Ad-hoc established device network

• US 20030043765A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Stadelmeier, Lothar, Dawidowsky, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

In an ad-hoc established device network, a profile based handover of the network control functionality is performed whenever a new device (15) requests association with the network and the central controller (16) does not support the profile of the new device (15). A database is searched for a controller-capable device that supports both the profiles of the network devices and the profile of the new device. The former central controller (16) passes the control functionality to the controller-capable device (17), which becomes the new central controller (24). Thus it is possible to associate the new device (15) with the network. The invention allows to integrate devices supporting different profiles into a common network.

Claims

1. Method for associating a new device (8) with an ad-hoc established device network comprising a central controller (5) and a set of terminal devices (3, 4), characterized by

checking (30) whether the central controller (5) supports the transmission profile of a new device (8) which requests association:

in case the transmission profile of the new device is not supported, searching (40) a database for a terminal device which is capable of acting as a controller and which supports both the transmission profiles of the network devices (3, 4) and the transmission profile of the new device (8);

in case at least one such terminal device is found (4), performing a handover of the control functionality in order to establish said terminal device (4) as the new central controller (10).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by associating (14) said new device (8) with the new central controller (10).

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by associating (13) the former central controller (5) as a terminal device (12) with the new central controller (10).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set of profiles comprises a consumer electronics profile and a business profile.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said consumer electronics profile comprises a direct mode allowing for direct links between the network devices.

6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said business profile only allows for links between the network devices and a central access point.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the search (40) for a controller-capable terminal device is performed in a database which is kept on part of the central controller (5).

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by transmitting said database from the former central controller (5) to the new central controller (10) whenever a handover of the control functionality is performed.

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the database comprises, for each device of the network, a record indicating whether a device is capable of acting as a controller, and which transmission profiles are supported by said device.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by adding a new record to said database whenever a new device is associated with the network.

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by notifying each device of the network that it is no longer controlled by the former central controller (5), and that it is furtheron controlled by the new central controller (10), whenever a handover of the control functionality is performed.

12. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the network being a wireless network.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized by the network being a wireless network according to the HIPERLAN/2 standard.

21. Computer program product comprising program code means to carry out the method defined in anyone of claims 1 to 13 when being executed on a computer and/or said central controller.

22. Computer program product comprising program code means according to claim 21 being stored on a computer and/or central controller accessable storage means.

14. Central controller for controlling a set of terminal devices (3, 4) in an ad-hoc established device network, characterized by

a database for storing information about the controller capability of said terminal devices (3, 4), and about the transmission profiles supported by said terminal devices (3, 4),

a checking unit for checking whether the central controller (5) supports the transmission profile of a new terminal device (8) which is to be associated with the network, and for searching said database for a terminal device which is capable of acting as a controller and which supports both the transmission profiles of the network devices (3, 4) and the transmission profile of the new device (8),

a handover unit for performing a handover of the control functionality to a controller-capable terminal device (4) in case the central controller (5) is not capable of supporting the transmission profile of said new terminal device (8).

15. Central controller according to claim 14, characterized in that the set of profiles comprises a consumer electronics profile and a business profile.

16. Central controller according to claim 15, characterized in that said consumer electronics profile comprises a direct mode allowing for direct links between the network devices.

17. Central controller according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized in that said business profile only allows for links between the network devices and a central access point.

18. Central controller according to anyone of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that said database comprises, for each device of the network, a record indicating whether a device is capable of acting as a controller, and which transmission profiles are supported by said device.

19. Central controller according to anyone of claims 14 to 18, characterized by means for transmitting said database to said controller-capable terminal device (4) in case the central controller (5) is not capable of supporting the transmission profile of said new terminal device (8).

20. Central controller according to anyone of claims 14 to 19, characterized by means for adding a new record to said database whenever a new device (8) is associated with the network.