Interface negotiation

• US 20050221858A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Semiconductor (Marvell Technology Group Limited), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kinoma, Inc. (Marvell Technology Group Limited), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hoddie, J. Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for interface negotiation using a device supporting multiple communication interfaces. In one implementation, a wireless device includes: a wireless communication interface supporting communication across a wireless connection; and a controller connected to said wireless interface supporting a negotiation service and a communication service; wherein said negotiation service provides interface negotiation for using said wireless interface to negotiate with another device to select a communication interface for communication with said another device, and said communication service provides control and management of communication with said another device across a connection established using said negotiation service.

Claims

1. A wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communication interface supporting communication across a wireless connection; and

a controller connected to said wireless interface supporting a negotiation service and a communication service;

wherein said negotiation service provides interface negotiation for using said wireless interface to negotiate with another device to select a communication interface for communication with said another device, and

said communication service provides control and management of communication with said another device across a connection established using said negotiation service.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless interface support Bluetooth.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication interface.

4. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:

said second communication interface supports Wi-Fi.

5. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:

each of said wireless interface and said second communication interface support respective types of wireless communication.

6. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising:

a third communication interface supporting a wired connection.

7. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:

said second communication interface provides a higher data rate than said wireless interface.

8. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:

said second communication interface uses more power than said wireless interface.

9. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:

a first connection opened using said negotiation service and said wireless interface is kept open while a second connection opened using said communication service and said second communication interface is open.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:

said negotiation service provides interface negotiation automatically.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein:

said negotiation service provides interface negotiation in response to a request by a user.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein:

said negotiation service selects a communication interface without user input.

13. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein:

said negotiation service selects a communication interface using settings previously provided by a user.

14. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless interface supports a direct connection to said another device.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein:

said direct connection is a newly established ad hoc network established with said another device.

16. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless interface supports an indirect connection to said another device using a network.

17. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless interface supports receiving a beacon signal from a beacon source, and

said negotiation service uses said beacon signal to open communication.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein:

said beacon signal indicates said another device as a target device and a target interface, and

said another device is different from said beacon source.

19. A method of interface negotiation, comprising:

searching for a second device using a default interface of a first device;

establishing a negotiation connection between said first device and said second device using said default interface;

negotiating to select a communication interface using said negotiation connection;

establishing a communication connection using said selected interface;

communicating between said first device and said second device using said communication connection; and

closing said communication connection;

wherein said default interface is a wireless interface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

searching for said second device using a secondary interface.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

said negotiation connection is open while said communication connection is open.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein negotiating to select a communication interface includes:

determining one or more available interfaces;

determining one or more compatible interfaces from among said one or more available interfaces; and

selecting one of said one or more compatible interfaces as said communication interface using one or more communication criteria.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

said communication criteria include data rate and power use.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein negotiating to select a communication interface also includes:

selecting a communication mode.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

said communication mode indicates whether to use a direct connection between said first device and said second device or an indirect connection between said first device and said second device for said communication connection.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

said communication mode indicates a type of encryption to use for said communication connection.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a beacon signal from a beacon source at said first device; and

determining a target device and a target interface using said beacon signal;

wherein said target device is said second device and said target interface is said default interface.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

said target device is different from said beacon source.

29. A system for interface negotiation, comprising:

means for searching for a second device using a default interface of a first device;

means for establishing a negotiation connection between said first device and said second device using said default interface;

means for negotiating to select a communication interface using said negotiation connection;

means for establishing a communication connection using said selected interface;

means for communicating between said first device and said second device using said communication connection; and

means for closing said communication connection;

wherein said default interface is a wireless interface.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for determining one or more available interfaces;

means for determining one or more compatible interfaces from among said one or more available interfaces; and

means for selecting one of said one or more compatible interfaces as said communication interface using one or more communication criteria.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for selecting a communication mode.

32. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for receiving a beacon signal from a beacon source at said first device; and

means for determining a target device and a target interface using said beacon signal;

wherein said target device is said second device and said target interface is said default interface.

33. A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in interface negotiation, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

search for a second device using a default interface of a first device;

establish a negotiation connection between said first device and said second device using said default interface;

negotiate to select a communication interface using said negotiation connection;

establish a communication connection using said selected interface;

communicate between said first device and said second device using said communication connection; and

close said communication connection;

wherein said default interface is a wireless interface.