METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PEER DISCOVERY ASSIST

摘要

Methods and apparatus related to peer/network/ service discovery in a mobile wireless system, e.g., an ad hoc peer-to-peer network (100) are described. Transmission of discovery information, e.g., upper layer discovery information, is divided into a number of portions (An, Bn, Cn, Dn) to be transmitted separately over time. Transmission of the individual portions is structured so as to enable flexibility in the frequency of the peer discovery transmissions as well as the monitoring of such transmissions. Various embodiments facilitate rapid discovery and/or secure discovery, e.g., selective discovery by trusted peers. The structuring enables proxying of some transmissions by a third party, e.g., an assist node (114). The assist node receives discovery information portions being communicated at a first rate and retransmits the received discovery information portions (An, Bn, Cn, Dn) at a second rate which is higher than the first rate.