AUTO-CONNECT IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK

• US 20120297306A1
• 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: HASSAN, AMER A., DESAI, MITESH K., ELHADDAD, MAHMOUD S., ROYCHOUDHURY, TRIDEEPRAJ
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/735
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

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 method of operating a wireless computing device having a user interface, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol to identify a remote device in the vicinity of the wireless computing device; and

rendering on the user interface a representation of the remote device in association with a control to accept user input designating the remote device for auto-connection in accordance with the peer to peer protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving through the user interface a designation of the remote device; and

storing, in a persistent store comprising information about remote devices, a designation of the remote device as an auto-connect device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting the remote device in proximity to the wireless device; and

in response to detecting the remote device, automatically forming a connection to the remote device based on the designation in the persistent store.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

identifying a remote device comprises identifying a plurality of remote devices; and

rendering on the user interface comprises rendering graphical representations of each of the plurality of remote devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

wirelessly communicating comprises wirelessly communicating at a first time; and

rendering on the user interface comprises rendering at a second time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

wirelessly communicating comprises pairing with the remote device in accordance with the peer-to-peer protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

rendering on the user interface comprises rendering representations of a plurality of remote devices with which the wireless computing device has paired.

8. At least one computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device comprising at least one radio, control the wireless device to perform a method comprising:

receiving a wireless communication through a first channel, the communication signifying that a remote device is available for a peer-to-peer connection with the wireless device separate from the first channel; and

in response to receiving the wireless communication, automatically establishing a connection with the remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

9. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the first channel comprises a connection through an access point.

10. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

automatically establishing the connection with the remote device comprises transmitting at least one query in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol.

11. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

receiving the wireless communication through the first channel comprises receiving the wireless communication from an external device different than the remote device.

12. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the computer-executable instructions for receiving the wireless communication through the first channel comprise computer-executable instructions for controlling the radio to operate as a station in accordance with a Wi-Fi protocol; and

the computer-executable instructions for establishing the connection with the remote device in accordance with the peer-to-peer protocol comprise computer-executable instructions for controlling the radio to operate in accordance with a Wi-Fi Direct protocol.

13. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

receiving the wireless communication through a first channel comprises downloading over the Internet data about the remote device, the data indicating that the remote device is an auto-connect device.

14. At least one computer storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method of operating a wireless device, the method comprising:

determining a context in which the wireless device is operating;

detecting a remote device; and

conditionally form a peer-to-peer connection with the remote device based on the determined context.

15. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

determining the context comprises differentiating between whether the wireless device is operating in an enterprise environment or operating in a small office environment.

16. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

determining the context comprises determining whether the wireless device is located in a home setting.

17. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the peer-to-peer connection with the remote device is further conditionally formed based on a type of the device.

18. The at least one computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein conditionally forming the peer-to-peer connection comprises:

forming the peer-to-peer connection with the remote device when the remote device is a human interface device and the context is determined to be a home setting; and

not forming the peer-to-peer connection with the remote device when the remote device is a human interface device and the context is determined to be a home setting.

19. The at least one computer storage medium 17, conditionally forming the peer-to-peer connection comprises:

forming the peer-to-peer connection with the remote device when the remote device is a human interface device and the context is determined to be a small office setting; and

not forming the peer-to-peer connection with the remote device when the remote device is a human interface device and the context is determined to be a home setting.

20. The at least one computer storage medium, wherein:

controlling the wireless device to determine the context comprises controlling the wireless device to attempt to identify an enterprise server on a LAN in the vicinity of the wireless device.