Apparatus and methods for providing service discovery over alternate transports

• US 20090319663A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Giles, Michael Jason, Bradley, Bob
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing primary transport service discovery information over one or more alternate transports that are not normally associated with the primary transport services. In one embodiment, the primary transport comprises a first wireless interface (e.g., Bluetooth), and the alternate transport comprises a second wireless interface (e.g., WiFi or WiMAX). Service profile information relating to the primary transport is broadcast to other users over the alternate transport in a more efficient and streamlined manner than that available on the primary transport. The other users store this service profile information so that it can be subsequently accessed for service profile discovery of the transmitting device by those other devices, thereby obviating subsequent transfer of the data over any transport (primary or alternate).

Claims

1. A method of reducing the latency in service profile discovery between first and second user devices, each of said devices comprising a first transport associated with the service profile, and a second transport, the method comprising:

transmitting data relating to at least one service profile from the first user device to the second using said second transport;

storing said transmitted data at said second device; and

subsequently accessing said stored data at said second device when a service discovery for said first device is required;

wherein said accessing said stored data for said service discovery substantially obviates negotiation and communication over said first transport for said service discovery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first transport comprises a Bluetooth transport, and said second transport comprises a TCP/IP-enabled transport.

3. A method of providing one or more service profiles for a first protocol over a network via a second protocol, said method comprising:

storing said one or more service profiles for said first protocol locally on a first computing device, said one or more service profiles associated with said first computing device; and

transmitting said one or more service profiles to a second computing device via said second protocol;

wherein said first and second protocols differ, and said second computing device supports both said first and second protocols.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first protocol comprises Bluetooth, and said act of transmitting substantially eliminates a Bluetooth service discovery session.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said one or more service profiles are stored where they are accessible by a service discovery application, said service discovery application able to communicate with other like applications via said second protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second protocol is selected from the group consisting of an IEEE Std. 802.3 (Ethernet), 802.11 (WiFi), or 802.16 (WiMAX) protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing said one or more service profiles of said first computing device at said second computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting one or more service profiles associated with said second computing device to said first computing device, said one or more service profiles associated with said first protocol of said second computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing at said first computing device said one or more service profiles associated with said second computing device.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing said one or more service profiles of said first computing device at said second computing device;

and

during at least one subsequent request by said second computing device for service profile data associated with said first computing device, accessing at least one of said one or more stored profiles at said second device instead of transmitting a service profile request to said first device.

11. A computer-readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, said medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause transmission of one or more service profiles associated with a first transport via a second transport not associated with said one or more service profiles, said instructions comprising:

a first instruction adapted to gather said one or more service profiles; and

a second instruction adapted to cause transmission said one or more service profiles via said second transport.

12. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first transport comprises a Bluetooth transport, and said act of transmitting causes termination or prevention of a Bluetooth service discovery session.

13. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third instruction that, when executed by said processing device, stores said one or more service profiles locally so that it is accessible via a service discovery application.

14. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second transport comprises an Institute IEEE Std. 802.11-compatible transport.

15. A computerized device, comprising:

a digital processor;

a first wireless network interface associated with a first protocol;

a second wireless network interface associated with a second protocol; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by said digital processor;

receive a request for service profile data relating to said first protocol of said computerized device;

collect one or more service profiles associated with said first protocol; and

transmit, via said second wireless network interface, said one or more service profiles to another computerized device.

16. The computerized device of claim 15, wherein said first protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol, and said instructions cause a Bluetooth service discovery session that would otherwise be run not to be run.

17. The computerized device of claim 16, further comprising a service discovery application resident in said memory, wherein said one or more service profiles are stored in said memory so that they are accessible by said service discovery application, said service discovery application able to communicate with other like applications via said second network interface.

18. The computerized device of claim 17, wherein said second network interface comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface.

19. The computerized device of claim 18, further comprising instructions that when executed by said digital processor:

request service profile information from a remote user device; and

store said profile information about said remote user locally when received over said second network interface.

20. The computerized device of claim 19, further comprising a display element, said display element presenting a graphical user interface to a user, said graphical user interface displaying said remote user profile information.

21. The computerized device of claim 20, wherein said remote user profile information comprises at least one service profile supporting communications via said first protocol.

22. The computerized device of claim 21, wherein said remote user profile information further comprises state information regarding first protocol operation by said remote user.

23. The computerized device of claim 15, wherein said computerized device comprises a cellular telephony interface and a touch-screen control system.

24. A system, comprising:

a first transport;

a second transport; and

first and second user devices each having access to said first and second transports;

wherein at least one of said devices comprises a computer program adapted to;

request service information relating to said first transport from the other device;

receive said service information from said other device via said second transport; and

store said received information for access during at least one subsequent service request, said access obviating the need for a service information transfer over said first transport.