Method for forming an ad hoc network

• US 20030026213A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Frank, Michael, Rieken, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An ad hoc network is formed as a connection between a local area network with its services and at least one body-worn network when at least one computer in the local area network detects the local services located in the local area network, translates them into Jini services and offers them on the IP plane with the use of Jini middleware for body-worn networks.

Claims

1. A method for forming an ad hoc network having an internet protocol plane, as a connection between a local area network providing local services and at least one body-worn network, comprising:

detecting the local services of the local area network by at least one computer in the local area network;

translating the local services into adaptive network services; and

offering the local services on the internet protocol plane using middleware for body-worn networks.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said translating translates the local services into Jini services for the at least one body-worn network.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one computer is a server in the local area network.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one computer is a client of the local area network.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one computer is a base station of a room network.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connection between the at least one computer and the body-worn network includes at least one of a wireless and galvanic coupling.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising assigning the services offered in the local area network location-dependent attributes.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the at least one computer has a location-dependent attribute, and

wherein said method further comprises assigning an appliance connected to the at least one body-worn network and to the local area network the location-dependent attribute of the at least one computer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising selecting the location-dependent attributes in a room-specific fashion.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising, when similar services are available in the local area network, offering at least one service nearest in location to an appliance in the body-worn network, based on at least one of priority and exclusively per appliance.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising assigning the services offered in the local area network, location-dependent attributes defined hierarchically in accordance with location-dependent possibility of use.

12. A system for forming an ad hoc network having an internet protocol plane, as a connection between a local area network providing local services and at least one body-worn network, comprising:

at least one computer in the local area network to detect the local services of the local area network, to translate the local services into adaptive network services, and to offer the local services on the internet protocol plane using middleware for body-worn networks.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one computer is a server in the local area network and translates the local services into Jini services for the at least one body-worn network.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one computer is a client of the local area network and translates the local services into Jini services for the at least one body-worn network.

15. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one computer is a base station of a room network and translates the local services into Jini services for the at least one body-worn network.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one of a wireless and galvanic coupling between said at least one computer and the body-worn network.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one computer further assigns the services offered in the local area network location-dependent attributes.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17,

further comprising an appliance connected to the at least one body-worn network and to the local area network, and

wherein said at least one computer has a location-dependent attribute and assigns the appliance the location-dependent attribute.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said at least one computer further selects the location-dependent attributes in a room-specific fashion.

20. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one body-worn network includes at least one appliance connected to the local area network, and

wherein, when similar services are available in the local area network, said at least one computer further offers at least one service nearest in location to the at least one appliance, based on at least one of priority and exclusively per appliance.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said at least one computer further assigns the services offered in the local area network, location-dependent attributes defined hierarchically in accordance with location-dependent possibility of use.