Wireless gateway for enabling wireless devices to discover and interact with various short-range services/devices

• US 20060133414A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Luoma, Juha-Pekka, Kakkainen, Tero T., Perala, Timo K., Saaranen, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A portable gateway apparatus communicates with devices coupled to a first network and devices coupled to at least a second network. The gateway provides an interface to a mobile phone to discover services/devices within both the first and the at least second networks and interacts with them. The mobile phone includes a service/content directory enabling a user to select preferred services. The gateway conducts service discovery to identify services and devices responsive to the user request. The services and description are provided to the user for selection, after which a service-specific interface is displayed to enable the mobile phone to control the execution of the discovered services.

Claims

1. A communication method in a two way wireless communication system, comprising:

a) providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network via a connection gateway in a bearer-and media format agnostic manner;

b) conducting a service discovery protocol in the gateway for providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

c) providing a user interface to the wireless device to interact with information relating to the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks.

2. The communication method of claim 1 wherein the protocol conversion is made only to services/devices discovered in the at least second network.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) storing descriptions of services and/or devices coupled to the first and to the at least second wireless networks in a service description database.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) storing a service and content directory in the gateway and downloading the directory to the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) pushing information collected by the gateway to the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) providing a specific service user interface to the wireless device after selection of service and/or device in a service directory user interface, wherein the service specific user interface is tailored for each of the discovered services and/or devices.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

d) storing a service discovery application in the gateway to interact with a service directory user interface enabling the service information to be browsed by the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

e) pushing the specific service interface to the wireless device by the gateway after selection of the service and/or device.

9. A communication system comprising:

a) a gateway providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network in a bearer-and media format agnostic manner;

b) service and device discovery software installed in the gateway providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks to a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

c) a service and content directory displayed in the wireless device for selection of and interaction with the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the protocol conversion is made only to services/devices discovered in the at least second network.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

d) a service and content directory stored in the gateway and downloadable to the wireless device.

12. A gateway providing connectivity and media conversion for enabling a wireless device to discover and interact with short range wireless services/devices, comprising:

a) a first transceiver coupled to a first wireless network;

b) at least one second transceiver coupled to at least a second wireless network; and

c) a processor including software providing;

i) connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between the first wireless network and the second wireless network, regardless of services/device connectivity and media format;

ii) service discovery protocol for providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

iii) a user interface to the wireless device to interact with discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks, wherein the user interface is tailored for each of the discovered services and/or devices.

13. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the protocol conversion is made only to services/devices discovered in the at least second network.

14. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the protocol conversion is made only to services/devices discovered in the at least second network.

15. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a service description database storing descriptions of devices and services coupled to the second network.

16. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a service and content directory stored in the gateway and downloadable to the wireless device.

17. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a service description database for storing descriptions of services and devices constructed from discovered information.

18. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a service discovery application interacting with a service directory user interface enabling discovered service information to be browsed by the wireless device.

19. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a specific service interface downloadable from the gateway to the wireless device.

20. The gateway of claim 12 further comprising:

d) media conversion means for converting between MPEG4 and MPEG2.

21. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the gateway is a portable device and paired with the wireless device.

22. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the gateway operates as an access point capable of serving a plurality of wireless devices in a home network.

23. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the first network implements Bluetooth protocols.

24. The gateway of claim 12 wherein the second network implements IEEE 802.11 protocols.

25. A medium, executable in a computer system, for providing interaction between two wireless networks, the medium comprising:

a) program code for connecting a wireless gateway to a wireless device via a first wireless network;

b) program code for connecting a service and/or device to the gateway via at least a second wireless network;

c) program code for executing a service discovery protocol in the gateway for providing information relating services and/or devices within the at least second wireless network in response to requests from the wireless device;

d) program code for installing in the wireless device a service /device interface for selecting a service and/or device information stored in the gateway; and

e) program code for installing in the wireless device a service specific interface for operating a selected service or device in the second network via the gateway.

26. The medium of claim 25 further comprising:

f) program code for a service discovery application in the gateway to interact with a service directory user interface enabling discovered service information to be browsed by the wireless device.

27. A communication method in a two way wireless communication system, comprising:

a) providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network via a connection gateway;

b) providing extended connectivity and protocol conversion to at least a third wireless network via a UMA controller coupled to an information distribution network through the second wireless network;

c) conducting a service discovery protocol in the gateway for providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or third wireless networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

d) providing a user interface to the wireless device to interact with information relating to the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or third wireless networks.

28. The communication method of claim 27 wherein the gateway (i) discovers a second network providing network connection availability to a UMA controller, and (ii) provides a list of available services to the wireless device from the at least third networks.

29. A gateway in a two way wireless communication system, comprising:

a) conversion and connectivity means enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network, regardless of services/device connectivity and media format;

b) extended connectivity and protocol conversion means coupled to a wireless device and to at least a third wireless network;

an information distribution network and a cellular network via a UMA controller;

c) a service discovery protocol for providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or third wireless networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

d) a user interface provided to the wireless device to interact with information relating to the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or the at least third wireless network.

30. The gateway of claim 29 further comprising:

e) connecting means connecting the wireless device to the cellular network for cellular services via the UMA controller.

31. A communication system comprising:

a) a gateway providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network;

b) a UMA controller coupled to an information distribution network and to a cellular network, the UMA controller being accessible through the second wireless network;

c) software installed in the gateway for conducting a service discovery protocol providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or cellular networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

d) providing a user interface to the wireless device to interact with information relating to the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or cellular networks.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

e) connecting means connecting the wireless device to the cellular network for cellular services via the UMA controller.

33. A medium, executable in a computer system, for providing interaction between two wireless networks, the medium comprising:

a) program code for providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network via a connection gateway;

b) program code for providing extended connectivity and protocol conversion to at least a third wireless network via a UMA controller coupled to an information distribution network and to a cellular network;

c) program code for conducting a service discovery protocol in the gateway for providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or cellular networks in response to requests from a wireless device coupled to the first network; and

d) program code for providing a user interface to the wireless device to interact with information relating to the discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second or cellular networks.

34. A communication device comprising:

a) a gateway comprising a semiconductor chip set, providing connectivity and protocol conversion enabling communication between a first wireless network and at least a second wireless network in a bearer-and media format agnostic manner, and

b) service and device discovery software installed in the gateway providing information relating to discovered services and/or devices within the first and the at least second wireless networks to a wireless device coupled to the first network.