbol timing synchronization. 
     In various embodiments, the stored timing structure information  2850  indicates that multiple paging intervals occur between peer discovery time intervals during at least one period of time for which timing structure information is stored. In some embodiments, the traffic intervals occupy more time than the time occupied by the combination of paging time intervals and peer discovery time intervals during one iteration of a communications timing structure defined by the stored timing structure information. 
     Determined time reference point  2852  is an output of timing reference point determination module  2830  and is subsequently used by interval determination module  2826 , peer node signal detection module  2824 , peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834 , and broadcast signal generation module  2849 . Detected peer node signal information  2854  is an output of peer node signal detection module  2824  and is used by peer to peer timing synchronization module  2834 . Determined peer to peer receive symbol timing information  2856  is an output of module  2836  and is used by module  2842 . Determined peer to peer transmit symbol timing information  2858  is an output of module  2838  and is used by module  2844 . Broadcast signal offset information  2860  is used to determine when a broadcast signal generated by module  2849  is to be broadcast using wireless transmitter  2804 . 
       FIG. 29  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  2900 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications device  2900  includes a wireless receiver module  2902 , a wireless transmitter module  2904 , a processor  2906 , user I/O devices  2908 , a clock module  2909 , and memory  2910  coupled together via a bus  2912  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  2910  includes routines  2914  and data/information  2916 . The processor  2906 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  2914  and uses the data/information  2916  in memory  2910  to control the operation of the communications device  2900  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  500  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Wireless receiver module  2902 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  2903  via which the communications device  2900  receives signals. Received signals include timing reference broadcast signals, e.g., from satellites, base stations, and/or beacon signal transmitters, the timing reference signal to be used to establish a coarse level of synchronization with a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Received signals also include, peer node identification signals, e.g., peer node user beacon signals, peer node timing synchronization signals, peer node paging signals, base station paging signals, peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. Wireless receiver module  2902  receives, during a peer discovery time interval, a broadcast signal from a peer communications device. 
     Wireless transmitter module  2904 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  2905  via which the communications device  2900  transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer node identification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying at least one of a device identifier and a user identifier, peer node timing synchronization signals, a peer to peer paging signal, a paging signal directed to a base station to be forwarded as a wide area paging signal, peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. 
     User I/O devices  2908  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices  2908  allow a user of communications device  2900  to input user data to be directed to a peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node, establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer to peer communications session. 
     Clock module  2909 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  2900 , e.g., as the communications device  2900  is operated through a recurring peer to peer timing structure. 
     Routines  2914  include a timing reference point determination module  2918 , an interval determination module  2920 , a peer identifier recovery module  2922 , a peer identifier deletion module  2924 , a timer module  2926 , a timer reset module  2927 , a traffic module  2928 , a page monitoring module  2934 , a page response signaling module  2935 , a peer to peer session establishment module  2936 , a paging event detection module  2938 , a paging interval determination module  2940 , a paging type selection module  2942 , a peer to peer paging viability module  2946 , and a paging module  2950 . 
     Timing reference point determination module  2918  uses a received broadcast signal, e.g., from a satellite, base station, or beacon signal transmitter to determine a time reference point in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Interval determination module  2920  determines a current interval type in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Operations of interval determination module  2920  include accessing and using the stored timing structure information  2956  including the paging interval information  2962  to determine recurring paging intervals. 
     Peer identifier recovery module  2922  recovers an identifier from a received broadcast signal from a peer communications device, which was received during a peer discovery time interval. The recovered identifier is one a device identifier and a user identifier. Peer identifier recovery module  2922  also stores the recovered identifier in recovered peer identifier information  2970  in memory  2910 . Device identifier  1   2972 , device identifier N  2974 , user identifier  1   2976 , user identifier M  2978  are examples of stored recovered peer identifiers. 
     Peer identifier deletion module  2924  deletes a received identifier from memory in response to determining that a signal from a peer communications device corresponding to the identifier has not been detected within a period of time. In some embodiments, the period of time is a predetermined period of time, e.g., the predetermined period of time indicated by no response time information  2984 . 
     In some embodiments, the predetermined period of time is a lifetime associated with a received identifier. Exemplary lifetimes associated with received identifiers are shown as lifetime information ( 2973 ,  2975 ,  2977 ,  2979 ). In some embodiments, different device and or user identifiers have different associated lifetimes. In some embodiments, the lifetime associated with a peer identifier is a function of the repeat interval between successive communications device identifier broadcast signals for the particular communications device. 
     Timer module  2926  which is updated by clock module  2909  is used to determine when a lifetime has expired. Timer module  2926  can, and sometimes does maintain independent status relative to lifetime expiration for a plurality of peers. Timer module  2926 , in some embodiments, performs an incremental countdown, which continues until lifetime expiration occurs or an event occurs which resets the timer module  2926  with respect to a particular previously discovered peer being tracked. Timer reset module  2927  updates the timer module  2926  when a signal is received from a peer communications device. For example, the reception of an identification signal from a previously identified peer being tracked allows the communications device  2900  to recognize that the peer is still in the local vicinity and powered up, and the timer countdown can be restarted with respect to that peer. 
     Traffic module  2928  controls communication of user data between the communications device  2900  and a peer node via a wireless communications link, e.g., a direct wireless communications link between the communications device  2900  and a peer node, during a traffic interval of the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Traffic module  2928  includes a transmission control module  2930  and a reception control module  2932 . Transmission control module  2930  controls the sending of user data during a peer to peer traffic interval. Reception control module  2932  controls the receiving of user data during a peer to peer traffic interval. In various embodiments, user data includes at least one of: text data, image data, voice data, and application data. 
     In some embodiments, the reception control module  2932  of the traffic module  2928  controls the wireless communications device  2900  to refrain from monitoring for traffic data during at least one traffic interval occurring which follows a paging interval in which no page was detected which was directed to the communications device and prior to the occurrence of another paging interval. In some embodiments, the reception control module  2932  of the traffic module  2928  controls the wireless communications device  2900  to refrain from monitoring for traffic data during any of the traffic intervals occurring between a paging interval in which no page was detected which was directed to the communications device  2900  and the next paging interval during which a page can be directed to communications device  2900 . 
     Paging event detection module  2938  detects an event used to trigger sending of a paging message to a peer communications device. For example, a user of the communications device  2910  may perform an input operation via a user I/O device  2908  to generate a page to a particular user or device. 
     Paging interval determination module  2940  determines one of a plurality of paging intervals in the recurring timing structure to be used for transmitting a paging message to a peer communications device, the determined one paging interval being a function of the stored peer identifier corresponding to the peer communications device to which the page is to be directed. For example, in some embodiments, a peer communications device listens to a subset of paging intervals which correspond to its device identifier and/or user identifier, but intentionally do not listen to other paging intervals within the full set of paging intervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Therefore the page is placed in the appropriate page interval so that it can be detected. 
     Peer to peer paging viability module  2946  determines if a peer communications device is pagable by a peer to peer page. The determination of the peer to peer paging viability module  2946  is used by the paging type selection module  2942 . Peer to peer paging viability module  2946  includes an identifier list checking module  2948 . Identifier list checking module  2948  checks a list of stored identifiers, e.g., identifiers in recovered peer identifier information  2970  to determine if the peer communications device is reachable by a peer to peer page. 
     Paging type selection module  2942  selects between sending a peer to peer page to a peer communications device, e.g., a direct page to the peer communications device and sending a page through a base station, e.g., sending a wide area page through a base station. The output of the paging selection module  2942  is used to control which of peer to peer paging module  2952  and wide area paging module  2954  is active for a particular page to be transmitted by wireless transmitter  2904 . In some embodiments, the wide area paging is selected as a default when a peer communications device is determined to be unreachable by a peer to peer page. 
     Paging module  2950  operations include generating a page directed to a peer communications device prior to communicating user data to the peer communications device and controlling the wireless transmitter to transmit the generated page. Paging module  2950  controls operation of wireless transmitter module  2904  to communicate a page to a peer communications device during a paging interval. Paging module  2950  includes a peer to peer paging module  2952  and a wide area paging module  2954 . 
     Peer to peer session establishment module  2936  controls communicating peer to peer session establishment information between the communications device  2900  and a peer communications device, e.g., prior to communicating user data. In various embodiments, communicating peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of sending session establishment information and receiving session establishment information. In some embodiments, the peer to peer session establishment information includes at least one of a session identifier, session quality of service (QoS) information and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated during the session. 
     Page monitoring module  2934  monitors during at least some paging intervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure for pages directed to the communications device  2900 . In some embodiments, a subset of the set of paging intervals in the recurring timing structure can be used to direct peer to peer pages to wireless communications device  2900 , and wireless communications device  2900  monitors during those paging intervals but does not monitor during other paging intervals. 
     In various embodiments, the page monitoring module  2934  monitors for additional paging signals during paging intervals occurring between traffic intervals in which user data is communicated as part of an ongoing peer to peer communications session between the communications device  2900  and a peer communications device. For example, an additional peer communications device may be seeking to establish a peer to peer communications session with communications device  2900 . In some embodiments, wireless communications device  2900  supports a plurality of simultaneous ongoing peer to peer communications sessions. In some embodiments, wireless communications device  2900  may, and sometimes does terminate or suspend an ongoing peer to peer communications session to establish a new peer to peer communications session with a different peer communications device, e.g., in response to a received page indicating a higher priority level. 
     Page response signaling module  2935  generates a page response signal and controls the transmission of the page response signal in response to receiving a page directed to communications device  2900 . 
     Data/information  2916  includes stored timing structure information  2956 , determined time reference point  2966 , received broadcast signal from peer  2968 , recovered peer identifier information  2970 , user data for transmission  2980 , received user data  2982 , no response time information  2984 , predetermined lifetime information  2986 , peer to peer session establishment information  2988  and generated page message  2990 . 
     Stored timing structure information  2956  includes peer discovery time interval information  2958 , traffic interval information  2960 , paging interval information  2962 , and timing synchronization interval information  2964 . 
     Recovered peer identifier information  2970  includes peer device identifier information and/or peer user identifier information. A plurality of peer device identifiers are shown (device identifier  1   2972 , . . . , device identifier N  2974 ). In some embodiments, at least some of the device identifiers have associated lifetime information. (Lifetime information  2973 , . . . , lifetime information  2975 ) corresponds to (device identifier  1   2972 , . . . , device identifier N  2974 ), respectively. 
     A plurality of peer user identifiers are shown (user identifier  1   2976 , user identifier M  2978 ). In some embodiments, at least some of the user identifiers have associated lifetime information. (Lifetime information  2977 , . . . , lifetime information  2979 ) corresponds to (user identifier  1   2976 , . . . , user identifier M  2978 ), respectively. 
     Stored timing structure information  2956  is accessed and used by various modules including interval determination module  2920 . Determined time reference point  2966  is an output of timing reference point determination module  2918 . Recovered peer identifier information  2970  identifies a set of peer communications devices and/or users currently in the local vicinity of communications device  2900 , which may be candidates for peer to peer communications sessions with communications device  2900 . Recovered peer identifier information  2970  includes information recovered by peer identifier recovery module  2922 . Various entries in recovered peer identifier information  2970  are deleted from the stored information by peer identifier deletion module  2924 , e.g., in response to loss of identification signaling such as a user beacon from a peer communications device. The loss of the identification signal indicating that the peer is inaccessible at present, e.g., due to having powered down, moved out of range, and/or being situated in a dead spot with respect to communications device  2900 . 
     User data for transmission  2980 , e.g., text data, image data, voice data, file data, includes data to be transmitted by wireless transmitter module  2904  to a peer communications device as part of a peer to peer communications session, the transmission being under control of the transmission control module  2930  of traffic module  2928  during a traffic interval in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Received user data  2982 , e.g., text data, image data, voice data, file data, includes data received by wireless receiver module  2902  from a peer communications device as part of a peer to peer communications session, the reception being under control of the reception control module  2932  of traffic module  2928  during a traffic interval in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. 
     Peer to peer session establishment information  2988  includes information communicated by peer to peer session establishment module  2936 . Peer to peer session establishment information  2988  includes at least one of: a peer to peer session identifier, peer to peer session quality of service information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicated in the peer to peer communications session. 
     Generated page message  2990  is generated by paging module  2950  and transmitted by wireless transmitter module  2904 . In various embodiments a first format is utilized for a peer to peer paging message and a second format is used for a wide area paging message, wherein the first and second formats are different. In some embodiments, peer to peer paging messages are controlled to be transmitted during peer to peer paging intervals defined by the recurring peer to peer timing structure, while wide area paging messages are transmitted during cellular network timing structure paging intervals corresponding to the base station to which the wide area page request is being sent. In some such embodiments, the timing structure of the base station is not synchronized with respect to the peer to peer timing structure. In some embodiments, the communications device  2900  suspends peer to peer signaling during at least some base station cellular network paging intervals to support wide area paging functionality. 
       FIG. 30  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  3000 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications device  3000  includes a wireless receiver module  3002 , a wireless transmitter module  3004 , a processor  3006 , user I/O devices  3008 , a clock module  3009 , and memory  3010  coupled together via a bus  3012  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  3010  includes routines  3014  and data/information  3016 . The processor  3006 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  3014  and uses the data/information  3016  in memory  3010  to control the operation of the communications device  3000  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  1500  of  FIG. 15 . 
     Wireless receiver module  3002 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  3003  via which the communications device  3000  receives signals. Received signals include timing reference broadcast signals, e.g., from satellites, base stations, and/or beacon signal transmitters, the timing reference signal to be used to establish a coarse level of synchronization with a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Received signals also include, peer node identification signals, e.g., peer node user beacon signals, peer node timing synchronization signals, peer node paging signals, base station paging signals, peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. 
     Wireless transmitter module  3004 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  3005  via which the communications device  3000  transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer node identification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying at least one of a device identifier and a user identifier, peer node timing synchronization signals, a peer to peer paging signal, a paging signal directed to a base station to be forwarded as a wide area paging signal, peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. 
     User I/O devices  3008  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices  3008  allow a user of communications device  3000  to input user data to be directed to a peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node, establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer to peer communications session. 
     Clock module  3009 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  3000 , e.g., as the communications device  3000  is operated through a recurring peer to peer timing structure. 
     Routines  3014  include an access module  3018 , an operation determination module  3020 , a paging module  3022 , a peer to peer timing synchronization module  3024 , a peer discovery module  3026  and a traffic module  3028 . 
     Data/information  3016  includes stored timing structure information  3030  and current time period  3042 . Stored timing structure information  3030  includes pattern information  3032 , peer discovery time interval information  3034 , traffic interval information  3036 , paging interval information  3038  and timing synchronization interval information  3040 . The stored timing structure information  3030  includes information identifying the duration of one iteration of the pattern, the sequential ordering between different intervals with the pattern, the duration of various different types of intervals, and relationship information corresponding to different types of intervals. 
     Access module  3018  accesses stored peer to peer timing structure information  3030 , the stored peer to peer timing structure information  3030  including information defining a pattern of different types of time intervals, said different types of time intervals including at least a peer discovery interval and a traffic interval. 
     Operation determination module  3020  uses the accessed stored peer to peer timing structure information in determining an operation to be performed during a current time period. The current time period is indicated by information stored in current time period  3042  and represents an output of clock module  3009 . Current time period  3042 , in some embodiments, identifies an index value pointing to a particular symbol timing location in a recurring peer to peer timing structure, e.g. a particular OFDM symbol time interval position within the recurring peer to peer timing structure which falls into at least one of the different types of intervals, e.g. paging, traffic, peer discovery, timing synchronization. 
     The result of the operation determination module  3020  directs control to one of paging module  3022 , peer to peer timing synchronization module  3024 , peer discovery module  3026  and traffic module  3028 , where a particular operation corresponding to the interval type is performed. 
     In various embodiments, the pattern of different types of time intervals in the peer to peer timing structure repeats over time. In some such embodiments, the pattern has a predetermined periodicity and each period includes at least one peer discovery interval and at least one traffic interval. In various embodiments, the duration of each peer discovery interval is less than 10 milli-seconds. In some embodiments, during each period, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. 
     In some embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals included in each period has a duration which is longer than the duration of any of the peer discovery intervals included in said period. In some embodiments, each time period includes at least 10 times as many traffic time intervals as peer discovery time intervals. 
     In various embodiments, the traffic and peer discovery intervals have the same duration or substantially the same duration and there are more traffic time intervals then peer discovery time intervals. 
     In some embodiments, two successive peer discovery intervals in a time period including two repetitions of said pattern are separated in time by a gap of at least 1 second. 
     Peer to peer timing synchronization module  3024  collects signal timing data from a signal received from a peer device, e.g., during a timing synchronization time interval, said signal timing data being for use in adjusting the wireless terminal symbol timing. In some embodiments, the timing synchronization time interval occurs during the peer discovery time interval. In some embodiments, the peer to peer timing synchronization module  3024  collects signal timing data received from a peer device during a traffic interval. Peer to peer timing synchronization module  3024  determines timing adjustment to be applied, and adjusts the wireless terminals symbol timing by controlling adjustment of wireless receiver module  3002  and/or wireless transmitter module  3004 , e.g. adjustment values are loaded into the receiver  3002  and/or transmitter  3004 . 
     Paging module  3022  performs paging operations during paging intervals, e.g., monitoring for and processing peer to peer pages directed to wireless communications device  3000  and generating and controlling transmission of a peer to peer page directed to a peer communications device with which communications device  3000  desires to establish a peer to peer communications session. In some embodiments, each period of the recurring peer to peer timing structure includes at least one paging interval. In some such embodiments, the duration of each paging interval is less than 10 milli-seconds. 
     Traffic module  3028  performs traffic operations during traffic intervals, e.g., supporting the reception and transmission of user data between peers in a peer to peer communications session. In some embodiments, each time period in the recurring peer to peer timing structure allocates at least 10 times as much total time to traffic intervals as the amount of total time allocated to paging intervals. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals included in each period of the recurring peer to peer timing structure has a duration which is longer than the duration of any of the paging intervals included in said period. 
     In various embodiments, each time period in the recurring peer to peer timing structure includes at least ten times as many traffic intervals as paging intervals. 
     In various embodiments, the traffic and paging intervals have the same duration or substantially the same duration and there are more traffic intervals than paging intervals. 
     In some embodiments, two successive paging intervals in a time period including two repetitions of the pattern defining the recurring peer to peer timing structure are separated in time by a gap of at least 100 msec. 
     Peer discovery module  3026  performs peer discovery operations during peer discovery intervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Peer discovery operations include monitoring for broadcast signals such as user beacons from peer communications devices in the local vicinity, detecting such broadcast signals, and attempting to recover at least one of a device identifier and a user identifier from the detected broadcast signal. In various embodiments, the total amount of time for paging is at least twice the total amount of time for peer discovery. 
       FIG. 31  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  3100 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications device  3100  includes a wireless receiver module  3102 , a wireless transmitter module  3104 , a processor  3106 , user I/O devices  3108 , a clock module  3109 , and memory  3110  coupled together via a bus  3112  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  3110  includes routines  3114  and data/information  3116 . The processor  3106 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  3114  and uses the data/information  3116  in memory  3110  to control the operation of the communications device  3100  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  2400  of  FIG. 24 . 
     Wireless receiver module  3102 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  3103  via which the communications device  3100  receives signals. Received signals include, peer node identification signals, e.g., peer node user beacon signals, paging signals, request for traffic resources, traffic signals conveying user data, and termination connection notification signals. 
     Wireless transmitter module  3104 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  3105  via which the communications device  3100  transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer node identification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying at least one of a device identifier and a user identifier, paging signals, traffic resource request signals, traffic signals conveying user data, and connection termination signals. 
     User I/O devices  3108  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices  3108  allow a user of communications device  3100  to input user data to be directed to a peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node, establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer to peer communications session. 
     Clock module  3109 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  3100 , e.g., as the communications device  3100  is operated through a recurring peer to peer timing structure. 
     Routines  3114  include a peer discovery module  3117 , an active connection list maintenance module  3118 , a page monitoring module  3120 , a traffic resource request monitoring module  3122 , a traffic control resource portion determination module  3124 , a waveform detection module  3126 , a page generation module  3128 , a page transmission control module  3130 , a traffic request module  3132 , a traffic data signaling module  3134 , a connection invalidity determination module  3136 , a connection termination signaling module  3138 , and a timeout module  3140 . 
     Data/information  3116  includes a list of discovered peers  3147 , an active list of connection identifiers  3148 , traffic control resource information  3150 , peer to peer timing structure information  3152 , received user data  3154 , received paging message  3156 , determined subset of traffic control resources to monitor  3158 , received connection termination signal  3160 , generated connection termination signal  3162 , generated page message  3164 , a generated traffic request  3166 , and a received traffic request signal  3167 . 
     Peer discovery module  3117  monitors for and detects for broadcast signals from peer communications devices in the local vicinity communicating identifier information, e.g., device identifier information and/or user identifier information. In some embodiments peer discovery broadcast signals used for identification such as user beacon signals are communicated during predetermined peer discovery time intervals in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. List of discovered peers  3147  is formed and updated by peer discovery module  3117 . 
     Active connection list maintenance module  3118  maintains a list of active connection identifiers corresponding to communications devices with which communications device  3100  has received or sent at least one paging signal. Active list of connection identifiers  3148  is the list being maintained by maintenance module  3118 . Active list of connection identifiers  3148  is shown including one or more active connection identifiers (active connection identifier  1   3168 , . . . , active connection identifier M  3170 ). 
     Active connection list maintenance module  3118  includes an incoming page based updating module  3142 , an outgoing page based updating module  3144 , and a removal module  3146 . 
     Page monitoring module  3120  monitors, during paging intervals, for paging signals indicating that communications device  3100  is being paged by a peer communications device, e.g., a peer communications device from the list of discovered peers. Incoming page based updating module  3142  updates the list of active connection identifiers so that the list includes connection identifiers corresponding to the peer communications devices from which a paging message directed to communications device  3100  was received. 
     Traffic resource request monitoring module  3122  monitors a traffic control resource during a traffic interval for a traffic request signal corresponding to at least one connection identifier in the list of active connection identifiers. The traffic control resource includes a plurality of resource unit subsets and monitoring a traffic control resource includes monitoring less than the full set of resource subsets. Traffic control resource information  3150  identifies a plurality of different resources subsets (resources subset  1  information  3172 , . . . , resource subset N information  3174 ). In this exemplary embodiment, time index information is associated with each of the resource subsets. Time index information  3176  is associated with traffic control resource subset  1   3172 , while time index information  3178  is associated with traffic control resource subset N  3174 . 
     Traffic control resource portion determination module  3124  determines the portion of the traffic control resource to be monitored as a function of an active connection identifier and/or time index information, e.g., a time index of the traffic interval. 
     Monitoring a traffic control resource includes monitoring to detect for the presence of a predetermined waveform on the traffic control resource. In various embodiments, the predetermined waveform is a function of at least one connection identifier in the active list of connection identifiers. Waveform detection module  3126  detects for predetermined waveforms of interest on the traffic control resource being monitored. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is a NP sequence waveform. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is an OFDM waveform. 
     Traffic data signaling module  3134  operations include receiving data, e.g., user data, communicated in a traffic data resource from a communications device having the active connection identifier corresponding to a received traffic request signal. Traffic data signaling module  3134  operations also include generating traffic data signals and controlling the transmission of the traffic data signals using a traffic data resource associated with a traffic control resource which has been used to communicate a traffic data request. 
     Page generation module  3128  generates a page to a peer node, e.g., a peer node from the list of discovered peers  3147 . Page transmission control module  3130  controls the wireless transmitter module  3104  to transmit the generated page during a paging interval. A connection identifier corresponding to the device being paged and communications device  3100  is associated with the generated page. The outgoing page based updating module  3144  updates the list of active connections  3148  to include the connection identifier. 
     Traffic request module  3132  controls generation of and transmission of a traffic request to a peer node which was previously paged following transmission of a page. Connection invalidity determination module  3136  determines that an active connection identifier is no longer valid. The removal module  3146  uses a determination of module  3136  which indicates that a connection is no longer valid to remove a connection identifier from active list of connection identifiers  3148 . 
     Connection termination signaling module  3138  processes a connection termination signal corresponding to a communications device to which an active connection corresponds to identify that a connection should no longer be considered valid. 
     Time out module  3140  determines if a connection is no longer valid due to expiration of a timeout trigger, the time out trigger being a function of signals sent to the peer communications device corresponding to the active connection identifier or received from the peer communication device corresponding to active connection identifier. 
     Peer to peer timing structure information  3152  includes information identifying various intervals included in the recurring peer to peer timing structure, information identifying the characteristics of the different intervals, information identifying the pattern of different intervals, and information identifying relationships between the various intervals. Peer to peer timing structure information includes traffic interval information  3180  and paging interval information  3182 . In some embodiments, there are predetermined mapping relations between different resources. For, example, a particular paging slot may be, and sometimes is, associated with a particular traffic control resource, and/or a particular traffic control resource is associated with a particular traffic segment. Such predetermined relationships and/or mapping advantageously reduce overhead signaling and/or limit the amount of resources a particular communications device needs to monitor. 
     Received user data  3154  includes user data such as voice data, image data, text data, and/or file data, received from a peer communications device in a traffic data resource. Received paging message  3156  is a paging message detected by page monitoring module  3120 . The source of the page is used to generate an active connection identifier for list  3148 . Generated page message  3164  is a page message to be directed to a peer which is generated by page generation module  3128 , the target of the page being used to generate an active connection identifier for list  3148 . Received traffic request signal  3167  is a signal detected by traffic resource request monitoring module  3122 , while generated traffic request  3166  is a signal generated by traffic request module  3132 . Determined subset of traffic control resources to monitor  3158  is an output of traffic control resource portion determination module  3124  and is used by resource request monitoring module  3122  in deciding which subset or subset of traffic control resource information  3150  to currently monitor. Received connection termination signal  3160  is a signal received from a peer with which communications device  3100  has had an active connection, the termination signal indicating that the peer is terminating the active connection. Received connection termination signal  3160  is recovered by connection termination signaling module  3138 . Generated connection termination signal  3162  is a signal generated by connection termination signaling module  3138  which is to be transmitted to a peer to indicate to that peer that communications device  3100  is ceasing to maintain the active connection. 
       FIG. 32  is a drawing of an exemplary communications device  3200 , e.g., mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary wireless communications device  3200  supports the storage and maintenance of a plurality of different receive symbol timing adjustment settings corresponding to different peer nodes. Exemplary communications device  3200  includes a wireless receiver module  3202 , a wireless transmitter module  3204 , a processor  3206 , user I/O devices  3208 , a clock module  3209 , and memory  3210  coupled together via a bus  3212  over which the various elements may interchange data and information. Memory  3210  includes routines  3214  and data/information  3216 . The processor  3206 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  3214  and uses the data/information  3216  in memory  3210  to control the operation of the communications device  3200  and implement methods, e.g., the method of flowchart  2500  of  FIG. 25 . 
     Wireless receiver module  3202 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receiver antenna  3203  via which the communications device  3200  receives signals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used to determine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence of peers, a signal from a first peer used to perform receive timing synchronization operation with respect to the first peer, a signal from a second peer used to perform a receive timing synchronization operation with respect to the second peer, traffic signals from peers, and/or paging signals from peers. 
     Wireless transmitter module  3204 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  3205  via which the communications device  3200  transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g., signals annunciating the presence of communications device  3200 , signals used for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page a peer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer. 
     User I/O devices  3208  include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad, switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices  3208 , allow a user to input data/information, access output data/information, and control at least some functions of the communications device, e.g., initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start a communications session with a peer node, terminate a communications session with a peer node, etc. 
     Clock module  3209 , e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is used in maintaining current internal timing of the communications device  3200 , e.g., as the communications device  3200  is operated through a recurring timing structure. 
     Routines  3214  include a transmit timing synchronization module  3218 , a receive timing adjustment information generation module  3220 , a receive timing adjustment information storage module  3222 , a receive timing adjustment module  3224 , a receiver control module  3226  and a transmitter control module  3228 . 
     Data/information  3216  includes stored peer to peer timing structure information  3230 , received reference signal information  3234 , determined transmission symbol timing information  3236 , a plurality of received signal information used to determined receive timing adjustments (received signal from peer device  1  used for receive timing adjustment determination  3228 , . . . , received signal from peer device n used for receive timing adjustment determination  3240 ), and receive timing adjustment information  3242  (device  1  receive timing adjustment information  3244 , . . . , device n receive timing adjustment information  3246 ). 
     Transmit timing synchronization module  3218  performs a transmit timing synchronization operation based on a reference signal received from a communications device, e.g., a broadcast reference signal received from one of a satellite, a base station, and a beacon signal transmitter which does not transmit user data, to determine transmission symbol timing. The determined transmission symbol timing information  3236  is used by wireless transmitter control module  3228  to control wireless transmitter  3204  operation. Received reference signal information  3234  represents a signal received from a satellite, base station or beacon signal transmitter, which is utilized to lock the wireless terminal transmitter module&#39;s transmit symbol timing with respect to a recurring peer to peer timing structure. For example, wireless communications device  3200  powers up at a random point in time, and its clock module starts indexing time, but the time indexing at this point is not coordinated to any external reference. The detection and use of the received reference signal information  3234  allows coordination to an external reference point allowing multiple peers in the vicinity to lock up with the same reference and use the same recurring peer to peer timing structure. 
     Receive timing adjustment information generation module  3220  processes a received signal from a peer communications device and uses the received signal to determine a specific receive timing adjustment corresponding to that peer device. In some embodiments, the received signal used for the timing adjustment determination is a wideband synchronization signal broadcast from the peer communications device. In some embodiments, the received signal used for timing adjustment is a traffic channel signal transmitted by the peer wireless communications device and sent to one of wireless communications device  3200  and another wireless communications device. 
     Receive timing adjustment storage module  3222  stores the determined receive timing adjustment information corresponding to a peer device. 
     Received signal from peer device  1   3238  is used by module  3220  to determine and generate device  1  receive timing adjustment information  3244 , and then module  3222  stores the information  3244  in memory  3210 . Received signal from peer device n  3240  is used by module  3220  to determine and generate device n receive timing adjustment information  3246 , and then module  3222  stores the information  3246  in memory  3210 . This stored receive symbol timing adjustment information ( 3244 , . . . ,  3246 ) is available for later use when processing signals from different peer nodes, e.g., traffic signals. 
     Receive timing adjustment module  3224  retrieves and applies the appropriate receive timing adjustment information, e.g., one of information ( 3244 , . . . ,  3246 ) to a receive signal to match the particular device which transmitted the signal. In some embodiments, the receive timing adjustment module  3224  loads values into the wireless receiver module  3202  which performs the adjustment. In some embodiments, the adjustment involves time synchronization control of the receiver, which is facilitated through receiver control module  3226  operation. In some embodiments, the adjustment involves a mathematical processing adjustment of a received signal. 
     In various embodiments, the transmit timing is not adjusted based on signals received from the peer communications devices. Thus the peer to peer wireless communications device uses the same transmit timing irrespective of the peer node to which it is transmitting, but adjusts its receive timing as a function of the peer node which transmitted the signal being received. 
     The generation and maintenance of multiple sets of receive symbol timing adjustment information facilitates: rapid switching between multiple peers, concurrent peer to peer sessions with multiple peers, and/or smaller cyclic prefixes than would otherwise be needed if a single common receive symbol timing adjustment implementation was used. 
     In various embodiments, receive symbol timing adjustment information is generated and maintained during at least some time intervals for at least some peer nodes which do not have current active connections with wireless communications device  3200 . Thus the adjustment information is readily available if and when an active connection is initialed. 
       FIG. 33  is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications network  3300  in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communications network  3300  includes a plurality of wireless communications devices supporting peer to peer communications (WT  1   3306 , WT  2   3308 , WT  3   3310 , . . . , WT N  3312 ). In some embodiments, the network includes a reference signal source node  3302 , e.g., a satellite, a base station, or a beacon signal transmitter that does not transmit user data, the reference signal source node transmitting a reference broadcast signal  3304 , that can be utilized by the wireless communications devices supporting peer to peer communications to synchronize with respect to a peer to peer timing structure. 
     Exemplary peer to peer connection communications signals  3314  are shown between WT  1   3306  and WT  3   3310 . At least some of the wireless communications devices supporting peer to peer communications are mobile nodes. The exemplary peer to peer communications devices are, e.g., any of the exemplary communications devices  2700  of  FIG. 27 ,  2800  of  FIG. 28 ,  2900  of  FIG. 29 ,  3000  of  FIG. 30 ,  3100  of  FIG. 31  or  3200  of  FIG. 32 . The exemplary peer to peer communications devices implement methods, e.g., one or more of the methods of flowchart  200  of  FIG. 2 , flowchart  300  of  FIG. 3 , flowchart  400  of  FIG. 4 , flowchart  500  of  FIG. 5 , flowchart  1500  of  FIG. 15 , flowchart  1800  of  FIG. 18 , flow  1900  of  FIG. 19 , flowchart  2400  of  FIG. 24  or flowchart  2500  of  FIG. 25 . The exemplary peer to peer communications devices implement a peer to peer timing structure, e.g., one or more of the timing structures described with respect to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 20 ,  FIG. 21 ,  FIG. 22 , or  FIG. 23  or a peer to peer timing structure using a feature or features described therein. 
     While described in the context of an OFDM system, 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. Some exemplary systems include a mixture of technologies utilized in the peer to peer signaling, e.g., some OFDM type signals and some CDMA type signals. 
     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, determining a timing reference point, accessing stored peer to peer timing structure information, identifying a type of peer to peer timing structure time interval, performing peer discovery, performing peer to peer timing synchronization, performing peer to peer paging operations, identifying traffic control resources, monitoring identified traffic control resources, maintaining peer to peer active connection lists, performing peer to peer traffic operations, etc. 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). 
     Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above descriptions. Such variations are to be considered within scope. The methods and apparatus of various embodiments 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 of various embodiments.