Automatic and dynamic service information delivery from service providers to data terminals in an access point network

• US 20040199616A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karhu, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network wherein an access point requests service information from a local server; in response, the access point receives service information from the local server. Subsequently, the access point maps the service information to a link-level communication Service Discovery Protocol (SDP). The access point then sends the mapped service information to a data terminal.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network, comprising:

requesting service information from a local server;

receiving service information from the local server;

mapping the service information to a link-level communication Service Discovery Protocol (SDP); and

sending the mapped service information to a data terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to a service provided by one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a printer or the like.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service information is mapped to a Bluetooth SDP.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the service information to be mapped to the Bluetooth SDP is one of a Service Location Protocol (SLP), JINI, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Salutation or the like.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mapped service information is sent using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing service information received from the local server.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

removing service information received from the local server.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local server is disposed in an access point.

13. A method for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network, comprising:

requesting a list of service information from a local server;

receiving the list of service information from the local server;

requesting attributes for the service information that are not stored in an access point;

receiving the attributes of the service information;

mapping the attributes of the service information from a first SDP to a Bluetooth SDP; and

sending the mapped service information to a data terminal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first SDP is one of a SLP, JINI, UPnP, Salutation or the like.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the service information requested is based on an attribute of the service.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the attribute is one of an access zone, a service lifetime or the like.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the service information is restricted based on an attribute.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the attribute is one of a device type, an access zone, a service lifetime, or the like.

22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

removing service information based on the service'"'"'s attributes.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mapped service information is sent using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

24. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

25. The method according to claim 13, wherein the local server is disposed in an access point.

26. A method for a data terminal to use dynamically updated service information from a service provider in an access point network, comprising:

receiving service information mapped from a first SDP to a Bluetooth SDP; and

sending a request to use a service associated with the mapped service information.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service requested is one of a PDA, a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a printer or the like.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first SDP is one of a SLP, JINI, UPnP, Salutation or the like.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service information is sent to the data terminal using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the request is sent from the data terminal using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

31. A system for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program;

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

request service information from a local server;

receive service information from the local server;

map the service information to a link-level communication SDP; and

send the mapped service information to a data terminal.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the service information is mapped to a Bluetooth SDP.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the service information to be mapped to the Bluetooth SDP is one of an SLP, JINI, UPnP, Salutation or the like.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the mapped service information is sent using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

store service information received from the local server.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

remove service information received from the local server.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the local server is disposed in an access point.

42. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network, the computer program logic comprising:

program code for requesting service information from a local server;

program code for receiving service information from the local server;

program code for mapping the service information to a Bluetooth SDP; and

program code for sending the mapped service information to a data terminal.

43. An access point for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network, comprising:

at least one communication module to communicate with data terminals over a short range wireless communication link;

a memory device storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

request service information from a local server;

receive service information from the local server;

map the service information to a Bluetooth SDP; and

send the mapped service information to a data terminal.

44. An access point network, comprising:

a local server for providing service information from a service provider to an access point; and

an access point for routing service information received from the local server to a data terminal, wherein the service information is mapped from a first SDP to a Bluetooth SDP.