EFFICIENT SERVICE ADVERTISEMENT AND DISCOVERY IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT WITH COOPERATIVE ADVERTISEMENT

• US 20110153773A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vandwalle, Pierre, Thomas, Tito, Dominguez, Charles Francis
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• 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: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Operating conditions of a remote device and operating conditions of a local device are compared, where the local device and the remote device are located within a predetermined proximity of a wireless network. An advertisement request is transmitted from the local device to the remote device based on the comparison of the operating conditions of the local device and the remote device. The advertisement request includes information identifying one or more services advertised by the local device, whereby the remote device is configured to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the local device in the wireless network.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for advertising services in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the method comprising:

comparing operating conditions of a remote device and operating conditions of a local device, wherein the local device and the remote device are located within a predetermined proximity of a wireless network; and

transmitting an advertisement request from the local device to the remote device based on the comparison of the operating conditions of the local device and the remote device, the advertisement request identifying one or more services advertised by the local device, whereby the remote device is configured to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the local device in the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting a first service advertisement by the local device in the wireless network for the one or more services, while the remote device broadcasting a second service advertisement having the one or more services on behalf of the local device substantially concurrently.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the local device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the remote device; and

a first availability schedule of the remote device during which the remote device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the local device;

a second availability schedule of the local device during which the local device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs; and

an address of the local device such that another device can directly contact the local device for inquiring the one or more services of the local device without having to contact the remote device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to broadcast a service advertisement in the wireless network for advertising the one or more services on behalf of the local device, without requiring the local device to advertise the one or more services.

7. A machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method for advertising a service in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the method comprising:

comparing operating conditions of a remote device and operating conditions of a local device, wherein the local device and the remote device are located within a predetermined proximity of a wireless network; and

transmitting an advertisement request from the local device to the remote device based on the comparison of the operating conditions of the local device and the remote device, the advertisement request identifying one or more services advertised by the local device, whereby the remote device is configured to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the local device in the wireless network.

comparing operating conditions of a remote device and operating conditions of a local device, wherein the local device and the remote device are located within a predetermined proximity of a wireless network; and

transmitting an advertisement request from the local device to the remote device based on the comparison of the operating conditions of the local device and the remote device, the advertisement request identifying one or more services advertised by the local device, whereby the remote device is configured to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the local device in the wireless network.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises broadcasting a first service advertisement by the local device in the wireless network for the one or more services, while the remote device broadcasts a second service advertisement having the one or more services on behalf of the local device substantially concurrently.

9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the local device.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first advertisement segment includes:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the remote device; and

a first availability schedule of the remote device during which the remote device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the second advertisement segment includes:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the local device;

a second availability schedule of the local device during which the local device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs; and

an address of the local device such that another device can directly contact the local device for inquiring the one or more services of the local device without having to contacting the remote device.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the remote device is configured to broadcast a service advertisement in the wireless network for advertising the one or more services on behalf of the local device, without requiring the local device to advertise the one or more services.

13. A portable device, comprising:

a service advertiser selection unit to compare operating conditions of a remote device and operating conditions of the portable device, wherein the portable device and the remote device are located within a predetermined proximity of a wireless network; and

a service advertisement unit coupled to the service advertiser selection unit to transmit an advertisement request to the remote device based on the comparison of the operating conditions of the portable device and the remote device, the advertisement request identifying one or more services advertised by the portable device, whereby the remote device is configured to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the portable device in the wireless network.

14. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the service advertisement unit is configured to broadcast a first service advertisement in the wireless network for the one or more services, while the remote device broadcasting a second service advertisement having the one or more services on behalf of the portable device substantially concurrently.

15. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the second service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the portable device.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the first advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the remote device; and

a first availability schedule of the remote device during which the remote device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs.

17. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the second advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the portable device;

a second availability schedule of the local device during which the local device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs; and

an address of the portable device such that another device can directly contact the portable device for inquiring the one or more services of the portable device without having to contact the remote device.

18. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the remote device is configured to broadcast a service advertisement in the wireless network to advertise the one or more services on behalf of the portable device, without requiring the portable device to advertise the one or more services of the portable device.

19. A machine-implemented method for advertising services in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the method comprising:

receiving an advertisement request from a remote device based on a comparison of operating conditions of a local device and operating conditions of the remote device, the first advertisement request including one or more services available from the remote device; and

broadcasting a service advertisement in the wireless network, by the local device, the service advertisement including the one more services to be advertised on behalf of the remote device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the local device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the local device; and

a first availability schedule of the local device during which the local device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the second advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the remote device;

a second availability schedule of the remote device during which the remote device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs; and

an address of the remote device such that another device can directly contact the remote device for inquiring the one or more services of the remote device without having to contacting the local device.

23. A machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method for advertising a service in a peer-to-peer networking environment, the method comprising:

receiving an advertisement request from a remote device based on a comparison of operating conditions of a local device and operating conditions of the remote device, the first advertisement request including one or more services available from the remote device; and

broadcasting a service advertisement in the wireless network, by the local device, the service advertisement including the one more services to be advertised on behalf of the remote device.

24. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the local device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device.

25. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the first advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the local device; and

a first availability schedule of the local device during which the local device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs.

26. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the second advertisement segment comprises:

one or more service identifiers (IDs) identifying the one or more services of the remote device;

a second availability schedule of the remote device during which the remote device is configured to listen to any service requests from another device concerning the one or more services associated with the one or more service IDs; and

an address of the remote device such that another device can directly contact the remote device for inquiring the one or more services of the remote device without having to contacting the local device.

27. A portable device, comprising:

a service advertiser selection unit to receive an advertisement request from a remote device based on a comparison of operating conditions of the portable device and operating conditions of the remote device, the advertisement request including one or more services to be available from the remote device; and

a service advertisement unit coupled to the service advertiser selection unit to broadcast a service advertisement in the wireless network, the service advertisement including one more services to be advertised on behalf of the remote device.

28. The portable device of claim 27, wherein the service advertisement is a compound service advertisement having a first advertisement segment having one or more services of the local device and a second advertisement segment having one or more services of the remote device.