Is it possible to connect two or more WiFi Direct groups?

Question

I am currently experimenting with WiFi-Direct (WiFiP2p) for a project I'm working on and wanted to know if one can create bridge between groups, thus joining them together?

Based upon the white paper released by the WiFi Alliance, it should be possible (though "The P2P Specification does not describe the mechanism for this capability – implementation is specific to the vendor"). I have looked through the internet and have found some answers (this, this, etc.) but I feel that none are particularly conclusive. Looking at Andoid's API hasn't helped much either.

The scenario I'm trying to create is having a client from one group connect to another group as well. Given 4 devices (A, B, C, D), where A and B are in a group, with A being group owner, and C and D are in a group managed by D:

• C connects to A. Thus 2 groups have been joined with C acting as a bridge.

Is this possible?

1. http://www.wi-fi.org/system/files/wp_Wi-Fi_Direct_20101025_Industry.pdf
2. Client/Peer communication with Wi-Fi Direct on Android
3. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/android-platform/6wMTw6RJ5h8

Answer 1

See this link. According to this link when C connects to A it is no longer a group member of the group managed by D. Without belonging to the same group two device cannot communicate with each other.

Also if it was possible to have multiple group owners in a wifi-direct group then they could simultaneously communicate with each other along with their group members. This is optional implementation in wifi-direct according to their whitepaper. It says:

Wi-Fi Direct Device maintains membership in multiple Groups simultaneously: Optional

But in case of Android's implementation of wifi-direct, having multiple group owner is not possible. See the Andrdoid's reference. It says:

A p2p group consists of a single group owner and one or more clients.

Answer 2

Belonging to a WFD group is equal to being in the same Channel/FREQ as that group's group owner..., so if the group owners can independently choose their operating channel, then the group members from one group cannot reach the group members from the other group (& vice-versa).