Virtual linking using a wireless device

• US 20030095524A1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aurix Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Strix Systems Incorporated (AHA Holdings Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stephens, Spencer, Jollota, James M., Kamstra, Duke, Fuhring, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for virtual linking a wireless device to another device is disclosed herein. The system includes an access point and a controller configured to mediate transmissions between the wireless device and the another device. The system further includes a virtual device table and a permissions filter to ensure virtual linking between devices that have matching access right and requested services. The wireless device and the another device may have the same or dissimilar protocols.

Claims

1. A system for providing a virtual link, the system including a geographically distributed communications network coupled to at least first and second network resources, the system comprising:

a user device including a wireless transceiver for communicating using a short-range wireless protocol;

a service device including a wireless transceiver to accept communication signals under the short-range wireless protocol, wherein the service device is associated with the first network resource, and wherein the second network resource is not configured to accept communication signals under the short-range wireless protocol; and

a virtual linking system in communication with the network, wherein the virtual linking system includes;

a controller having a virtual device table and a permissions filter, and

first and second geographically distributed transceivers coupled to the controller, wherein the first and second transceivers are configured to communicate wirelessly under the short-range wireless protocol with the user device and service device, respectively, and wherein the user device can not communicate directly under the short-range wireless protocol with the service device because of wireless range limitations under the short-range wireless protocol,

wherein the virtual linking system is configured to establish the virtual link between the user device and either the service device or the second network resource, wherein the permissions filter is configured to check for a match between the user device and either the service device or the second network resource during a service discovery request and a connection request before establishing the virtual link.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more additional resources coupled to the network;

one or more additional service devices; and

one or more additional user devices, wherein the virtual linking system is configured to establish an another virtual link between one of the additional user devices and at least one of the additional service devices and the additional resources,

wherein the virtual device table includes a device entry corresponding to each of the service device, additional service devices, resource, and additional resources, and the device entry includes a device type field, a default name field, a native object field, a location field, a virtual service names field, a virtual service object list field, a virtual service permissions field, and an advertise to field,

wherein the permissions filter is configured to compare a user identification or a user group identification associated with a user of the user device with the virtual service permissions field of the device entry and to compare a device type requested by the user with the advertise to field of the device entry to check for the match between the user device and the at least one of the service device and the resource, and

wherein the user device initiates a device discovery, the service discovery, and the connection request to the virtual linking system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device, the service device, and the virtual linking system include the same communication protocol, and the virtual linking system is configured to relay instructions and data between the user device and the service device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user device includes a first communication protocol, the resource includes a second communication protocol, and the virtual linking system includes the first and second communication protocols, the virtual linking system configured to mediate instructions and data compatible with the first communication protocol from the user device to the resource and the instructions and data compatible with the second communication protocol from the resource to the user device.

5. An apparatus for providing a communication link between a first device and a second device, each having a similar communications protocol, the apparatus comprising:

a first base station wirelessly linked to the first device under a short range wireless protocol;

a second base station; and

a controller coupled to the first and second base stations, wherein the second device is linked to the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to provide a communication link between the first and second devices under the short range wireless protocol and via at least the first base station, and in response to a request by the first device, the controller is configured to provide a service provided by the second device to the first device, where such service provided by the second device is not otherwise available to the first device under the similar communications protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller includes filter rules having rules pertaining to the accessibility of the second device in accordance with a user identifier, a user group identifier, the capability of the first device, the location of the first device, and restrictions set by a system administrator, and wherein the second device is wirelessly linked to the controller via the second base station.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second base stations includes a wireless transceiver and a storage coupled to a processor, and each of the first and second base stations includes the communications protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second devices connect to each other after a device discovery request from the first device and identification of the second device as a discovered device.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second devices connect to each other after a service discovery request from the first device and identification of the second device as an allowed service device.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second devices connect to each other after a device discovery, a service discovery, and a connection request from the first device.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a virtual device table is included in the controller, the virtual device table configured to include a device entry corresponding to the second device, the device entry including at least one of a device type field, a default name field, a native object field, a location field, a virtual service names field, a virtual service object list field, a virtual service permissions field, and an advertise to field.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller includes filter rules applied a first time during a service discovery request and a second time during a connection request before the first and second devices are permitted to connect with each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller provides a list of virtual service names, corresponding to a plurality of devices capable and permitted to provide the service requested by the first device, to the first device.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first device is wirelessly linked to the first base station by a Bluetooth link, and the second device is wirelessly linked to at least one of the first and second base station by an another Bluetooth link.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second devices are located beyond a nominal linking range of each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a third device is wirelessly linked to at least one of the first and second base station, and the third device connected to the second device via at least one of the first and second base station, the second device providing services to the first and third devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second devices is a device type selected from a group including a printer, a scanner, a server, a router, a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a headset, a switch, a facsimile machine, a copier, and a telephone.

18. An apparatus for virtually linking a first device and a second device, the apparatus comprising:

wireless transceiver means for wirelessly linking to the first device in a wireless piconet and to at least one of wirelessly linking and coupling to the second device; and

means for virtually linking including at least portions of a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol that are dissimilar to each other, wherein the first device includes the first communications protocol, the second device includes the second communications protocol, and the second device has been identified as a device that can provide a service requested by the first device and is a device permitted to be virtually linked with the first device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for virtually linking includes a means for filtering, a virtual device table, and a device equivalency list.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a virtual device table included in the means for virtually linking includes a device entry corresponding to the second device, the device entry including a device type field, a default name field, a native object field, a location field, a virtual service names field, a virtual service object list field, a virtual service permissions field, and an advertise to field.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a means for providing permissions filtering included in the means for virtually linking compares a user identification or a group identification associated with the user with a virtual service permissions data for the second device, and compares a device type requested by the user with an advertise to data for the second device to determine if the second device is permitted to be virtually linked with the first device.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first communications protocol is a Bluetooth protocol and the wireless link between the first device and the wireless transceiver means is a Bluetooth link.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a communications network coupled to the means for virtually linking and the second device coupled to the communications network, the second communications protocol being a network protocol.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for virtually linking includes a means for processing and a means for storing.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, further including a wireless transceiver coupled to the means for virtually linking, the wireless transceiver means and the wireless transceiver distributed within a coverage area to wirelessly link to at least one of the first and second devices.

26. A method for virtual linking between a user device and a service device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless link between the user device and an access point;

receiving a user identification or a group identification and a requesting device type from the user device;

determining access right to the service device using at least the user identification, the group identification, a filter, and a device table;

determining available services of the service device using at least the requesting device type, the filter, and the device table; and

establishing a link between the service device and the access point when a match with the access right and available services of the service device occurs.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

requesting a device discovery;

requesting a service discovery; and

requesting a connection request to the service device.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

another determining of access right to the service device using at least one of the user identification, the group identification, the filter, and the device table; and

another determining of available services of the service device using at least one of the requesting device type, the filter, and the device table, wherein establishing a link between the service device and the access point includes the match occurring for the determining and the another determining.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

scanning for discoverable devices;

requesting a service discovery for each discovered device;

creating a device entry in the device table for each discovered device; and

modifying attributes of the device entry.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

relaying transmissions between the user device and the service device using a protocol, wherein establishing a wireless link between the user device and an access point includes establishing the wireless link using the protocol, and establishing a link between the service device and the access point includes establishing a wireless link using the protocol.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

mediating transmissions between the user device and the service device using a first protocol and a second protocol, wherein the first and second protocols are different from each other, establishing a wireless link between the user device and an access point includes establishing the wireless link using the first protocol, and establishing a link between the service device and the access point includes establishing a wireless link using the second protocol.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein establishing a wireless link between the user device and an access point includes establishing the wireless link using a Bluetooth print profile, establishing a link between the service device and the access point includes establishing a wireless link using the Bluetooth print profile, and the requesting device type is a printer.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein establishing a wireless link between the user device and an access point includes establishing the wireless link using a Bluetooth print profile, establishing a link between the service device and the access point includes establishing a wireless link using at least a network protocol, and the requesting device type is a printer.

34. A computer-readable medium containing a data structure for use by a system for establishing communication links, wherein the system is coupled to a geographically distributed communications network, the data structure comprising:

at least one record stored at the system for each resource coupled to the communications network or within wireless range of the system, wherein each record comprises;

a set of virtual service names associated with one or more user identifier or user group identifier

wherein the record is configured for use by a controller employing a short-range wireless protocol.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the record further includes:

a set of device types that the associated resource can be presented to; and

virtual service permissions.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the record further includes:

a virtual service object list; and

a location description.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the record further includes:

a device type field of the associated resource;

a default name for the associated resource; and

a native object of the associated resource, wherein the native object is an object schema provided by the associated resource.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the record is updated by a device discovery, a service discovery, and a system administrator.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium is a logical node in a computer network receiving the contents.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium is a computer-readable disk.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium transmitting a generated data signal containing the contents.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of a computer system.

43. A computer-readable medium containing a data structure for use by a system for establishing communication links, wherein the system is coupled to a geographically distributed communications network, the data structure comprising:

at least one record stored at the system for each resource coupled to the communications network or within wireless range of the system, wherein each record comprises;

a native schema field; and

a schema mapping field, and

wherein the record is configured for use by a controller employing a short-range wireless protocol.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the native schema field includes a description of properties and capabilities of the associated resource, and the schema mapping field includes one or more functional resource equivalencies that the associated resource can be presented as.

45. An apparatus for use by a communication system having at least first, second and third geographically distributed network nodes, wherein a wireless user device communicates wirelessly with the first network node, the apparatus comprising:

a controller coupled to the communication system, wherein the controller includes;

a short-range wireless protocol layer for handling a wireless communication received from the user device via the first network node, wherein the wireless communication includes a request to access a resource available via the communication system;

a network layer for handling network communications under a network protocol, wherein the network protocol differs from the short-range wireless protocol; and

a virtual linking layer for receiving the wireless communication and, based on the request to access a resource, at least one of

(a) routing the wireless communication to a resource associated with the second network node, wherein the second network node is associated with a resource capable of communicating under the short-range wireless protocol,

(b) mediating and routing the wireless communication to a resource associated with the third network node, wherein the third network node is associated with a resource capable of communicating under the network protocol, and

(c) mediating and routing the wireless communication to a resource associated with the second network node, wherein the second network node is associated with a resource capable of communicating under the short-range wireless protocol, the resource including a profile different then or absent in the user device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the short-range wireless protocol includes a radio layer and two or more user profiles, and wherein the virtual linking layer includes a virtual resource table and a permission table.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the short-range wireless protocol is a Bluetooth protocol, and wherein the network protocol is a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.