Wireless communication system and wireless device for quickly connecting to device providing desired service, and method of controlling wireless communication system and wireless device

• US 20040009769A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Hidehiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,006,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A specific device periodically detects devices existing proximally thereto, and holds a list of information of services provided by the detected devices. Further, as its own device information, the specific device publicizes that the device holds the list of service information relating to the proximate other devices. When the other device is to use a specific service, the device holding the service information list is distinguished, a list of devices among the detected devices which provide the desired service is obtained, and by connecting the other device to a device that is on the list and is within a communication range of the other device, a connection can be made quickly to the device providing the desired service.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

publicizing means for revealing property of the wireless device;

service information obtaining means for obtaining service information held by a device located in a proximity; and

notifying means for notifying another device about service information requested by the other device from among the obtained service information.

2. A wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising recognizing means for recognizing another device within a communication range,

wherein the service information obtaining means obtains the service information held by the device recognized by the recognizing means.

3. A wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising identifying means for identifying identification information of the other device within a communication range,

wherein the service information is obtained based on the identifying information identified by the identifying means.

4. A wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the service information obtained by the service information obtaining means is an identifier for uniquely designating a service, and is held as a pair with an address of the device providing the service.

5. A wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the service information is obtained by the service information obtaining means periodically, in response to a user instruction, or periodically and in response to the user instruction.

6. A wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the publicizing means publicizes, as its own property, that the wireless device holds the service information of the proximate other device.

7. A wireless device according to claim 1, wherein in response to a request from the other device, the publicizing means returns information indicating its own property.

8. A wireless device comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing another device located in a proximity;

connecting means for connecting the wireless device to devices having a particular function among devices recognized by the recognizing means;

obtaining means for obtaining device information about devices providing a desired service among the devices connected to the wireless device by the connecting means; and

selecting means for selecting device information of a device existing proximate to the wireless device in the device information obtained by the obtaining means.

9. A wireless device according to claim 8, wherein the connecting means connects the wireless device to a device having a function of holding the service information relating to the other device.

10. A wireless device according to claim 8, wherein the selecting means selects device information relating to the device recognized by the recognizing means in the device information obtained by the obtaining means.

11. A wireless device according to claim 8, wherein the obtaining means obtains a device address for uniquely distinguishing the device providing the desired service.

12. A wireless device comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing a device located in a proximity based on a response to an inquiry request made according to a Bluetooth standard;

distinguishing means for distinguishing a service provided by each devices recognized by the recognizing means by using Bluetooth-standard Service Discovery Protocol (SDP); and

notifying means for notifying a connected other party of device information of a device having a service designated by the other party based on the distinction by the distinguishing means.

13. A wireless device according to claim 12, further comprising:

notifying means for notifying the other party of property of the wireless device by returning a response to an inquiry request made according to the Bluetooth standard.

14. A wireless device comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing properties of devices located in a proximity based on responses to an inquiry request made according to a Bluetooth standard;

connecting means for connecting the wireless device to devices having specific property, based on the recognition by the recognizing means;

obtaining means for obtaining device information about devices providing a desired service among the devices connected to the wireless device by the connecting means; and

selecting means for selecting a device existing proximate to the wireless device in the device information obtained by the obtaining means.

15. A control method for a wireless device, comprising:

publicizing property of the wireless device;

obtaining service information held by a device located in a proximity; and

notifying another device of information regarding a device having service information requested by the other device from among the obtained service information.

16. A control method for a wireless device, comprising:

recognizing a device located in a proximity;

connecting the wireless device to devices having a particular function among devices recognized in the recognizing;

obtaining device information about devices providing a desired service among the devices connected to the wireless device in the connecting; and

selecting device information of a device existing proximate to the wireless device in the device information obtained in the obtaining.

17. A control method for a wireless device, comprising:

recognizing a device located in a proximity based on a response to an inquiry request made according to a Bluetooth standard;

distinguishing a service provided by each devices recognized in the recognizing by using Bluetooth-standard Service, Discovery Protocol (SDP); and

notifying a connected other party of device information of a device having a service designated by the other party based on the distinction in the distinguishing.

18. A control method for a wireless device, comprising:

recognizing properties of devices located in a proximity based on a reply to an inquiry request made according to a Bluetooth standard;

connecting the wireless device to devices having specific property, based on the recognition in the recognizing;

obtaining device information about devices providing a desired service from among device connected to the wireless device in the connecting; and

selecting a device existing proximate to the wireless device in the device information obtained in the obtaining.