Proximity service discovery in wireless networks

• US 20070141984A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, David, Shen, Hui, Abhishek, Abhishek, Ruan, Jiandong, Lu, Yi, Kuehnel, Thomas, Duong, Francis, Parikh, Vishesh, Hassan, Amer, Lyndersay, Sean, Gatta, Srinivas
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• 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 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. As one example, particular services may be requested. As another example, services that are provided by a device may be advertised.

Claims

1. A method of accessing, by a first device, a service provided by a second device that is in a proximity of a first device, the method comprising:

receiving an 802.11x Layer 2 wireless advertisement message regarding a particular service provided by the second device, prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device suitable for providing the particular service;

determining if the particular service is desired; and

establishing a connection between the first device and the second device, if the particular service is desired.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless advertisement message is received by the first device or by a device in communication with the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to a user of the first device, on a human perceptible medium, information related to the particular service provided by the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity of the first device is defined at least partially by a radio range of the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the second device is within the proximity of the first device, the proximity of the first device being limited to a region smaller than a region defined by a radio range of the first device;

wherein the connection is established if the second device is within the proximity of the first device.

6. The method of clam 1, wherein the wireless advertisement message comprises an 802.11 beacon message.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving, by a first device and from a second device, an 802.11x Layer 2 wireless advertisement message regarding a particular service provided by a second device, prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device suitable for providing the particular service, the second device being in a proximity of the first device;

determining if the particular service is desired; and

establishing a connection between the first device and the second device, if the particular service is desired.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the wireless advertisement message is received by the first device or by a device in communication with the first device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

providing, to a user of the first device, on a human perceptible medium, information related to the requested service provided by the second device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the proximity of the first device is defined at least partially by a radio range of the first device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the second device is within the proximity of the first device, the proximity of the first device being limited to a region smaller than a region defined by a radio range of the first device;

wherein the connection is established if the second device is within the proximity of the first device.

12. The method of clam 7, wherein the wireless advertisement message comprises an 802.11 beacon message.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

sending, to a first device, by a second device, an 802.11x Layer 2 wireless advertisement message regarding a particular service provided by the second device prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device suitable for providing the particular service, the second device being in a proximity of the first device; and

establishing a connection between the first device and the second device, in response to a connection request from the first device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless advertisement message is sent by the first device or by a device in communication with the second device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless advertisement message is sent as at least a portion of an 802.11x beacon message.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the proximity of the first device is defined at least partially by a radio range of the first device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless advertisement message comprises information related to at least one service provided by the second device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the at least one service provided by the second device comprises an information element.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the at least one service provided by the second device comprises a truncated information element.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information related to the at least one services comprises information related to at least one type of service provided by the second device.