Offloading traffic via a wireless peer-to-peer connection

摘要

A method for offloading data traffic from a cellular connection to a WLAN connection via a wireless P2P connection is disclosed. The method can include the wireless communication device accessing offloading coordination information from an offload coordination service server, including information about at least one neighboring wireless communication device being within sufficient proximity of the wireless communication device to establish a wireless P2P connection and having access to a WLAN access point; using the offloading coordination information to select a relay device from the at least one neighboring wireless communication device; establishing a wireless P2P connection with the relay device; and offloading data traffic from the cellular connection to the wireless P2P connection so that the data traffic is relayed from the relay device to a network via a WLAN access point accessible to the relay device.

主权项

1. A method to offload data traffic from a cellular connection to a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection, the method comprising a wireless communication device:
accessing, from an offload coordination service server, offloading coordination information for at least one neighboring device that is within sufficient proximity of the wireless communication device to establish a wireless peer-to-peer (P2P) connection and that has access to a WLAN access point; using the offloading coordination information to select a relay device from the at least one neighboring device; establishing the wireless P2P connection with the relay device; and offloading data traffic from the cellular connection to the wireless P2P connection so that the data traffic is relayed by the relay device to a network via the WLAN access point that is accessible to the relay device, wherein the offloading coordination information includes capabilities information for the at least one neighboring device including remaining battery capability for the at least one neighboring device, and wherein the wireless communication device selects the relay device based at least in part on the capabilities information satisfying a minimum threshold capability set.