Multitier ASP services delivery for wireless devices

• US 20030027525A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Moore, Victor S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A multi-tier ASP delivery system. The system can include a host computing device configured to communicate both with a computer communications network and with a plurality of wireless devices in a personal area network (PAN). In particular, a short-range radio communications system can be provided with which wireless communications in the PAN can be established and maintained. A list of ASP services further can be provided which indicates those ASP services which can be accessed by the wireless devices in the PAN. The ASP services in the list can reside locally in the host computing device and remotely in ASP servers in the computer communications network.

Claims

1. An ASP delivery method, comprising:

providing a short-range radio frequency communications system, said system having a host computing device connected to a computer communications network over a physical communications link medium, said system being configured both to provide ASP services over short-range radio communications links to wireless devices in a personal area network (PAN), and also to receive ASP services from other ASPs in said computer communications network over said physical communications link medium;

establishing a short-range radio communications link with a wireless device in said PAN;

receiving requests for selected ASP services from said wireless device;

determining if said host computing device can provide said requested ASP services without requiring further assistance from another ASP; and

,

if said host computing device cannot provide said requested ASP services without requiring further assistance from another ASP, retrieving said requested ASP services from another ASP over said physical communications link medium and forwarding retrieved ASP services to said wireless device in said PAN over said short-range radio communications link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing a BLUETOOTH-based communications link with said wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing an IEEE 802.11b based communications link with said wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing an IEEE 802.11a based communications link with said wireless device.

5. An ASP delivery system comprising:

a host computing system configured to communicate both with a communications network over a physical communications link medium and also with a plurality of wireless devices in a personal area network (PAN);

a short-range radio communications system for establishing and maintaining wireless communications in said PAN; and

,

a list of ASP services which can be accessed by said wireless devices in said PAN, said list indicating which ASP services can be distributed to said wireless devices in said PAN, said ASP services in said list residing locally in said host computing system and remotely in ASP servers in said communications network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said short-range radio communications system comprises:

a short-range radio communications system configured in accordance with BLUETOOTH specifications.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said short-range radio communications system comprises:

an short-range radio communications system configured in accordance with IEEE 802.11b.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said short-range radio communications system comprises:

an short-range radio communications system configured in accordance with IEEE 802.11b.

9. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for delivering ASP based services, said computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for performing the steps of:

establishing a short-range radio communications link with a wireless device in a personal area network (PAN);

receiving requests for selected ASP services from said wireless device;

determining if said requested ASP services can be provided without requiring further assistance from an external ASP; and

,

if said requested ASP services cannot be provided without requiring further assistance from an external ASP, retrieving said requested ASP services from an external ASP and forwarding said retrieved ASP services to said wireless device in said PAN over said short-range radio communications link.

10. The machine readable storage of claim 9, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing a BLUETOOTH-based communications link with said wireless device.

11. The machine readable storage of claim 9, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing an IEEE 802.11b based communications link with said wireless device.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 9, wherein said step of establishing a short-range radio communications link with said wireless device in said PAN comprises:

establishing an IEEE 802.11a based communications link with said wireless device.