Abstract:
Methods and apparatus related to the determination of the trustworthiness of information communicated in a message and/or the exchange of trust information are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer wireless communications in an ad-hoc network. At a given time, a communications device may have a trust relationship with a first set of devices. A first communications device determines trustworthiness of a received message from a second device, which is not a member of the first set of devices, based on information received from a third device which is a member of the first set of devices. The first communications device makes an informed decision as to whether or not to act upon the first message based upon its trustworthiness determination.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus related to broadcasting data in a peer to peer wireless communications network are described. A timing structure is utilized employing slots of a first type which support broadcast traffic transmissions and unicast traffic transmissions and slots of a second type which support unicast traffic transmission but do not support broadcast traffic transmissions. In various embodiments, traffic air link resource scheduling is performed in a decentralized manner on a slot by slot basis. In some such embodiments, a wireless device prior to transmitting a broadcast data traffic signal, transmits a broadcast transmission request signal, sometimes alternatively referred to as a broadcast indicator signal; and a wireless device prior to transmitting a peer to peer unicast signal, transmits a peer to peer traffic transmission request signal. In various embodiments, for slots of the first type, broadcast transmission requests have priority over peer to peer unicast transmission requests.
Abstract:
A method of configuring parameters in a communication system is disclosed, wherein the method comprising determining if an event occurred. If so, then method generating a first electronic envelope by a first process, wherein the envelope comprises an process identification (ID) and attaching the first electronic envelope to a request message, wherein the request message is generated by a transmit process.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus related to selecting advertisements for presentation based on, e.g., received signals from devices in the proximity to a user's communications device, are described. In various embodiments a mobile device monitors for signals, e.g., peer discovery or other signals, from other devices which transmit, e.g., broadcast, advertisement related information. In various embodiments a device receives advertising information from an advertising device, e.g., AdPoint. In the case of peer to peer signaling, the AdPoint may be in close proximity to the user device receiving the advertising information. Advertising information received from devices in proximity to the user device are used in selecting an advertisement for presentation. Distance from the user device to the AdPoint transmitting an advertisement or advertisement identifier, distance to a store to which an advertisement relates, and/or distance to a location to which an advertisement relates, are taken into consideration when selecting an advertisement for presentation.
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:
Methods and apparatus for determining a mode of wireless communications to be used by a wireless terminal, e.g., a direct communications mode or an infrastructure communications mode are described. In some embodiments, the mode to be used is determined by a control node based on interference which will be caused to the system taking into consideration at least an area, e.g., cell, in which the wireless terminal seeking to communicate is not located. System interference cost estimates for each mode under consideration are generated and compared. Interference cost estimates may, and do, correspond to different frequency bands when the direct mode uses a different frequency band than the infrastructure communications mode. Separate interference cost estimates and mode determinations are made for different communications directions in some embodiments. The determined mode to be used is communicated to the devices seeking to communicate, e.g., via one or more base stations.
Abstract:
Aspects describe spectrum authorization, access control, and configuration parameters validation. Devices in an ad-hoc or peer-to-peer configuration can utilize a licensed spectrum if the devices are authorized to use the spectrum, which can be determined automatically. Aspects relate to distribution of authorization tickets by an authorization server as a result of validating a device's credentials and services to which the device is entitled. An exchange and verification of authorization tickets can be performed by devices as a condition for enabling a validated wireless link using the spectrum.
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.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus related to communicating advertisements and/or service announcements to devices in a communications system are described. In various embodiments mobile devices are used as mobile advertisement transmission platforms. Advertisements may be downloaded to the wireless communications device along with transmission constraints. Transmission of an advertisement is made when a transmission constraint, e.g., target audience constraint is satisfied. The wireless terminal may change its transmission frequency, coding rate and/or other transmission characteristics to satisfy a transmission constraint and/or optimize revenue. The mobile device reports advertisements transmissions to a network device, e.g., advertisement server and the owner of the device is compensated for the transmissions. Transmission constraints may involve a number of devices to be reached, the type of devices to be reached, and/or other constraints relating to the demographics of device users. Information may be obtained from peer discovery signals and used to determine if a constraint is satisfied.