METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENTLY COMMUNICATING INFORMATION USING A PROXY

• US 20100303003A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Zhibin, Park, Vincent D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Methods for communicating discovery information are described. A module intercepts messages within a device which include a first identifier, e.g., a service, application, device or other identifier which is to be communicated or which is to be monitored for in the case of a device seeking something. A second identifier corresponding to the information to be communicated or item or service being sought is generated. The second identifier is transmitted in the case of an advertisement or monitored for in the case of the device seeking something. Following a second device establishing a communications connection in response to an advertisement, stored information such as all or a portion of the first identifier is transmitted over the established connection. A device seeking an item or service, in response to detecting the second identifier, establishes a connection with the second device. The second identifier maybe shorter than the first identifier.

Claims

1. A communications method, the method comprising:

receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

storing at least a portion of said first message; and

transmitting a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

2. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a first communications device, the method further comprising:

establishing a communications connection with a second communications device that receives said second message.

3. The communications method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

4. The communications method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

5. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the first format is one of an mDNS format, a DNS-SD format, an UPnP format, and a SSDP format.

6. A first communications device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

store at least a portion of said first message; and

transmit a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

7. The first communications device of claim 6, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

establish a communications connection with a second communications device that receives said second message.

8. The first communications device of claim 7, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

9. The first communications device of claim 6, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

10. A first communications device comprising:

means for receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

means for storing at least a portion of said first message; and

means for transmitting a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

11. The first communications device of claim 10, further comprising:

means for establishing a communications connection with a second communications device that receives said second message.

12. The communications device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

13. The communications device of claim 10, wherein said means for transmitting the second message includes means for transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

14. A computer program product for use in a first communications device, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

code for causing the at least one computer to store at least a portion of said first message; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for causing the at least one computer to establish a communications connection with a second communications device that receives said second message.

16. A communications method, the method comprising:

receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

storing at least a portion of said first message; and

monitoring for a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

17. The communications method of claim 16, wherein the method is performed by a first communications device, the method further comprising:

establishing a communications connection with a second communications device that transmitted said second message.

18. The communications method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

19. The communications method of claim 16, wherein the first format is one of an mDNS format, a DNS-SD format, an UPnP format, and a SSDP format.

20. The communications method of claim 16, wherein said first message is a search query message.

21. A first communications device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

store at least a portion of said first message; and

monitor for a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

22. The first communications device of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

establish a communications connection with a second communications device that transmitted said second message.

23. The first communications device of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

24. The first communications device of claim 21, wherein said first message is a search query message.

25. A first communications device comprising:

means for receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

means for storing at least a portion of said first message; and

means for monitoring for a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

26. The first communications device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for establishing a communications connection with a second communications device that transmitted said second message.

27. The first communications device of claim 26, further comprising:

means for transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device over said communications connection.

28. The first communications device of claim 25, wherein said first message is a search query message.

29. A computer program product for use in a first communications device, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application;

code for causing the at least one computer to store at least a portion of said first message; and

code for causing the at least one computer to monitor for a second message in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

code for causing the at least one computer to establish a communications connection with a second communications device that transmitted said second message.