Peer-to-peer negotiation in a wireless network

摘要

When two wireless communication devices discover each other and prepare to associate with each other, they perform a negotiation with each other to decide which will act as the network controller in that association. The negotiation may include an exchange of information indicating which device is more suitable to act as a network controller.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising an initiating wireless communications device having at least one radio and at least one processor, the initiating wireless communications device to:
transmit a discovery message to find a responding wireless communications device to establish an association with the initiating wireless communication device, the discovery message comprising first information to indicate an ability of the initiating wireless communications device to operate as a network controller, the first information further indicating whether the initiating wireless communications device is currently associated with another device as a subscriber station or as a network controller, or not associated with another device, and whether the initiating wireless communications device is operating on battery power; receive a response to the discovery message from the responding wireless communications device, the response comprising second information to indicate an ability of the responding wireless communications device to operate as a network controller, the discovery message or response comprising tie-breaker information to break a tie when a network controller cannot be determined based upon the first information or the second information; and complete an association exchange to associate with the responding wireless communications device.