Abstract:
Se describen métodos y aparatos para comunicación inalámbrica en redes regionales, por ejemplo, redes de igual a igual ad hoc. Los dispositivos de comunicación inalámbrica transmiten y monitorean señales indicadoras de presencia difundidas desde otros dispositivos de comunicación semejantes en su periferia local. Un dispositivo de comunicación inalámbrica mantiene una lista de dispositivos descubiertos en su periferia. El primer dispositivo de comunicación inalámbrica transmite una señal de búsqueda directamente sobre un enlace aéreo hasta un segundo dispositivo de comunicación, el cual se encuentra en su lista y al cual desea enviar unidades de datos, por ejemplo, datos de usuario en un segmento de tráfico de igual a igual. En respuesta a una señal de respuesta de búsqueda recibida desde el segundo dispositivo, el primer dispositivo transmite unidades de datos, pretendidas para el segundo dispositivo, a un tercer dispositivo, el cual actúa como un nodo intermediario. El nivel de potencia para la señal de unidad de datos se controla para ser menor que el nivel de potencia utilizado para la señal de búsqueda.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus supporting enhanced discovery operations in peer to peer networks are described. Peer discovery, based on direct peer to peer discovery between two mobile nodes can be somewhat limited, e.g., due to power limitations, processing power, and/or channel conditions. An access point, e.g., base station, monitors for and receives peer discovery signals conveying a set of identifiers from a wireless communications device. The access point retransmits at least one identifier in the set in a wireless peer to peer communications channel. Thus the access point effectively extends the peer discovery range for wireless communications devices utilizing the peer to peer network. Wireless communications devices can monitor for and recover the rebroadcast peer discovery signals from access points. Thus, via access point signaling a wireless communications device can be made situationally aware of other devices of interest which would be otherwise outside its discovery detection range.
Abstract:
Power efficient methods and apparatus for detecting wireless terminals in a relatively small geographic area are described. Wireless terminals transmit discovery signals and/or other signals which may be detected by an access point. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments where multiple access points, which obtain power from a common power source and/or via a common power bus, with limited power delivery capability. To address power constraints, access points are controlled by a gateway device coupled to the access points so that one or more access points perform monitoring at different times with one or more access points having their receivers powered off while another access point monitors for wireless terminal signals. Power consumption from the common power source is managed by controlling power consumption associated with monitoring operations performed by one or more access points coupled to a common power source.
Abstract:
Various embodiments are directed to the transmission, e.g., broadcast, of identification information and corresponding control information in discovery signals by a wireless communications device as part of a discovery process. In some embodiments, the identifier identifies one of: an advertisement, a user, or a module. In one embodiment the identifier identifies an advertisement, and the corresponding control information communicates a bid factor used in determining the value of a bid for an ad display opportunity. In another embodiment, the identifier identifies a dynamically modifiable advertisement, and the corresponding control information communicates information that is used to set and/or modify the dynamically modifiable portion of the advertisement. In still another embodiment, the identifier identifiers a user and the control information communicates status information. In yet another embodiment, the identifier identifies a module, e.g., a software application, and the control information communicates a command for the module to perform a particular operation.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, in an exemplary advertising system multiple bidders compete for ad cache space on devices which display ads. The bidders are, e.g., advertisers, ad networks, and/or loyalty program providers. The devices which store and display the ads are, e.g., mobile and/or stationary wireless communications devices. An individual bidder is provided with contextual information that is of relevance to the individual bidder. The contextual information is about the device onto which ads may be loaded. Different bidders may be, and sometimes are, supplied with different restricted information. Various embodiments are directed to a methods and apparatus for operating an ad broker system.
Abstract:
Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus which can be used to implement a system for collecting demographic information of users and/or devices in real-time or near real-time. Methods and apparatus directed to communicating and collecting demographic information via wireless signals, e.g., discovery signals, transmitted by one or more wireless devices, e.g., wireless communications devices supporting a peer to peer signaling protocol, are described. In various embodiments, at least some of the demographic information is transmitted in a secure manner. An information collection device receives demographic information transmitted by wireless communications devices, at least some of said demographic information being transmitted in a secure manner, and forwards collected demographic information to a demographic information processing system. Forwarded demographic information may include decrypted information which has been decrypted by the information collection device and/or received encrypted information which could not be decrypted by the information collection device.
Abstract:
A first wireless communications device includes a wide area network (WAN) interface and a peer to peer interface. The first device discovers the presence of a second wireless communications device via a peer discovery signal, received via its peer to peer interface. The second device has been transmitting, e.g., periodically, certain information, e.g., its location and/or shopping preferences, to a node within the WAN. The detected first signal triggers an application alert in the first device. The first device recovers past information about the second device through a second signal received via its WAN interface. The first device uses information communicated in the first signal, e.g., device identifier information, and information communicated in the second signal, e.g., past location and/or shopping information, to generate a targeted message for the second device. The first device communicates the targeted message via its peer to peer interface in a peer to peer traffic channel.