Systems and methods for identification in a neighborhood aware network

1. A method of communicating in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the method comprising:

generating a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

encoding a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

encoding an information element comprising a master preference number of a transmitting device in the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the transmitting device is receiving power from an external power source;

receiving, by the transmitting device, a master preference number associated with a device in the NAN; and

transmitting the NAN frame if the master preference number of the transmitting device is greater than the master preference number associated with the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame comprises a value of 0xFF appended to an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a unicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a destination address;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier having a unicast indication.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the NAN frame comprises a frame control field, followed directly by a duration field, followed directly by the first address field, followed directly by the second address field, followed directly by the third address field.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third address field comprises a destination address field.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third address field comprises a BSSID field.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the NAN identifier comprises an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises one or more bits comprising a hash of an application identifier.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a specific NAN.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a wildcard NAN.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a secondary identifier indicative of a NAN frame, and the NAN frame further comprises a subsequent field indicative of a specific NAN.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a multicast flag of the NAN identifier when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

unsetting the multicast flag when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying one or more NAN characteristics; and

encoding the one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more NAN characteristics comprise one or more of: an identifier that the NAN frame is a NAN frame, the cluster identifier, one or more NAN cluster parameters, a discovery window indicator, a discovery period indicator, a discovery channel indicator, a device capability indicator, a window information indicator, a NAN basic service set identifier, a cluster size indication or estimate, a clock accuracy indication, and a clock type indication.

19. A device configured to communicate in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the device comprising:

a processor configured to:

generate a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field; and

encode a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame; and

encode an information element comprising a master preference number of the device in the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the device is receiving power from an external power source;

a receiver configured to receive a master preference number associated with another device in the NAN; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the NAN frame if the master preference number of the device is greater than the master preference number associated with the another device.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein the value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame comprises a value of 0xFF appended to an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

22. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

23. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

24. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

25. The device of claim 19 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a unicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a destination address;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier having a unicast indication.

26. The device of claim 19 , wherein the NAN frame comprises a frame control field, followed directly by a duration field, followed directly by the first address field, followed directly by the second address field, followed directly by the third address field.

27. The device of claim 19 , wherein the third address field comprises a destination address field.

28. The device of claim 19 , wherein the third address field comprises a BSSID field.

29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises one or more bits comprising a hash of an application identifier.

30. The device of claim 28 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a specific NAN.

31. The device of claim 28 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a wildcard NAN.

32. The device of claim 28 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a secondary identifier indicative of a NAN frame, and the NAN frame further comprises a subsequent field indicative of a specific NAN.

33. The device of claim 19 , wherein the NAN identifier comprises an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

34. The device of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

set a multicast flag of the NAN identifier when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

unset the multicast flag when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

35. The device of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify one or more NAN characteristics; and

encode the one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier.

36. The device of claim 35 , wherein the one or more NAN characteristics comprise one or more of: an identifier that the NAN frame is a NAN frame, the cluster identifier, one or more NAN cluster parameters, a discovery window indicator, a discovery period indicator, a discovery channel indicator, a device capability indicator, a window information indicator, a NAN basic service set identifier, a cluster size indication or estimate, a clock accuracy indication, and a clock type indication.

37. An apparatus for communicating in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

means for encoding a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

means for encoding an information element comprising a master preference number of the apparatus, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the apparatus is receiving power from an external power source;

means for receiving a master preference number associated with a device in the NAN; and

means for transmitting the NAN frame if the master preference number of the apparatus is greater than the master preference number associated with the device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 , further comprising:

means for setting a multicast flag of the NAN identifier when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

means for unsetting the multicast flag when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 , further comprising:

means for identifying one or more NAN characteristics; and

means for encoding the one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

generate a neighborhood aware network (NAN) frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

encode a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

encode an information element comprising a master preference number of the apparatus in the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the apparatus is receiving power from an external power source;

receive a master preference number associated with a device in the NAN; and

transmit the NAN frame if the master preference number of the apparatus is greater than the master preference number associated with the device.

41. The medium of claim 40 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes the apparatus to:

set a multicast flag of the NAN identifier when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

unset the multicast flag when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

42. The medium of claim 40 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes the apparatus to:

identify one or more NAN characteristics; and

encode the one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier.

43. A method of communicating in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the method comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

determining a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

determining an information element comprising a master preference number of a transmitting device of the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the transmitting device is receiving power from an external power source; and

transmitting a synch frame if a master preference number associated with the apparatus is greater than a master preference number of the transmitting device.

44. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame comprises a value of 0xFF appended to an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

46. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

47. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

48. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

49. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a unicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a destination address;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier having a unicast indication.

50. The method of claim 43 , wherein the NAN frame comprises a frame control field, followed directly by a duration field, followed directly by the first address field, followed directly by the second address field, followed directly by the third address field.

51. The method of claim 43 , wherein the third address field comprises a destination address field.

52. The method of claim 43 , wherein the third address field comprises a BSSID field.

53. The method of claim 52 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises one or more bits comprising a hash of an application identifier.

54. The method of claim 52 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a specific NAN.

55. The method of claim 52 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a wildcard NAN.

56. The method of claim 52 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a secondary identifier indicative of a NAN frame, and the NAN frame further comprises a subsequent field indicative of a specific NAN.

57. The method of claim 43 , wherein the NAN identifier comprises an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

58. The method of claim 43 , wherein:

a multicast flag of the NAN identifier is set when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

the multicast flag is unset when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

59. The method of claim 43 , further comprising:

decoding one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier; and

applying one or more NAN characteristics.

60. The method of claim 59 , wherein the one or more NAN characteristics comprise one or more of: an identifier that the NAN frame is a NAN frame, the cluster identifier, one or more NAN cluster parameters, a discovery window indicator, a discovery period indicator, a discovery channel indicator, a master preference number of a transmitting device, a device capability indicator, a window information indicator, a NAN basic service set identifier, a cluster size indication or estimate, a clock accuracy indication, and a clock type indication.

61. A device configured to communicate in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

a processor configured to:

determine a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame; and

determine an information element comprising a master preference number of a transmitting device of the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the transmitting device is receiving power from an external power source; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a synch frame if a master preference number associated with the device is greater than a master preference number of the transmitting device.

62. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

63. The device of claim 62 , wherein the value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame comprises a value of 0xFF appended to an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

64. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a synchronization beacon or discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

65. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises the cluster identifier having a group-cast indication;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame.

66. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a multicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a value indicating that the frame is a NAN frame;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier.

67. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

the NAN frame comprises a unicast discovery frame;

the first address field comprises a destination address;

the second address field comprises a source address; and

the third address field comprises the cluster identifier having a unicast indication.

68. The device of claim 61 , wherein the NAN frame comprises a frame control field, followed directly by a duration field, followed directly by the first address field, followed directly by the second address field, followed directly by the third address field.

69. The device of claim 61 , wherein the third address field comprises a destination address field.

70. The device of claim 61 , wherein the third address field comprises a BSSID field.

71. The device of claim 70 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises one or more bits comprising a hash of an application identifier.

72. The device of claim 70 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a specific NAN.

73. The device of claim 70 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a least-significant octet indicative of a wildcard NAN.

74. The device of claim 70 , wherein the NAN identifier further comprises a secondary identifier indicative of a NAN frame, and the NAN frame further comprises a subsequent field indicative of a specific NAN.

75. The device of claim 61 , wherein the NAN identifier comprises an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) indicative of a NAN frame.

76. The device of claim 61 , wherein:

a multicast flag of the NAN identifier is set when the NAN identifier is encoded in the first address field; and

the multicast flag is unset when the NAN identifier is encoded in the second address field.

77. The device of claim 61 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

decode one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier; and

apply one or more NAN characteristics.

78. The device of claim 77 , wherein the one or more NAN characteristics comprise one or more of: an identifier that the NAN frame is a NAN frame, the cluster identifier, one or more NAN cluster parameters, a discovery window indicator, a discovery period indicator, a discovery channel indicator, a master preference number of a transmitting device, a device capability indicator, a window information indicator, a NAN basic service set identifier, a cluster size indication or estimate, a clock accuracy indication, and a clock type indication.

79. An apparatus for communicating in a neighborhood aware network (NAN), the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a NAN frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field;

means for determining a NAN identifier comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

means for determining an information element comprising a master preference number of a transmitting device of the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the transmitting device is receiving power from an external power source; and

means for transmitting a synch frame if a master preference number associated with the apparatus is greater than a master preference number of the transmitting device.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 , further comprising a processor configured to:

decode one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier; and

apply one or more NAN characteristics.

81. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

receive a neighborhood aware network (NAN) frame comprising one or more of:

a first address field, comprising a receiver address field;

a second address field, comprising a transmitter address field; or

a third address field, comprising a destination address field or a basic service set identifier (BSSID) field; and

determine a NAN identifier, comprising at least a cluster identifier in the NAN frame;

determine an information element comprising a master preference number of a transmitting device of the NAN frame, the master preference number being determined at least in part on whether the transmitting device is receiving power from an external power source; and

transmit a synch frame if a master preference number associated with the apparatus is greater than a master preference number of the transmitting device.

82. The medium of claim 81 , further comprising code that, when executed, causes the apparatus to:

decode one or more NAN characteristics in the NAN identifier; and

apply one or more NAN characteristics.