Extensible Network Discovery Subsystem

• US 20100057827A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tawfik, Sherif
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Abstract Particular embodiments generally relate to an extensible network discovery system. In one embodiment, a device may be able to communicate with a plurality of other devices that may communicate using different discovery protocols. For example, the device may include a discovery component that includes a plurality of discovery protocol plug-ins. The plug-ins enable communication using different discovery protocols. An application layer format is provided for applications of a device to communicate with the discovery component. The discovery component can then translate messages from the application layer format to a format compatible with each discovery protocol. Accordingly, applications do not need to know each discovery protocol format. Also, devices can communicate with different devices that may be configured to communicate using different discovery protocols.

Claims

1. A method for discovery of devices in a network, the method comprising:

determining, at a first device, a discovery protocol in a plurality of discovery protocols for use in communicating with a second device in the network;

generating a discovery message to send to the second device;

determining a plug-in to use to send the discovery message, the plug-in associated with the determined discovery protocol;

translating the discovery message from an application layer format to a format for the determined discovery protocol; and

sending the translated discovery message to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a list of services associated with devices in the network;

determining a service in the list of services; and

generating the discovery message for the service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein services in the list of services are associated with devices that use different discovery protocols.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plug-in comprises determining from a plurality of plug-ins which plug-in is compatible with the determined discovery protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a discovery message from the second device indicating the second device is connected to the network; and

requesting services offered from the second device using the determined discovery protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a list of services offered by the second device in a message in the determined discovery protocol; and

converting the message to the application layer format to store the list of services.

7. An apparatus for discovery of devices in a network, the apparatus comprising:

a list of services offered by the apparatus;

an application; and

a discovery subsystem comprising;

a plurality of plug-ins associated with a plurality of discovery protocols used to discover devices in the network; and

a discovery policy manager configure to manage communications between the application and the plurality of plug-ins by converting between an application layer format for the application to discovery protocols for the plug-ins to allow communications with other devices in the network using the plurality of discovery protocols.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second list of services offered by other devices in the network.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second list of services include services offered by other devices that communicate using different discovery protocols.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus acts as a bridge to a first device that communicates using a first discovery protocol and a second device that communicates using a second discovery protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a first plug-in receives a message from the first device in the first discovery protocol, wherein a second plug-in sends a second message corresponding to the first message to the second device in the second discovery protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the discovery policy manager converts the first message into the application layer format message and then converts the application layer message to the second message in the second discovery protocol.

13. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

determine, at a first device, a discovery protocol in a plurality of discovery protocols for use in communicating with a second device in a network;

generate a discovery message to send to the second device;

determine a plug-in to use to send the discovery message, the plug-in associated with the determined discovery protocol;

translate the discovery message from an application layer format to a format for the determined discovery protocol; and

send the translated discovery message to the second device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

determine a list of services associated with devices in the network;

determine a service in the list of services; and

generate the discovery message for the service.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein services in the list of services are associated with devices that use different discovery protocols.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein logic operable to determine the plug-in comprises logic operable to determine from a plurality of plug-ins which plug-in is compatible with the determined discovery protocol.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

receive a discovery message from the second device indicating the second device is connected to the network; and

request services offered from the second device using the determined discovery protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

receive a list of services offered by the second device in a message in the determined discovery protocol; and

convert the message to the application layer format to store the list of services.