METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERING COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20070287420A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirke, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,965,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Methods and systems for communicating information within a network are disclosed. The method may include receiving at a first wireless handheld communication device (WHCD), a communication signal from an intermediate communication device comprising at least one identifier (ID) of at least a second WHCD authorized to communicate with the intermediate communication device. The first WHCD may maintain a list of identifiers for authorized devices that are allowed to communicate with the first WHCD. The first WHCD need not be paired with any device that is specified by the list of identifiers for authorized devices maintained by the first WHCD. A communication link may be established between the first WHCD and the second WHCD via the intermediate communication device, if the list of identifiers for authorized devices maintained by the first WHCD comprises the ID of the second WHCD.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information within a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a first wireless handheld communication device (WHCD), a communication signal from an intermediate communication device, the communication signal comprising at least one identifier (ID) of at least a second WHCD authorized to communicate with said intermediate communication device, wherein said first WHCD maintains a list of identifiers for authorized devices that are allowed to communicate with said first WHCD; and

if said list of identifiers for authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD comprises said at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD, establishing a communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD via said intermediate communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising comparing said received at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD with identifiers in said list of identifiers for said authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD using said intermediate communication device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises at least one of the following:

a bridging function, a routing function, and a switching function.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a network server.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a third WHCD.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD utilizing said first WHCD.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least second WHCD utilizing said at least said second WHCD.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining whether said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, prior to said establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising, if said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, communicating a notification by said first WHCD that said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, further comprising code for comparing said received at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD with identifiers in said list of identifiers for said authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD.

11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for communicating information within a network, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

receiving at a first wireless handheld communication device (WHCD), a communication signal from an intermediate communication device, the communication signal comprising at least one identifier (ID) of at least a second WHCD authorized to communicate with said intermediate communication device, wherein said first WHCD maintains a list of identifiers for authorized devices that are allowed to communicate with said first WHCD; and

if said list of identifiers for authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD comprises said at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD, establishing a communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD via said intermediate communication device.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, further comprising code for establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD using said intermediate communication device.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises at least one of the following:

a bridging function, a routing function, and a switching function.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a network server.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a third WHCD.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, comprising code for establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD utilizing said first WHCD.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, comprising code for establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least second WHCD utilizing said at least said second WHCD.

19. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, comprising code for determining whether said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, prior to said establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD.

20. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, comprising code for communicating a notification by said first WHCD that said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, if said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device.

21. A system for communicating information within a network, the system comprising:

at least one processor for use within a first wireless handheld communication device (WHCD), the at least one processor enables receiving by said first WHDC of a communication signal from an intermediate communication device, the communication signal comprising at least one identifier (ID) of at least a second WHCD authorized to communicate with said intermediate communication device, wherein said first WHCD maintains a list of identifiers for authorized devices that are allowed to communicate with said first WHCD; and

said at least one processor enables establishing of a communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD via said intermediate communication device, if said list of identifiers for authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD comprises said at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables comparing of said received at least one ID of said at least said second WHCD with identifiers in said list of identifiers for said authorized devices maintained by said first WHCD.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables establishing of said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD using said intermediate communication device.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises at least one of the following:

a bridging function, a routing function, and a switching function.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a network server.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein said intermediate communication device comprises a third WHCD.

27. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables establishing of said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD utilizing said first WHCD.

28. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables establishing of said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least second WHCD utilizing said at least said second WHCD.

29. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables determining of whether said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, prior to said establishing said communication link between said first WHCD and said at least said second WHCD.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one processor enables communication of a notification by said first WHCD that said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device, if said at least said second WHCD is within range of said intermediate communication device.