Wireless support for portable media player devices

• US 20080031210A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Proctor, David, Shen, Hui, Asmi, Yasser, Abhishek, Abhishek, Ruan, Jiandong
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable media player device is capable of operating in a wireless network. The wireless portable media player device can bootstrap and synchronize with an ad hoc network with low power consumption. Neighbor portable media player devices in an ad hoc network can be discovered by the wireless portable media player device. The portable media player device can establish and terminate connections to neighbor portable media player devices. The portable media player device can transfer data in a high speed data transfer mode or a power save data transfer mode, while concurrently permitting discovery by other devices. The portable media player device operates in a power save mode during an inactive portion of a periodic discovery interval.

Claims

1. A method to operate a wireless device in an ad hoc network, comprising:

transmitting and receiving discovery information by the wireless device during a discovery window of a periodic discovery interval; and

operating the wireless device in a power save mode during an inactive portion of the periodic discovery interval.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

turning on a radio of the wireless device in response to activation of wireless operation;

listening for a beacon packet for a specified time;

if a beacon packet is received in the specified time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet; and

if a beacon packet is not received in the specified time, sending a beacon packet.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to activation of a passive discovery mode;

listening for a beacon packet for a random back-off time;

if a beacon packet is received within the random back-off time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet;

if a beacon packet is not received within the random back-off time, sending a beacon packet;

listening for a probe request packet during the discovery window;

saving information relating to received probe request packets; and

sending a probe response packet if the wireless device has not sent a probe response packet or a beacon packet in the current discovery window.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to activation of an active discovery mode;

sending a broadcast request packet during the discovery window; and

saving information contained in response packets sent by other wireless devices in response to the broadcast request packet.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to a connect call;

sending a connection request packet to a second wireless device during the discovery window;

if a connection response packet is received within the discovery window, establishing a connection to the second wireless device; and

if a connection response packet is not received within the discovery window, indicating a connection failure.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a connection request packet by the wireless device during the discovery window;

if the connection request packet is accepted, sending a connection response packet during the discovery window; and

if the connection request packet is not accepted, dropping the connection request packet and remaining in a current state.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

performing discovery operations to discover neighbor wireless devices during a discovery window;

sending a data announcement packet during a data window of the periodic discovery interval; and

sending data during the data window following transmission of the data announcement packet.

8. A wireless portable media player device comprising:

a portable media player;

a radio to permit wireless operation; and

a wireless module logically connected to the portable media player and to the radio to operate the wireless portable media player device in an ad hoc network, the wireless module comprising a processor programmed with instructions for;

transmitting and receiving discovery information during a discovery window of a periodic discovery interval; and

operating in a power save mode during an inactive portion of the periodic discovery interval.

9. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

turning on the radio in response to activation of wireless operation;

listening for a beacon packet for a specified time;

if a beacon packet is received in the specified time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet; and

if a beacon packet is not received in the specified time, sending a beacon packet.

10. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

turning on the radio during the discovery window, in response to activation of a passive discovery mode;

listening for a beacon packet for a random back-off time;

if a beacon packet is received within the random back-off time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet;

if a beacon packet is not received within the random back-off time, sending a beacon packet;

listening for a probe request packet during the discovery window;

saving information relating to received probe request packets; and

sending a probe response packet if the wireless device has not sent a probe response packet or a beacon packet in the current discovery window.

11. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

turning on the radio during the discovery window, in response to activation of an active discovery mode;

sending a broadcast request packet during the discovery window; and

saving information contained in response packets sent by other wireless devices in response to the broadcast request packet.

12. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

turning on the radio during the discovery window, in response to a connect call;

sending a connection request packet to a second wireless device during the discovery window;

if a connection response packet is received within the discovery window, establishing a connection to the second wireless device; and

if a connection response packet is not received within the discovery window, indicating a connection failure.

13. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

receiving a connection request packet during the discovery window;

if the connection request packet is accepted, sending a connection response packet during the discovery window; and

if the connection request packet is not accepted, dropping the connection request packet and remaining in a current state.

14. A wireless portable media player device as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

performing discovery operations to discover neighbor wireless devices during a discovery window;

sending a data announcement packet during a data window of the periodic discovery interval; and

sending data during the data window following transmission of the data announcement packet.

15. A computer-readable medium programmed with instructions for executing a method to operate a wireless device in an ad hoc network, comprising:

transmitting and receiving discovery information by the wireless device during a discovery window of a periodic discovery interval; and

operating the wireless device in a power save mode during an inactive portion of the periodic discovery interval.

16. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

turning on a radio of the wireless device in response to activation of wireless operation;

listening for a beacon packet for a specified time;

if a beacon packet is received in the specified time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet; and

if a beacon packet is not received in the specified time, sending a beacon packet.

17. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to activation of a passive discovery mode;

listening for a beacon packet for a random back-off time;

if a beacon packet is received within the random back-off time, adjusting timing of the discovery window in accordance with parameters in the received beacon packet;

if a beacon packet is not received within the random back-off time, sending a beacon packet;

listening for a probe request packet during the discovery window;

saving information relating to received probe request packets; and

sending a probe response packet if the wireless device has not sent a probe response packet or a beacon packet in the current discovery window.

18. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to activation of an active discovery mode;

sending a broadcast request packet during the discovery window; and

saving information contained in response packets sent by other wireless devices in response to the broadcast request packet.

19. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

turning on a radio of the wireless device during the discovery window, in response to a connect call;

sending a connection request packet to a second wireless device during the discovery window;

if a connection response packet is received within the discovery window, establishing a connection to the second wireless device; and

if a connection response packet is not received within the discovery window, indicating a connection failure.

20. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

performing discovery operations to discover neighbor wireless devices during a discovery window;

sending a data announcement packet during a data window of the periodic discovery interval; and

sending data during the data window following transmission of the data announcement packet.