APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIRECT PAIRING IN A WIRELESS DOCKING SYSTEM

• US 20130311692A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: HUANG, Xiaolong, MALINEN, Jouni, CHERIAN, George
• Application Number:
  US13/740,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311692A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure enable a docking procedure where a dockee, when docking with a docking host that manages a docking environment, can become directly paired with the peripherals in the docking environment in a straightforward fashion. Furthermore, a persistent direct pairing may be established such that after a first docking session, subsequent docking sessions where the dockee is directly paired with the same peripherals can further be expedited. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A method operable at a docking host for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establishing a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host; and

transmitting information to the dockee over the second communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

severing the first communication link with the peripheral.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting an advertisement message indicating TDLS as a payload connection option.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a request from the dockee to utilize TDLS as its payload connection type for direct communication with the peripheral.

5. A method operable at a dockee for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link with the docking host such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host;

receiving information from the docking host over the first communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral; and

establishing a second communication link with the peripheral utilizing TDLS in accordance with the received information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a broadcasted advertisement message from the docking host indicating TDLS as a payload connection option.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting a request to the docking host to utilize TDLS as a payload connection type for direct communication with the peripheral.

8. A method operable at a docking host for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establishing a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P GO and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee; and

receiving a request from the dockee over the second communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

severing the first communication link with the peripheral.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting a docking host-assigned direct link expiration time over the first communication link to the peripheral, prior to the severing of the first communication link; and

re-establishing the first communication link with the peripheral when the expiration time passes without the dockee establishing the direct pairing with the peripheral.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a request from the dockee over the second communication link for a PIN corresponding to the peripheral;

transmitting a request to the peripheral over the first communication link for the PIN;

receiving the PIN from the peripheral over the first communication link; and

transmitting the PIN to the dockee over the second communication link.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating credential information corresponding to a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

transmitting the credential information to the dockee and to the peripheral, such that the dockee and the peripheral are enabled to directly, securely communicate with one another utilizing the generated credential information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the credential information comprises a dynamically generated PIN corresponding to the peripheral, such that the dockee is enabled to invite the peripheral to join its P2P group and utilize a PIN-based Wi-Fi Simple Configuration procedure utilizing the dynamically generated PIN.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting one or more of P2P Group Credentials, a P2P Group ID, or a P2P Group Operating Channel corresponding to the dockee, to the peripheral, such that the peripheral is enabled to connect to the dockee as a P2P client connects to a P2P group owner.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting an SSID and a P2P group credential corresponding to the dockee, to the peripheral, such that the peripheral is enabled to establish a direct communication link with the peripheral.

16. A method operable at a dockee for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link with the docking host such that the dockee is a P2P group owner (GO) and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee;

transmitting a request to the docking host over the first communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

establishing a second communication link with the peripheral in accordance with the received information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting a request to the docking host over the first communication link for a PIN corresponding to the peripheral; and

receiving the PIN from the docking host over the first communication link.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving credential information generated by the docking host, from the docking host over the first communication link, wherein the credential information corresponds to a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral utilizes the received credential information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the credential information comprises a dynamically generated PIN corresponding to the peripheral,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral comprises inviting the peripheral to join its P2P group and utilize a PIN-based Wi-Fi Simple Configuration procedure utilizing the dynamically generated PIN.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving one or more of P2P Group Credentials, a P2P Group ID, or a P2P Group Operating Channel corresponding to the dockee, from the docking host,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral comprises connecting to the dockee as a P2P client connects to a P2P group owner.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral comprises receiving P2P Group Credentials from the peripheral, and utilizing the received P2P Group Credentials to establish the direct communication link with the dockee.

22. A method operable at a dockee for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:

establishing an initial docking session with the docking host;

receiving information from the docking host to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

communicating with the peripheral to obtain a persistent key adapted to enable a persistent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

communicating with the peripheral to obtain a session key adapted to enable secure communication during a first direct pairing session.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

establishing the direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral utilizing the session key; and

transmitting a direct pairing complete indication to the docking host.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

ending the initial docking session and ending the direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

initiating a subsequent docking session with the docking host; and

utilizing the persistent key to enable a subsequent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

25. A method operable at a docking host for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, the method comprising:

establishing a docking session with the dockee;

transmitting information to the dockee to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

determining that the dockee and the peripheral have engaged in direct pairing in a prior docking session; and

transmitting a request for direct pairing to at least one of the peripheral or the dockee.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a direct pairing complete indication from at least one of the dockee or the peripheral.

27. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establish a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host; and

transmit information to the dockee over the second communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral.

28. The docking host of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to sever the first communication link with the peripheral.

29. The docking host of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to broadcast an advertisement message indicating TDLS as a payload connection option.

30. The docking host of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a request from the dockee to utilize TDLS as its payload connection type for direct communication with the peripheral.

31. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a first communication link with the docking host such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host;

receive information from the docking host over the first communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral; and

establish a second communication link with the peripheral utilizing TDLS in accordance with the received information.

32. The dockee of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a broadcasted advertisement message from the docking host indicating TDLS as a payload connection option.

33. The dockee of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a request to the docking host to utilize TDLS as a payload connection type for direct communication with the peripheral.

34. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establish a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P GO and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee; and

receive a request from the dockee over the second communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

35. The docking host of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to sever the first communication link with the peripheral.

36. The docking host of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit a docking host-assigned direct link expiration time over the first communication link to the peripheral, prior to the severing of the first communication link; and

re-establish the first communication link with the peripheral when the expiration time passes without the dockee establishing the direct pairing with the peripheral.

37. The docking host of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the dockee over the second communication link for a PIN corresponding to the peripheral;

transmit a request to the peripheral over the first communication link for the PIN;

receive the PIN from the peripheral over the first communication link; and

transmit the PIN to the dockee over the second communication link.

38. The docking host of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

generate credential information corresponding to a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

transmit the credential information to the dockee and to the peripheral, such that the dockee and the peripheral are enabled to directly, securely communicate with one another utilizing the generated credential information.

39. The docking host of claim 38, wherein the credential information comprises a dynamically generated PIN corresponding to the peripheral, such that the dockee is enabled to invite the peripheral to join its P2P group and utilize a PIN-based Wi-Fi Simple Configuration procedure utilizing the dynamically generated PIN.

40. The docking host of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit one or more of P2P Group Credentials, a P2P Group ID, or a P2P Group Operating Channel corresponding to the dockee, to the peripheral, such that the peripheral is enabled to connect to the dockee as a P2P client connects to a P2P group owner.

41. The docking host of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit an SSID and a P2P group credential corresponding to the dockee, to the peripheral, such that the peripheral is enabled to establish a direct communication link with the peripheral.

42. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a first communication link with the docking host such that the dockee is a P2P group owner (GO) and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee;

transmit a request to the docking host over the first communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

establish a second communication link with the peripheral in accordance with the received information.

43. The dockee of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit a request to the docking host over the first communication link for a PIN corresponding to the peripheral; and

receive the PIN from the docking host over the first communication link.

44. The dockee of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive credential information generated by the docking host, from the docking host over the first communication link, wherein the credential information corresponds to a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral utilizes the received credential information.

45. The dockee of claim 44, wherein the credential information comprises a dynamically generated PIN corresponding to the peripheral,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral comprises inviting the peripheral to join its P2P group and utilize a PIN-based Wi-Fi Simple Configuration procedure utilizing the dynamically generated PIN.

46. The dockee of claim 42, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive one or more of P2P Group Credentials, a P2P Group ID, or a P2P Group Operating Channel corresponding to the dockee, from the docking host,

wherein the establishing of the second communication link with the peripheral comprises connecting to the dockee as a P2P client connects to a P2P group owner.

47. The dockee of claim 42, wherein the wherein the at least one processor, being configured to establish the second communication link with the peripheral, is further configured to receive P2P Group Credentials from the peripheral, and utilizing the received P2P Group Credentials to establish the direct communication link with the dockee.

48. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish an initial docking session with the docking host;

receive information from the docking host to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

communicate with the peripheral to obtain a persistent key adapted to enable a persistent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

communicate with the peripheral to obtain a session key adapted to enable secure communication during a first direct pairing session.

49. The dockee of claim 48, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

establish the direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral utilizing the session key; and

transmit a direct pairing complete indication to the docking host.

50. The dockee of claim 49, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

end the initial docking session and ending the direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

initiate a subsequent docking session with the docking host; and

utilize the persistent key to enable a subsequent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

51. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a docking session with the dockee;

transmit information to the dockee to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

determine that the dockee and the peripheral have engaged in direct pairing in a prior docking session; and

transmit a request for direct pairing to at least one of the peripheral or the dockee.

52. The docking host of claim 51, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a direct pairing complete indication from at least one of the dockee or the peripheral.

53. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

means for establishing a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

means for establishing a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host; and

means for transmitting information to the dockee over the second communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral.

54. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

means for establishing a first communication link with the docking host such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host;

means for receiving information from the docking host over the first communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral; and

means for establishing a second communication link with the peripheral utilizing TDLS in accordance with the received information.

55. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

means for establishing a first communication link with the peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

means for establishing a second communication link with the dockee such that the dockee is a P2P GO and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee; and

means for receiving a request from the dockee over the second communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

56. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

means for establishing a first communication link with the docking host such that the dockee is a P2P group owner (GO) and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee;

means for transmitting a request to the docking host over the first communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

means for establishing a second communication link with the peripheral in accordance with the received information.

57. A dockee configured for direct pairing with a peripheral in a docking environment managed by a docking host, comprising:

means for establishing an initial docking session with the docking host;

means for receiving information from the docking host to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

means for communicating with the peripheral to obtain a persistent key adapted to enable a persistent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

means for communicating with the peripheral to obtain a session key adapted to enable secure communication during a first direct pairing session.

58. A docking host configured for direct pairing between a dockee and a peripheral paired with the docking host, comprising:

means for establishing a docking session with the dockee;

means for transmitting information to the dockee to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral;

means for determining that the dockee and the peripheral have engaged in direct pairing in a prior docking session; and

means for transmitting a request for direct pairing to at least one of the peripheral or the dockee.

59. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a docking host to:

establish a first communication link with a peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establish a second communication link with a dockee such that the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host; and

transmit information to the dockee over the second communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with the peripheral.

60. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a dockee to:

establish a first communication link with a docking host such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the dockee is a P2P client of the docking host;

receive information from the docking host over the first communication link to enable the dockee to establish a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) connection with a peripheral; and

establish a second communication link with the peripheral utilizing TDLS in accordance with the received information.

61. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a docking host to:

establish a first communication link with a peripheral such that the docking host is a P2P group owner (GO) and the peripheral is a P2P client of the docking host;

establish a second communication link with a dockee such that the dockee is a P2P GO and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee; and

receive a request from the dockee over the second communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral.

62. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a dockee to:

establish a first communication link with a docking host such that the dockee is a P2P group owner (GO) and the docking host is a P2P client of the dockee;

transmit a request to the docking host over the first communication link for information enabling establishment of a direct pairing between the dockee and a peripheral; and

establish a second communication link with the peripheral in accordance with the received information.

63. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a dockee to:

establish an initial docking session with a docking host;

receive information from the docking host to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and a peripheral;

communicate with the peripheral to obtain a persistent key adapted to enable a persistent direct pairing between the dockee and the peripheral; and

communicate with the peripheral to obtain a session key adapted to enable secure communication during a first direct pairing session.

64. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer at a docking host to:

establish a docking session with a dockee;

transmit information to the dockee to enable a direct pairing between the dockee and a peripheral;

determine that the dockee and the peripheral have engaged in direct pairing in a prior docking session; and

transmit a request for direct pairing to at least one of the peripheral or the dockee.