Methods for sending small packets in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network
An improved mechanism is provided that facilitates transmission of small packets within an ad hoc peer-to-peer network. A small packet is identified to a receiver within a control channel so that its lower power can be considered in an interference management protocol implemented among local peer devices. In a traffic slot, a transmitter voluntarily backs down on the transmitter power as a smaller packet will require much lower signal-to-noise ratio. This will improve the signal energy per bit per noise power density for the transmission as well as minimize the interference caused to other wireless communications happening in the same spectrum.
1. A method of operating a second device having a connection with a first device in a peer-to-peer communication network, comprising:
receiving a pilot signal from the first device in a pilot channel associated with a data traffic slot;
determining the data transmission format to be used in the data traffic slot, the data transmission format including at least a small packet format and a normal packet format;
determining an amount of power back off based on at least the pilot signals received in the pilot channel when the data transmission format includes a small packet format, the power back off indicating an amount that the first device can reduce for the transmission power of the data traffic slot;
determining a rate feedback format to be used in a rate feedback channel associated with the data traffic slot based on the determined data transmission format; and
sending a rate feedback signal in the rate feedback channel using the rate feedback format, and signaling the determined amount of power back off in the rate feedback signal when the data transmission format includes a small packet format.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rate feedback signal contains information indicative of a rate selected from a plurality of predetermined rates in a rate table, the rate table being a function of the determined data transmission format.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the number of rates in the rate table is smaller when the data transmission format is a small packet format than when the data transmission format is a normal packet format.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data transmission format is determined based on information contained in the pilot signal.
5. A second device having a wireless connection with a first device over a peer-to-peer communication network, comprising:
a transmitter and receiver for establishing a wireless peer-to-peer communication connection with the first device;
a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and receiver, wherein the processing circuit is adapted to:
receiving a pilot signal from the first device in a pilot channel associated with a data traffic slot;
determining the data transmission format to be used in the data traffic slot, the data transmission format including at least a small packet format and a normal packet format;
determining an amount of power back off based on at least the pilot signals received in the pilot channel when the data transmission format includes a small packet format, the power back off indicating an amount that the first device can reduce for the transmission power of the data traffic slot;
determining a rate feedback format to be used in a rate feedback channel associated with the data traffic slot based on the determined data transmission format; and
sending a rate feedback signal in the rate feedback channel using the rate feedback format, and signaling the determined amount of power back off in the rate feedback signal when the data transmission format includes a small packet format.
6. The second device of claim 5 , wherein the rate feedback signal contains information indicative of a rate selected from a plurality of predetermined rates in a rate table, the rate table being a function of the determined data transmission format.
7. The second device of claim 6 , wherein the number of rates in the rate table is smaller when the data transmission format is a small packet format than when the data transmission format is a normal packet format.
8. The second device of claim 5 , wherein the data transmission format is determined based on information contained in the pilot signal.
9. A second device having a wireless connection with a first device over a peer-to-peer communication network, comprising:
means for receiving a pilot signal from the first device in a pilot channel associated with a data traffic slot;
means for determining the data transmission format to be used in the data traffic slot, the data transmission format including at least a small packet format and a normal packet format;
means for determining an amount of power back off based on at least the pilot signals received in the pilot channel when the data transmission format includes a small packet format, the power back off indicating an amount that the first device can reduce for the transmission power of the data traffic slot;
means for determining a rate feedback format to be used in a rate feedback channel associated with the data traffic slot based on the determined data transmission format;
means for sending a rate feedback signal in the rate feedback channel using the rate feedback format; and
means for signaling the determined amount of power back off in the rate feedback signal when the data transmission format includes a small packet format.
10. The second device of claim 9 , wherein the rate feedback signal contains information indicative of a rate selected from a plurality of predetermined rates in a rate table, the rate table being a function of the determined data transmission format.
11. The second device of claim 10 , wherein the number of rates in the rate table is smaller when the data transmission format is a small packet format than when the data transmission format is a normal packet format.
12. The second device of claim 9 , wherein the data transmission format is determined based on information contained in the pilot signal.
13. A circuit for facilitating communications over a peer-to-peer network, wherein the circuit operates in a second device having a wireless connection with a first device in the peer-to-peer network, wherein the circuit is adapted to:
receive a pilot signal from the first device in a pilot channel associated with a data traffic slot;
determine the data transmission format to be used in the data traffic slot, the data transmission format including at least a small packet format and a normal packet format;
determine an amount of power back off based on at least the pilot signals received in the pilot channel when the data transmission format includes a small packet format, the power back off indicating an amount that the first device can reduce for the transmission power of the data traffic slot;
determine a rate feedback format to be used in a rate feedback channel associated with the data traffic slot based on the determined data transmission format;
send a rate feedback signal in the rate feedback channel using the rate feedback format; and
signal the determined amount of power back off in the rate feedback signal when the data transmission format includes a small packet format.
14. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the rate feedback signal contains information indicative of a rate selected from a plurality of predetermined rates in a rate table, the rate table being a function of the determined data transmission format.
15. The circuit of claim 14 , wherein the number of rates in the rate table is smaller when the data transmission format is a small packet format than when the data transmission format is a normal packet format.
16. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the data transmission format is determined based on information contained in the pilot signal.
17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for a second device having a wireless connection with a first device in a peer-to-peer network, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:
receive a pilot signal from the first device in a pilot channel associated with a data traffic slot;
determine the data transmission format to be used in the data traffic slot, the data transmission format including at least a small packet format and a normal packet format;
determine an amount of power back off based on at least the pilot signals received in the pilot channel when the data transmission format includes a small packet format, the power back off indicating an amount that the first device can reduce for the transmission power of the data traffic slot;
determine a rate feedback format to be used in a rate feedback channel associated with the data traffic slot based on the determined data transmission format;
send a rate feedback signal in the rate feedback channel using the rate feedback format, and
signal the determined amount of power back off in the rate feedback signal when the data transmission format includes a small packet format.
18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the rate feedback signal contains information indicative of a rate selected from a plurality of predetermined rates in a rate table, the rate table being a function of the determined data transmission format.
19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the number of rates in the rate table is smaller when the data transmission format is a small packet format than when the data transmission format is a normal packet format.
20. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the data transmission format is determined based on information contained in the pilot signal.