Method and apparatus for creating and connecting to an ad hoc wireless cell

• US 20080130530A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gabay, Avraham
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Various embodiments provide simplified methods and apparatuses for creating and administering an independent basic service set, or ad hoc wireless cell. A user is presented with a unified user experience that reduces the time and expertise required to utilize the independent basic service set functionality.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

display a wizard that allows a user to enter specifications for creating an ad hoc wireless cell;

initiate the ad hoc wireless cell based at least in part on some of the specifications; and

advertise the ad hoc wireless cell by transmitting a signal that allows one or more devices to detect the ad hoc wireless cell.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the wizard comprises one or more fields for entering, by a user, specifications for the ad hoc wireless cell, wherein the one or more fields include:

a band field which allows the user to specify one or more bands for the ad hoc wireless cell; and

an address assignment field which allows the user to select a method for assigning an address.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the one or more fields further includes:

a cell name field which allows a user to specify a name for the ad hoc wireless cell; and

a security field which allows the user to specify one or more security methods for the ad hoc wireless cell.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the wizard further comprises a summary screen, wherein the summary screen comprises a summary of the ad hoc cell specifications.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions thereon, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect, by one or more devices, the transmitted signal;

display, on the one or more devices, an indication of the detected signal; and

associate one or more of the devices with the ad hoc wireless cell.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the associating comprises assigning an address to one or more of the devices.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the instructions thereon, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a disassociation request from one or more devices; and

responsive to receiving said disassociation request, disassociate one or more of the one or more devices.

8. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the instructions thereon, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

send, by an initiator of the ad hoc wireless cell, an initiator assignment request, wherein the initiator assignment request is sent to one or more members of the ad hoc wireless cell.

9. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the instructions thereon, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to assign an initiator.

10. A method comprising:

displaying a single user interface type, wherein the single user interface type presents one or more fields for entering, by a user, specifications for an ad hoc wireless cell, wherein the one or more fields include;

a band field which allows the user to specify one or more bands for the ad hoc wireless cell; and

an address assignment field which allows the user to select a method for assigning an address.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more fields further includes:

a security field which allows the user to specify one or more security methods for the ad hoc wireless cell.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more fields further includes:

a cell name field which allows the user to specify a name for the ad hoc wireless cell.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more fields further includes:

a security field which allows the user to specify one or more security methods for the ad hoc wireless cell; and

a cell name field which allows the user to specify a name for the ad hoc wireless cell.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

initiating the ad hoc wireless cell; and

advertising the ad hoc wireless cell by transmitting a signal that allows one or more devices to detect the ad hoc wireless cell.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more devices, the transmitted signal; and

associating at least one of the one or more devices with the ad hoc wireless cell.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending, by an initiator of the ad hoc wireless cell, an initiator assignment request, wherein the initiator assignment request is sent to one or more members of the ad hoc wireless cell.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising assigning an initiator.

18. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

an antenna coupled to the one or more processors and configured to receive and transmit signals to enable creation of an ad hoc wireless cell;

one or more computer-readable media; and

computer-readable instructions on the computer-readable media which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to;

display a user interface to create an ad hoc wireless cell, the user interface comprising;

a cell name field which allows a user to specify a name for the ad hoc wireless cell;

a band field which allows the user to specify one or more bands for the ad hoc wireless cell;

a security field which allows the user to specify one or more security methods for the ad hoc wireless cell; and

an address assignment field which allows the user to select a method for assigning an address.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processors to:

receive input from the user via the user interface; and

create the ad hoc wireless cell based at least in part on the received input.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processors to:

advertise the ad hoc wireless cell by transmitting a signal that allows one or more devices to detect the ad hoc wireless cell.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the address assignment field allows the user to select manual assignment, by the user, of one or more of the addresses.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the address assignment field allows the user to select automatic assignment, by one or more of the processors, of one or more of the addresses.