METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING PAIRING BETWEEN COORDINATOR AND DEVICE IN NETWORK, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING PAIRING BETWEEN DEVICES, NETWORK SYSTEM INCLUDING THE COORDINATOR AND THE DEVICES

• US 20110276672A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KWON, Hyuk-choon, KIM, Ho-dong, JUN, Hae-young, JUNG, Soo-yeon
• Application Number:
  US13/102,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Provided are methods and apparatuses for performing pairing. A method of performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network including the plurality of devices and the coordinator includes: broadcasting a beacon including first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing; receiving, from the peer device, second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing; and broadcasting a beacon including the first pairing information and the second pairing information, or the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

Claims

1. A method of performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

broadcasting first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing;

receiving, from the peer device, second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing; and

broadcasting the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first pairing information comprises at least one of first Push Button Configuration (PBC) information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the coordinator, and a media access control (MAC) address of the coordinator; and

the second pairing information comprises at least one of second PBC information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the peer device, and an MAC address of the peer device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasting the first pairing information and the second pairing information comprises broadcasting the first pairing information and the second pairing information in one time period from among time periods in which data transmission between the peer device and the coordinator is performed, or broadcasting the first pairing information and the second pairing information in an announcement time period for notifying information in the network.

39. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 1.

4. A method of performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

broadcasting first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing; and

receiving, from the peer device, the first pairing information and second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

if a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the coordinator, generating time schedule information comprising a time period for broadcasting the first pairing information,

wherein the broadcasting of the first pairing information is performed based on the generated time schedule information.

6. A method of performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

receiving, from the peer device, second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing; and

broadcasting the second pairing information and first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

if the second pairing information is received from the peer device, broadcasting a beacon comprising the second pairing information,

wherein the broadcasting the second pairing information and the first pairing information is performed when a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the coordinator after the second pairing information is broadcasted.

8. A method of performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

receiving, from the peer device, a schedule request to allocate a time period for broadcasting second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a device to perform pairing;

transmitting a schedule response comprising information about the time period for broadcasting the second pairing information to the peer device;

receiving, from the peer device, the broadcasted second pairing information based on the schedule response; and

transmitting, to the peer device, the second pairing information and first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a peer device to perform pairing.

9. A method of performing pairing between a plurality of devices through a coordinator in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

receiving, by the coordinator and from a first device, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

broadcasting, by the coordinator, the second pairing information;

receiving, by the coordinator and from a second device, third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing; and

broadcasting, by the coordinator, the second pairing information and the third pairing information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the broadcasting the second pairing information and the third pairing information comprises broadcasting the second pairing information and the third pairing information in one time period from among time periods in which data transmission between the peer device and the coordinator is performed, or broadcasting the second pairing information and the third pairing information in an announcement time period for notifying information in the network.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from the second device, first peer confirmation information indicating that the second device becomes aware that the first device is a peer device to be paired with the second device; and

receiving, from the first device, second peer confirmation information indicating that the first device becomes aware that the second device is a peer device to be paired with the first device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the second pairing information comprises at least one of second Push Button Configuration (PBC) information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the first device, and a media access control (MAC) address of the first device; and

the third pairing information comprises at least one of third PBC information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the second device, and an MAC address of the second device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

if the second pairing information is received by the second device, buffering, by the second device, the received second pairing information; and

if a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, becoming aware that the first device is a peer device of the second device based on the buffered second pairing information,

wherein the third pairing information is transmitted from the second device to the coordinator when the second device becomes aware that the first device is the peer device of the second device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

if the second pairing information is received by the second device before the button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, the second device ignores the received second pairing information; and

if the second pairing information is received by the second device after the button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, the second device becomes aware that the first device is a peer device of the second device, and the third pairing information is transmitted from the second device to the coordinator when the second device becomes aware that the first device is the peer device of the second device.

15. A method of performing pairing between a plurality of devices through a coordinator in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a first device and to the coordinator, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

broadcasting, by the coordinator, the second pairing information; and

transmitting, by a second device and to the first device, the second pairing information and third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, by the second device and to the coordinator, a time allocation request to allocate a time period for transmitting data; and

transmitting, by the coordinator, a time allocation response comprising information about the time period allocated to the second device for transmission of the data,

wherein the first device and the second device mutually transmit data based on the time allocation response.

17. A method of performing pairing between a plurality of devices through a coordinator in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a first device and to the coordinator, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

broadcasting, by the coordinator, the second pairing information;

transmitting, by the second device and to the coordinator, third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing; and

transmitting, by the coordinator and to the first device, the third pairing information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, when the transmitting the third pairing information to the coordinator is performed by transmitting, by the second device, a time allocation request that comprises the third pairing information to allocate a time period for transmitting data to the coordinator, transmitting, by the coordinator and to the second device, a time allocation response comprising information about the time period allocated to the second device for transmission of the data.

19. A method of performing pairing between a plurality of devices through a coordinator in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a first device and to the coordinator, a schedule request to allocate a time period for broadcasting second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

transmitting, by the coordinator and to the first device, a schedule response comprising information about the time period allocated to the first device for broadcasting of the second pairing information;

broadcasting, by the first device, the second pairing information based on the schedule response; and

transmitting, by the second device and to the first device, the second pairing information and third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing.

20. A coordinator for performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the coordinator comprising:

a transmitting unit which broadcasts first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing; and

a receiving unit which receives, from the peer device, second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing,

wherein the transmitting unit broadcasts the first pairing information and the second pairing information.

21. The coordinator of claim 20, wherein:

the first pairing information comprises at least one of first Push Button Configuration (PBC) information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the coordinator, and a media access control (MAC) address of the coordinator; and

the second pairing information comprises at least one of second PBC information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the peer device, and an MAC address of the peer device.

22. The coordinator of claim 20, wherein the transmitting unit broadcasts the first pairing information and the second pairing information in one time period from among time periods in which data transmission between the peer device and the coordinator is performed, or broadcasts the first pairing information and the second pairing information in an announcement time period for notifying information in the network.

23. A coordinator for performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the coordinator comprising:

a transmitting unit which broadcasts first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing; and

a receiving unit which receives, from the peer device, the first pairing information and second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a peer device to perform pairing.

24. The coordinator of claim 23, further comprising:

a schedule information generating unit which generates, if a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the coordinator, time schedule information comprising a time period for broadcasting the first pairing information,

wherein the transmitting unit broadcasts the first pairing information based on the generated time schedule information.

25. A coordinator for performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the coordinator comprising:

a receiving unit which receives, from the peer device, second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a device to perform pairing; and

a transmitting unit which broadcasts the second pairing information and first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a device to perform pairing.

26. The coordinator of claim 25, wherein, if the second pairing information is received from the peer device, the transmitting unit further broadcasts the second pairing information, and the transmitting unit broadcasts the first pairing information and the second pairing information when a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the coordinator after the second pairing information is broadcasted.

27. A coordinator for performing pairing between a coordinator and a peer device that is one from among a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the coordinator comprising:

a receiving unit which receives, from the peer device, a schedule request to allocate a time period for broadcasting second pairing information indicating that the peer device is a device to perform pairing; and

a transmitting unit which transmits a schedule response comprising information about the time period for broadcasting the second pairing information to the peer device,

wherein the receiving unit further receives, from the peer device the broadcasted second pairing information based on the schedule response, and the transmitting unit further transmits, to the peer device, the second pairing information and first pairing information indicating that the coordinator is a peer device to perform pairing.

28. A coordinator for performing pairing between a plurality of devices in a network comprising the plurality of devices and the coordinator, the coordinator comprising:

a receiving unit which receives, from a first device, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing; and

a transmitting unit which broadcasts the second pairing information,

wherein the receiving unit further receives, from a second device, third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing, and the transmitting unit broadcasts the second pairing information and the third pairing information.

29. The coordinator of claim 28, wherein the transmitting unit broadcasts the second pairing information and the third pairing information in one time period from among time periods in which data transmission between the peer device and the coordinator is performed, or broadcasts the second pairing information and the third pairing information in an announcement time period for notifying information in the network.

30. The coordinator of claim 28, wherein the receiving unit further receives, from the second device, first peer confirmation information, indicating that the second device becomes aware that the first device is a peer device to be paired with the second device, and second peer confirmation information indicating that the first device becomes aware that the second device is a peer device to be paired with the first device.

31. The coordinator of claim 28, wherein:

the second pairing information comprises at least one of second Push Button Configuration (PBC) information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the first device, and a media access control (MAC) address of the first device; and

the third pairing information comprises at least one of third PBC information indicating that a button for instructing to perform pairing has been pushed in the second device, and an MAC address of the second device.

32. The coordinator of claim 31, wherein:

if the second pairing information is received by the second device, the second device buffers the received second pairing information;

if a button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, the second device becomes aware that the first device is a peer device of the second device based on the buffered second pairing information; and

the third pairing information is transmitted from the second device to the coordinator when the second device becomes aware that the first device is the peer device of the second device.

33. The coordinator of claim 31, wherein:

if the second pairing information is received by the second device before the button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, the second device ignores the received second pairing information; and

if the second pairing information is received by the second device after the button for instructing to perform pairing is pushed in the second device, the second device becomes aware that the first device is a peer device of the second device, and the third pairing information is transmitted from the second device to the coordinator when the second device becomes aware that the first device is the peer device of the second device.

34. A network system comprising a coordinator and a plurality of devices to perform pairing through the coordinator, the network system comprising:

a first device which transmits, to the coordinator, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

a coordinator which broadcasts the second pairing information; and

a second device which transmits, to the first device, the second pairing information and third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing.

35. The network system of claim 34, wherein:

the second device further transmits, to the coordinator, a time allocation request to allocate a time period for transmitting data;

the coordinator further transmits, to the second device, a time allocation response comprising information about the time period allocated to the second device for transmission of the data; and

the first device and the second device mutually transmit data based on the time allocation response.

36. A network system comprising a coordinator and a plurality of devices to perform pairing through the coordinator, the network system comprising:

a first device which transmits, to the coordinator, second pairing information indicating that the first device is a device to perform pairing;

a coordinator which broadcasts the second pairing information; and

a second device which transmits, to the coordinator, third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing, and

wherein the coordinator further transmits, to the first device, the third pairing information.

37. The network system of claim 36, wherein, if the second device transmits, to the coordinator, the third pairing information by transmitting a time allocation request that comprises the third pairing information to allocate a time period for transmitting data to the coordinator by the second device, the coordinator transmits, to the second device, a time allocation response comprising information about the time period allocated to the second device for transmission of the data.

38. A network system comprising a coordinator and a plurality of devices to perform pairing through the coordinator, the network system comprising:

a first device which transmits, to the coordinator, a schedule request to allocate a time period for broadcasting second pairing information indicating that a first device is a device to perform pairing;

a coordinator which transmits, to the first device, a schedule response comprising information about the time period allocated to the first device for broadcasting of the second pairing information; and

a second device which, if the first device broadcasts the second pairing information based on the schedule response, transmits, to the first device, the second pairing information and third pairing information indicating that the second device is a peer device to perform pairing.