Method and system for performing peet-to-peer communication between stations within a basic service set

Abstract

A method and system for performing peer-to-peer wireless communication between stations (STAs) within a basic service set (BSS) while maintaining connectivity with an access point (AP) in the BSS are disclosed. A source STA, an AP and a destination STA negotiate a direct link setup (DLS) channel for performing peer-to-peer communication between the source STA and the destination STA. The DLS channel may be different from a BSS channel used for communication between the AP and each of the STAs. The source STA and the destination STA then perform peer-to-peer communication on the negotiated DLS channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing peer-to-peer wireless communication between a first station (STA) and a second STA, the method comprising:
 a first STA setting up a direct link on a first channel to communicate with a second channel, wherein messages for setting up the direct link are delivered through an access point (AP);   the first STA negotiating with the second STA to switch a channel for the direct link to a second channel, wherein messages for switching the channel are exchanged directly between the first STA and the second STA without going through the AP; and   the first STA periodically switching between the first channel and the second channel to maintain connectivity with the AP.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first STA or the second STA indicates a switch time for switching the direct link to the second channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first STA or the second STA provides a list of at least one target channel to switch the channel for the direct link. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the list is generated by observing and evaluating channels available in a basic service set (BSS). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first STA switches back and forth between the first channel and the second channel in accordance with a schedule agreed with the second STA. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second channel is a sub-channel of the first channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the first STA executing a key exchange procedure with the second STA for security. 
     
     
         8 . A station (STA) for performing peer-to-peer wireless communication with a peer STA in a basic service set (BSS), the STA comprising:
 a transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages;   a controller configured to set up a direct link on a first channel to communicate with a second STA, wherein messages for setting up the direct link are delivered through an access point (AP);   the controller configured to negotiate with the second STA to switch a channel for the direct link to a second channel, wherein messages for switching the channel are exchanged directly between the first STA and the second STA without going through the AP; and   the controller configured to periodically switch between the first channel and the second channel to maintain connectivity with the AP.   
     
     
         9 . The STA of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to indicate a switch time for switching the direct link to the second channel. 
     
     
         10 . The STA of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to provide a list of at least one target channel to switch the channel for the direct link. 
     
     
         11 . The STA of  claim 10  wherein the controller is configured to generate the list by observing and evaluating channels available in a basic service set (BSS). 
     
     
         12 . The STA of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to switch back and forth between the first channel and the second channel in accordance with a schedule agreed with the second STA. 
     
     
         13 . The STA of  claim 8  wherein the second channel is a sub-channel of the first channel. 
     
     
         14 . The STA of  claim 8  wherein the controller is configured to execute a key exchange procedure with the peer STA for security.