Coding methods of communicating identifiers in peer discovery in a peer-to-peer network

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method that facilitates incorporating reserved symbols within a peer discovery interval, comprising:
 receiving a timing signal at a wireless terminal from a source outside a peer to peer network;   synchronizing timing at the wireless terminal, the timing being within a peer to peer network, the peer to peer network comprising direct communication between wireless terminals; and   transmitting from the wireless terminal at least a portion of an identifier during a peer discovery interval as specified by the timing;   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising reserving at least one symbol to enable identifying and recovering from timing offset. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein timing of a receiving wireless terminal is offset from the synchronized timing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reserved symbol is an unused symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising transmitting the identifier via direct signaling within a selected one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the identifier via direct signaling within a selected one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:
 a memory that retains instructions related to receiving a timing signal at a wireless terminal from a source outside a peer to peer network, synchronizing timing at the wireless terminal, the timing being within a peer to peer network, the peer to peer network comprising direct communication between wireless terminals, and transmitting from the wireless terminal at least a portion of an identifier during a peer discovery interval as specified by the timing.   a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.   
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising reserving at least one symbol within the peer discovery interval to enable identifying and recovering from timing offset. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein timing of a receiving wireless terminal is offset from the synchronized timing. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one reserved symbol is an unused symbol. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the peer discovery interval includes a plurality of segments and each of the segments includes a respective reserved symbol. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless communications apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the memory further retains instructions for transmitting the identifier via direct signaling within a selected one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         13 . A wireless communications apparatus that enables incorporating reserved symbols within a peer discovery interval, comprising:
 means for synchronizing timing within a peer to peer network;   means for transmitting at least a portion of an identifier during a peer discovery interval as specified by the timing; and   means for reserving at least one symbol to enable identifying and recovering from timing offset,   wherein the identifier is transmitted via direct signaling within a selected one of the plurality of segments using respective tones upon seven symbols in the selected segment as a function of the identifier and reserving an eighth symbol in the selected segment.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:
 receiving a timing signal at a wireless terminal from a source outside a peer to peer network;   synchronizing timing at the wireless terminal, the timing being within a peer to peer network, the peer to peer network comprising direct communication between wireless terminals;   transmitting from the wireless terminal at least a portion of an identifier during a peer discovery interval as specified by the timing; and   reserving at least one symbol to enable identifying and recovering from timing offset.   
     
     
         15 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein timing of a receiving wireless terminal is offset from the synchronized timing. 
     
     
         16 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one reserved symbol is an unused symbol. 
     
     
         17 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the peer discovery interval includes a plurality of segments and each of the segments includes a respective reserved symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , the machine-executable instructions further comprise transmitting the identifier via direct signaling within a selected one of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         19 . In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a timing signal at a wireless terminal from a source outside a peer to peer network; 
 synchronize timing at the wireless terminal, the timing being within a peer to peer network, the peer to peer network comprising direct communication between wireless terminals; 
 transmit from the wireless terminal at least a portion of an identifier during a peer discovery interval as specified by the timing; and 
 reserve at least one symbol within the peer discovery interval to enable identifying and recovering from timing offset. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the timing signal is received as a broadcast from a base station.