Method and apparatus for selective service access

• US 20030036350A1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ladley, Fergal, BJorklund, Ulf, Jonsson, Annika
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,885 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: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Methods and techniques for selective service access are described. A short range, wireless device establishes lists of available devices within its transmitting proximity that are able to provide a desired service. The lists can be ranked based upon a service profile, e.g., established by the device user. The lists can also be periodically updated to accommodate device mobility.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a device for a service connection with an initiating device comprising the steps of:

transmitting an inquiry message requesting a response from devices which receive said inquiry message that are within a desired class;

identifying proximate devices within said desired class based on responses to said inquiry message;

querying said identified devices to obtain at least one attribute value associated with a particular service;

comparing, for each said identified device, said at least one attribute value with a profile associated with said particular service; and

selecting one of said identified devices based on said comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing said profile in a memory of said initiator device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said devices are enabled for short range radio communication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of querying further comprises the step of:

sending an SDP request to said identified devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining, prior to said querying step, whether an identified device is present in a device list stored in said initiating device; and

selectively querying said identified device based on a result of said determining step.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selectively adding said identified devices to a candidate list based on a result of said comparing step.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said device list includes for each device therein, at least one of:

a hardware address of said device and an indication of whether said device is present in a candidate list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said device list further includes said at least one attribute value for each device listed therein.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing, in a device list, a device which responds to said inquiry message;

initializing a counter for said device;

decrementing said counter if said device fails to respond to a subsequent inquiry message; and

removing said device from said device list if said counter reaches a predetermined value.

10. A method for selectively accessing a network device to provide a service comprising the step of:

maintaining a ranked candidate list of network devices, which each have a matching value associated therewith based on a correspondence between a service profile of an initiating device and at least one corresponding attribute of said network device;

selecting a highest ranked one of said network devices in said candidate list to provide said service; and

periodically updating said candidate list to add new network devices and remove old network devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of periodically updating further comprises the steps of:

transmitting an inquiry message; and

updating said candidate list based on responses thereto.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

deleting, from said candidate list, a network device that does not respond to a predetermined number of inquiry messages.

13. A device comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting an inquiry message requesting a response from devices which receive said inquiry message that are within a desired class;

a processor for identifying proximate devices within said desired class based on responses to said inquiry message;

wherein said transmitter sends another message querying said identified devices to obtain at least one attribute value associated with a particular service;

wherein said processor compares, for each said identified device, said at least one attribute value with a profile associated with said particular service; and

selects one of said identified devices based on said comparison for connecting said device thereto.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a memory unit for storing said profile.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said transmitter is enabled for short range radio communication.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said another message is an SDP request.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said processor further performs the functions of:

determining, prior to said querying step, whether an identified device is present in a device list stored in said device; and

selectively querying said identified device based on a result of said determining step.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein said processor further performs the function of:

selectively adding said identified devices to a candidate list based on a result of said comparison.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said device list includes, for each device therein, at least one of:

a hardware address of said device and an indication of whether said device is present in a candidate list.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said device list further includes said at least one attribute value for each device listed therein.

21. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a counter for an associated device in said device list;

wherein said processor decrements said counter if said associated device fails to respond to a subsequent inquiry message; and

wherein said processor removes said device from said device list if said counter reaches a predetermined value.

22. A device for selectively accessing a network device to provide a service comprising:

means for maintaining a ranked candidate list of network devices, which each have a matching value associated therewith based on a correspondence between a service profile of an initiating device and at least one corresponding attribute of said network device;

means for selecting a highest ranked one of said network devices in said candidate list to provide said service; and

means for periodically updating said candidate list to add new network devices and remove old network devices.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said means for periodically updating further comprises:

means for transmitting an inquiry message; and

means for updating said candidate list based on responses thereto.

24. The device of claim 22, further comprising:

means for deleting, from said candidate list, a network device that does not respond to a predetermined number of inquiry messages.