Probe messaging for direct link connections

Abstract

There lies a challenge to develop a technique of effectively establishing a direct communication link between client devices in a communication network. In some implementations, an associated STA is a client device which is associated with a particular access point (AP). A non-associated STA is a client device which is not associated with the AP. A tunneled probe request may be transmitted by an associated STA through the AP to be broadcast to other associated STAs. In some implementations, an active scan may be combined with a tunneled probe request in order to establish a communication link between an associated STA and a non-associated STA.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
 a message generating module configured to generate a probe request message, the probe request message including an encapsulated probe frame comprising a message type field that indicates to an access point (AP) that the probe request message is a broadcast request; 
 a channel selection module configured to select a first communication channel during a first time period and to select from a plurality of second communication channels during a second time period; and 
 a transmission module configured to:
 transmit the probe request message to an associated station through the AP during the first time period using the first communication channel; 
 determine that no response to the probe request message was received from the associated station; and 
 in response to the determination that no response was received from the associated station, transmit the probe request directly to a plurality of non-associated stations using each of the plurality of second communication channels during the second time period, wherein the associated station is associated with the AP. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe request message includes an identifier of the encapsulated probe frame, the identifier identifying a portion of the probe request message that indicates a location of the probe frame in the probe request message, wherein the portion of the probe request message comprises one of a payload type, a category field, and an action field indicating the location of the encapsulated probe frame in the probe request message. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the identifier comprises an ethertype. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a reception module configured to receive an encapsulated probe response frame from the client device through the AP. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication channel corresponds to a basic service set (BSS) channel, and wherein the second communication channels correspond to social channels. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel selection module is configured to select from the second communication channels following transmission of the probe request message on the first communication channel. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe frame includes requested device type information. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an AP mode communication module configured to communicate a mode of the apparatus to the AP, the mode comprising at least one of a power-save mode, a sleep-mode, and an idle-mode to the AP. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe request message includes a link identifier identifying a destination address of the probe request message. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe request message includes an encapsulated vendor specific action frame. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the link identifier further comprises information regarding a source address and a message type. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the probe request message includes a payload type field followed by one of a type/subtype field and a category/action field. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the type/subtype field and the category/action field indicates a TDLS probe request frame body. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the type/subtype field and the category/action field indicates a TDLS probe response frame body. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the type/subtype field and the category/action field indicates a TDLS generic advertisement service (GAS) initial request frame body. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the type/subtype field and the category/action field indicates a TDLS generic advertisement service (GAS) initial response frame body. 
     
     
       17. A method of wireless communication implemented in a wireless device, comprising:
 generating a probe frame; 
 encapsulating the probe frame in a probe request message; 
 selecting a first channel for transmitting the probe request message to an associated station through an access point (AP) during a first time period; 
 determining that no response to the probe request message was received from the associated station; and 
 in response to the determination that no response was received from the associated station, selecting from a plurality of second channels for transmitting the probe request message directly to a plurality of non-associated stations during a second time period, wherein the associated station is associated with the AP. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the probe request message includes an identifier of the probe frame, wherein the identifier identifies a portion of the probe request message that indicates a location of the probe frame in the probe request message, and wherein the portion of the probe request message comprises one of a payload type, a category field, and an action field indicating the location of the encapsulated probe frame in the probe request message. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a response message including a probe response frame, the response message being tunneled through the AP. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the probe request message is a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising switching back to the first communication channel following transmission of the probe request message on each of the second communication channels. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first communication channel corresponds to a basic service set (BSS) channel, and wherein the second communication channels correspond to social channels. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the probe frame includes requested device type information. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising communicating a mode of the wireless device to the AP, wherein when the second communication channel is selected, the method further comprises communicating at least one of a power-save mode, a sleep-mode, and idle-mode to the AP. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus of wireless communication comprising:
 means for generating a probe frame; 
 means for encapsulating the probe frame in a probe request message; 
 means for selecting a first channel for transmitting the probe request message to an associated station through an access point (AP) during a first time period; 
 means for determining that no response to the probe request message was received from the associated station; and 
 means for, in response to the determination that no response was received from the associated station, selecting from a plurality of second channels for transmitting the probe request message directly to a plurality of non-associated stations during a second time period, wherein the associated station is associated with the AP. 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the probe request message includes an identifier of the probe frame, wherein the identifier identifies a portion of the probe request message that indicates a location of the probe frame in the probe request message, wherein the portion of the probe request message comprises one of a payload type, a category field, and an action field indicating the location of the encapsulated probe frame in the probe request message. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting the probe request message to the AP; and 
 means for receiving a response message including a probe response frame, the response message being tunneled through the AP. 
 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the probe request message is a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the means for selecting is configured to select the first communication channel following transmission of the probe request message on each of the second communication channels. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first communication channel corresponds to a basic service set (BSS) channel, and wherein the second communication channels correspond to social channels. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the probe frame includes requested device type information. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising means for communicating a mode of the apparatus to the AP, wherein the means for communicating the mode of the apparatus is configured to communicate at least one of a power-save mode, a sleep-mode, and idle-mode to the AP when the second communication channel is selected. 
     
     
       35. A computer program product for processing data for a program configured to operate instructions in a wireless communication device, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon code for causing processing circuitry to:
 generate a probe frame; 
 encapsulate the probe frame in a payload of a probe request message; and 
 select a first channel for transmitting the probe request message to an associated station through an access point (AP) during a first time period; 
 determine that no response to the probe request message was received from the associated station; and 
 in response to determining that no response to the probe request message was received from the associated station, select from a plurality of second channels for transmitting the probe request message directly to a plurality of non-associated stations during a second time period, wherein the associated station is associated with the AP. 
 
 
     
     
       36. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the probe request message includes an identifier of the probe frame, wherein the identifier identifies a portion of the probe request message that indicates a location of the probe frame in the probe request message, and wherein the portion of the probe request message comprises one of a payload type, a category field, and an action field indicating the location of the encapsulated probe frame in the probe request message. 
     
     
       37. The computer program product of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 code for causing the processing circuitry to transmit the probe request message to the AP; and 
 receive a response message including a probe response frame, the response message being tunneled through the AP. 
 
     
     
       38. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the probe request message is a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). 
     
     
       39. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the second time period is subsequent to the first time period. 
     
     
       40. The computer program product of  claim 35 , further comprising code for causing a computer to select the first communication channel following transmission of the probe request message on each of the second communication channels. 
     
     
       41. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the first communication channel corresponds to a basic service set (BSS) channel, and wherein the second communication channels correspond to social channels. 
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the probe frame includes requested device type information. 
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 35 , further comprising code for causing processing circuitry to communicate at least one of a power-save mode, a sleep-mode, and idle-mode to the AP when the second communication channel is selected.