Apple Inc.

Fortinet, Inc.

Saravanan Balasubramaniyan

Tashbeeb Haque

Lawrie Kurian

Anand Rajagopalan

Andreas Wolf

Yong Liu

Su Khiong Yong

Guoqing Li

Christiaan A Hartman

Daniel R Borges

Peter N Heerboth

Lilach Zukerman

Oren Shani

Chiu Ngok E Wong

Anil Kaushik

Vaduvur Bharghavan

Sung-Wook Han

Berend Dunsbergen

Pierre B Vandwalle

Joseph Alan Epstein

Kapil Chhabra

Tito Thomas

Veerendra Boodannavar

Srivatsan Sankaranarayanan

Sirivatsan Sankaranarayanan

One or more wireless stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)—direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, i.e., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to reciprocating service between two or more wireless stations. The reciprocating service embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can participate in a same service instant.

Neighbor awareness networking datapath—reciprocation and coexistence

One or more wireless stations may operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, e.g., without utilizing an intermediate access point. Scheduling of NAN ranging procedures may include a first wireless station sending first information, including first scheduling preferences and a first ranging role, to a second wireless station. The first wireless station receives second information, including second scheduling preferences and a second ranging role, from the second wireless station. The first wireless station may initiate the ranging procedure based on the scheduling preferences and ranging parameters. Alternatively, the second wireless station and may initiate the ranging procedure based on the scheduling preferences and ranging parameters.

Neighbor awareness networking ranging

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate according to Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath scheduling and NAN pre-datapath operation setup and scheduling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can communicate and provide services. Aspects of the datapath development include datapath scheduling, including datapath setup and scheduling attributes, as well as pre-datapath operation triggering and scheduling. Scheduling attributes may include a native scheduler rank and a NAN data cluster scheduler rank. NAN data cluster base schedules may be scheduled as equal-sets or subsets of datapath schedules. The datapath model may be implemented for unicast and multicast communication between wireless stations, including mobile stations.

Neighbor awareness networking datapath&#x2014;scheduling, scheduler rank, and pre-datapath operation triggering

Methods and apparatus for an electronic device to perform a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) proxy function are described. An interface circuit of the electronic device receives, from an access point associated with the electronic device, a frame with DFS information that indicates a presence of interference associated with a higher priority user in a shared band of radio frequencies. The frame can include an action frame with a channel switch announcement (CSA) or a beacon with a CSA. In response to receiving the DFS information, the electronic device forwards, to a third electronic device, the DFS information, where the third electronic device is not associated with and does not have a connection to the access point. In this way, the electronic device functions as a DFS proxy for the third electronic device with respect to the shared band of radio frequencies used by the access point.

Dynamic frequency selection proxy

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to adapting a signal strength metric threshold. In some embodiments, the signal strength metric may be adapted (or adjusted) to establish or maintain data communications with peer devices.

Adaptive signal strength thresholds for peer-to-peer synchronization and data communication

In one set of embodiments, one or more client stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring client stations, i.e., direct communication between the client stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath scheduling and NAN pre-datapath operation setup and scheduling. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can communicate and provide services. Aspects of the datapath development include datapath scheduling, including datapath setup and scheduling attributes, as well as pre-datapath operation triggering and scheduling. Scheduling may include determination of a type of datapath, including paging and synchronized datapaths. NAN data cluster base schedules may be scheduled as equal-sets or subsets of datapath schedules. The datapath model may be implemented for unicast and multicast communication between client stations.

Neighbor awareness networking datapath

In one set of embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, i.e., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to reciprocating service between two or more wireless stations. The reciprocating service embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can participate in a same service instant.

Neighbor awareness networking datapath&#x2014;reciprocation and coexistence

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to aspects of NAN communication, including service discovery proxy registration, publishing, and subscription of services via the proxy, maintenance of the proxy, and de-registration of the proxy.

Neighbor awareness networking service discovery proxy

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, e.g., without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments relate to scheduling of NAN ranging procedures, including to a first wireless station sending first information, including first scheduling preferences and a first ranging role, to a second wireless station. The first wireless device receives second information, including second scheduling preferences and a second ranging role, from the second wireless device. The first wireless station may initiate the ranging procedure based on the scheduling preferences and ranging parameters. Alternatively, the second wireless station and may initiate the ranging procedure based on the scheduling preferences and ranging parameters.

A technique for providing per station control of multiple stations in a wireless network across multiple access points. A look-up table that assigns a station connected to the access point and at least one communication parameter to each of a plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs (Basic Service Set Identifiers) is stored. An access point responds to messages addressed one of the plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs and ignores messages addressed to other BSSIDs. Persistence of the BSSID allows the controller to maintain individual control over each station after moving to a second access point of the plurality of access points. A frame comprising the plurality of BSSIDs corresponding to each connected station aggregated into the frame is generated. The frame is transmitted to the plurality of stations. Responsive to a station of the plurality of stations being handed-off to a different access point, a uniquely-assigned BSSID corresponding to the station is deleted from the look-up table.

Aggregated beacons for per station control of multiple stations across multiple access points in a wireless communication network

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure direct communication with neighboring mobile stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to techniques for devices (e.g., NAN devices and/or AWDL devices) to detect asymmetric awareness amongst peers.

Detecting asymmetric awareness in peer-to-peer protocol

In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate to configure Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN)&#x2014;direct communication between neighboring wireless stations, e.g., without utilizing an intermediate access point. Embodiments of the disclosure relate to NAN datapath configuration. The NAN datapath embodiments described herein provide a mechanism through which devices can communicate and provide services. Aspects of the datapath development include datapath scheduling, including datapath setup and scheduling attributes, scheduler rank management, and further NAN discovery. The datapath model may be implemented for unicast and multicast communication between wireless stations.

Neighbor awareness networking datapath&#x2014;base scheduling, scheduler rank, and further service discovery

An apparatus and methods are provided for conducting wireless data communications, particularly real-time data communications, in a communication environment that includes a restricted channel (e.g., a channel subject to Dynamic Frequency Selection or DFS). Two or more mobile communication/computing devices (e.g., smart phones, tablet computers) participate in a peer-to-peer network and engage in data communications while one or more of them operate on the restricted channel (e.g., to maintain an infrastructure communication connection). Their channel sequences are configured to maximize the efficiency of the data communication while satisfying restrictions of the restricted channel or avoiding that channel, and only require them to monitor one beacon interval. One or more of the devices may strategically roam to the restricted channel or away from the restricted channel, depending on which action will provide greater communication throughput or efficiency.

Real-time peer-to-peer communications in an environment that includes a restricted channel

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for allocating bandwidth on a physical wireless interface. The method includes configuring a first virtual interface and a second virtual interface on the physical wireless interface. A requirement associated with the first virtual interface is monitored and one or more time slots are allocated to the first virtual interface in accordance with the requirement.

Growing community of inventors

Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Saravanan Balasubramaniyan