AUTO-CONNECT IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK

• US 20120297229A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Desai, Mitesh K., Hassan, Amer A., Roychoudhury, Trideepraj, Sankaranarayan, Mukund, Anders, Billy R. Jr., Filgueiras, Henrique
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A wireless device that automatically forms a connection to a remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol. The remote device may be designated as an auto-connect device for the wireless device such that, when the wireless device determines that it is in the vicinity of the auto-connect device, it can re-form a connection to the remote device based on stored information for re-establishing connections among a persistent group of devices, but without any express user input. When a user requests that the wireless device perform a function that involves interaction with an auto-connect device, that function may be performed with the delay associated with forming a connection. Any of multiple techniques may be employed for identifying devices designated as auto-connect devices and for determining when the wireless device and a remote, auto-connect devices are in close proximity.

Claims

1. A computer storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:

at a first time;

communicating with a remote device to establish a connection with the remote device;

sending a message to the remote device with an indication that remote device is to automatically request a connection with the wireless device;

at a second time;

receiving a request from the remote device to form a connection; and

forming a connection with the remote device based on the request.

2. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the connection is formed without an express user command to the wireless device or the remote device.

3. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the connection is formed in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

4. The computer storage medium of claim 3, wherein:

the method further comprises, at the first time, receiving an indication of a power status of the remote device; and

the message to the remote device with the indication is conditionally sent based on the received indication of the power status.

5. The computer storage medium of claim 4, wherein:

the message is sent to the remote device with the indication when the remote device is powered from an AC source.

6. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises operating the remote device to perform acts comprising;

at the first time;

receiving the indication;

storing the indication

at the second time;

based on the stored indication, transmitting the request formatted in accordance to a peer-to-peer protocol as a request to form a connection.

7. The computer storage medium of claim 6, wherein:

the request comprises a probe in accordance with a Wi-Fi Direct protocol.

8. The computer storage medium of claim 1, further comprising:

representing the remote device on a user interface of the wireless device as a connected device.

9. A method of operating a first remote device to facilitate a peer-to-peer connection between a wireless device and a second remote device, the method comprising:

with the first remote device, wirelessly communicating to detect the second remote device;

when the second remote device is detected, communicating to the wireless device that the second remote device is available for a peer-to-peer connection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a registration identifying the wireless device and the second remote device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a registration identifying the wireless device and a desired service provided by a remote device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

wirelessly communicating to detect the second remote device comprises transmitting service discovery messages for the desired service in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating to the wireless device comprises sending a wake on LAN message.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

wirelessly communicating to detect the second remote device comprises scanning for the second remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

15. A method of operating a computer system comprising a wireless device and a first remote device, the method comprising:

with the first remote device, wirelessly communicating to detect a second remote device;

communicating from the first remote device to the wireless device an indication of the presence of the second remote device; and

with the wireless device, automatically establishing a peer-to-peer connection with the second remote device based on a communication from the first remote device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the wireless device comprises a computing device; and

the first remote device comprises a display device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

wirelessly communicating to detect the second remote device comprises periodically transmitting messages in a format to which the second remote device responds in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the wireless device is a battery-powered device and the first remote device is powered from AC power.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

storing on the wireless device a designation of the second remote device as an auto-connect device; and

automatically establishing a peer-to-peer connection is further based on to the stored designation of the second remote device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the second remote device comprises a human interface device; and

the method further comprises receiving, at the wireless device, user input through the second remote device over the connection.