Method and apparatus for obtaining extended connectivity via peer-to-peer communication

Abstract

Techniques for supporting communication with extended connectivity via peer-to-peer communication are described. In one design, a first device may determine at least one radio selected for use on a second device. The first device may communicate with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device. At least one application running on the first device may be mapped to the radio(s) on the second device based on the capabilities of the radio(s) and the requirements of the application(s). In another design, the first device may communicate with a first communication network via the second device and may receive configuration information sent to it via the second device. The first device may access a second communication network using the configuration information, which may include authentication information for the first device for the second communication network.

1 . A method of communicating, comprising:
 determining, by a first device, at least one radio selected for use on a second device external to the first device; and   communicating, by the first device, with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining capabilities of the at least one radio on the second device; and   mapping at least one application running on the first device to the at least one radio on the second device based on the capabilities of the at least one radio and requirements of the at least one application.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network comprises
 communicating, by the first device, with a first communication network via a first radio on the second device, and   communicating, by the first device, with a second communication network via a second radio on the second device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the first device, with a first communication network via a radio on the first device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network comprises
 communicating, by the first device, with the first communication network via one of the at least one radio on the second device, the first communication network being one of the at least one communication network.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network comprises
 communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network via the second device and at least one additional device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the first device, at least one radio selected for use on the second device comprises
 receiving connectivity information from the second device, and   determining the at least one radio selected for use on the second device based on the connectivity information.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining, by the first device, at least one radio selected for use on the second device comprises
 determining capabilities of radios available for use on the second device, and   selecting the at least one radio from among the available radios based on the capabilities of the available radios and data requirements of the first device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting for changes in available radios on the second device; and   repeating the determining at least one radio selected for use on the second device if changes in available radios are detected.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting for changes in active applications running on the first device; and   repeating the determining at least one radio selected for use on the second device if changes in active applications are detected.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio on the second device comprises at least one wireless radio. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio on the second device comprises at least one wired radio. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 means for determining, by a first device, at least one radio selected for use on a second device external to the first device; and   means for communicating, by the first device, with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 means for determining capabilities of the at least one radio on the second device; and   means for mapping at least one application running on the first device to the at least one radio on the second device based on the capabilities of the at least one radio and requirements of the at least one application.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means for communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network comprises
 means for communicating, by the first device, with a first communication network via a first radio on the second device, and   means for communicating, by the first device, with a second communication network via a second radio on the second device.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 means for communicating, by the first device, with a first communication network via a radio on the first device.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the means for communicating, by the first device, with the at least one communication network comprises
 means for communicating, by the first device, with the first communication network via one of the at least one radio on the second device, the first communication network being one of the at least one communication network.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 at least one processor configured to determine, by a first device, at least one radio selected for use on a second device external to the first device, and to communicate, by the first device, with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine capabilities of the at least one radio on the second device and to map at least one application running on the first device to the at least one radio on the second device based on the capabilities of the at least one radio and requirements of the at least one application. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate, by the first device, with a first communication network via a first radio on the second device, and to communicate, by the first device, with a second communication network via a second radio on the second device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate, by the first device, with a first communication network via a radio on the first device. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate, by the first device, with the first communication network via one of the at least one radio on the second device, the first communication network being one of the at least one communication network. 
     
     
         23 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to determine, by a first device, at least one radio selected for use on a second device external to the first device, and 
 code for causing the at least one computer to communicate, by the first device, with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device. 
   
     
     
         24 . A method of communicating, comprising:
 communicating between a first device and a first communication network via a second device external to the first device; and   receiving configuration information sent to the first device via the second device, the configuration information being for a second communication network different from the first communication network.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 accessing the second communication network by the first device using the configuration information.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the configuration information comprises credentials usable by the first device to access the second communication network. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the configuration information comprises cost information for the second communication network, or performance information for the second communication network, or both. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the configuration information comprises at least one profile, each profile defining operation of the first device to obtain connectivity. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 communicating with a server via the second device and the first communication network to obtain the configuration information.   
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 means for communicating between a first device and a first communication network via a second device external to the first device; and   means for receiving configuration information sent to the first device via the second device, the configuration information being for a second communication network different from the first communication network.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 means for accessing the second communication network by the first device using the configuration information.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 means for communicating with a server via the second device and the first communication network to obtain the configuration information.   
     
     
         33 . A method of supporting communication, comprising:
 providing, to a first device, connectivity information for at least one radio available for use on a second device external to the first device;   communicating by the second device with the first device; and   communicating by the second device with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device to support communication between the first device and the at least one communication network.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the communicating by the second device with the at least one communication network comprises
 communicating by the second device with a first communication network via a first radio on the second device, and   communicating by the second device with a second communication network via a second radio on the second device.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the second device, configuration information sent via one of the at least one communication network, and   sending the configuration information from the second device to the first device.   
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for supporting communication, comprising:
 means for providing, to a first device, connectivity information for at least one radio available for use on a second device external to the first device;   means for communicating by the second device with the first device; and   means for communicating by the second device with at least one communication network via the at least one radio on the second device to support communication between the first device and the at least one communication network.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the means for communicating by the second device with the at least one communication network comprises
 means for communicating by the second device with a first communication network via a first radio on the second device, and   means for communicating by the second device with a second communication network via a second radio on the second device.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 means for receiving, by the second device, configuration information sent via one of the at least one communication network, and   means for sending the configuration information from the second device to the first device.