An electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device communicates with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained (i.e., long-lived) associations in the device-to-device network. Moreover, a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication within the group. During operation, after receiving a response accepting an invitation to a second user of a second instance of the electronic device in the group to join the device-to-device network, the electronic device verifies the second user based on an encryption key associated with the second user; and establishes a new maintained association with the second instance of the electronic device in the device-to-device network.

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

An apparatus for conducting an interaction through established connections using ultra-wideband comprises a processor associated with a server. The processor is configured to receive a request to initiate an interaction between a grouping and an entity device associated with an entity. The processor is further configured to receive user device information for each user device in the grouping based on universal device identifiers. The processor is further configured to determine an account associated with a user based on comparing the received user device information to the stored user device information. The processor is further configured to transmit the interaction to each user device within the grouping. In response to receiving a request from one of the user devices in the grouping to split the interaction, the processor is further configured to conduct at least a first part of a split interaction with the determined account associated with the user.

A system enabling children for communicating with parent and friend through a wearable device is enclosed. The system includes a memory unit and a processor that executes a set of modules that includes an information exchange module 304, a digit code generation module 306, and a voice message transfer module 308. The information exchange module 304 exchanges and transfers information between the first child wearable device 104 and the second child wearable device 114 when the first child 102 chooses to add the second child 116 within a close proximity, to a contact list of the first child wearable device 104. The digit code generation module 310 generates a random digit code when the first child 102 chooses to add the second child 116 in a remote location, to the contact list of the first child wearable device 104.

The invention relates to a method implemented in a base station of a wireless communication system, of reducing impact of D2D in-band interference on cellular transmission, the method comprising the following step of:—the base station sending a first message to a user equipment to configure a D2D discovery resource pool as a resource pool including a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is a restricted D2D resource zone and the second zone is an unrestricted D2D resource zone, and wherein the first zone and the second zone possess an interleaving arrangement. In the method according to the present invention, the first zone and the second zone possess an interleaving arrangement and thus loss in downlink throughput is reduced and the impact of D2D in-band interference on cellular transmission is reduced.

A method and system for synchronization and distribution of configuration cross cluster without blocking are provided herein. The method includes: responsive to detecting a node in the group of nodes of a distributed system becoming inactive, recording current operations database version as a node version of the inactive node; initiating a removal of the inactive node from the group of nodes; maintaining the version of the operations database unchanged until the inactive node is removed; enabling a change of the database version once the removal of the inactive node is completed; sending a join request once the inactive node wishes to rejoin; obtaining a list of operation objects for synchronization of the rejoining node; and accepting the rejoining node to the group, only whenever the joining node is at a same state as the nodes group, otherwise, repeating the sending of the join request until the synchronization is completed.

A connection method and apparatus are provided for smart home devices. A method for connecting a user equipment to smart home devices includes identifying, when a connection request for a smart home device is detected, reception of a first broadcast message transmitted by the smart home device according to a first communication mode; determining whether the smart home device permits communication mode negotiation based on information included in the first broadcast message; and establishing a connection to the smart home device according to the first communication mode or a second communication mode based on a result of the determining.

A peer enrollment method, a route updating method, a communication system, and relevant devices to improve security of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. The peer enrollment method includes: receiving an enrollment request from a peer, where the enrollment request carries identity information of the peer; verifying the identity information of the peer, and if the verification succeeds, obtaining peer location information of the peer and generating a peer credential according to the peer location information; and sending the peer credential carrying the peer location information to the peer so that the peer joins the P2P network according to the peer credential. Embodiments of the present application further provide a route updating method, a communication system, and relevant devices. Embodiments of the present application may improve security of the P2P network effectively.

Apparatuses and methods for distributing and/or receiving buffer content advertisements continuously to and/or from a plurality of neighboring peer apparatuses joined in a network are described. The buffer content advertisements identify the stored packets of data in a packet buffer. The continuously distributed and/or received buffer content advertisements may include incremental updates of content of the packet buffer piggybacked to every outgoing and/or incoming packet of data. The apparatus may determine packets of data advertised by a plurality of neighboring peers that the apparatus does not have in its packet buffer, and may request packets of data, of the advertised packets, from at least one of the plurality of neighboring peers. The apparatus may include a communication module to communicate buffer content advertisements continuously to the plurality of neighboring peers.

A wireless device configured as a group owner determines whether all client devices paired with the group owner are currently associated with the group owner. If all paired client devices are currently associated with the group owner, the group owner enters a first mode in which the group owner is in an active mode (powered up to communicate) during a first portion of a beacon interval and is in a low power mode (in which no communication occurs) during a second portion of the beacon interval. If not all paired client devices are currently associated with the group owner, the group owner enters a second mode in which the group owner is in the active state during the first portion and at least part of the second portion of the beacon interval. The group owner and client devices are configured to operate as master and slave.