METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISCOVERING DEVICES AND APPLICATION USERS

• US 20150079899A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: HAKOLA, Sami-Jukka, SEBIRE, Guillaume, TURTINEN, Samuli, REXHEPI, Vlora
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program for discovery of network devices and application user. An example method for use in an access point or station may comprise receiving a discovery request from an application, the application running thereon, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier, causing monitoring of a discovery channel for at least one device within a proximate distance, and upon discovery of a device associated with the application level ID, providing an indication to the application of the discovery of the device.

Claims

1. A method for use in a station comprising:

receiving a discovery request from an application running on the station, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier (ID);

causing monitoring of a discovery channel for at least one device within a proximate distance; and

upon discovery of a device associated with the application level ID, providing an indication to the application of the discovery of the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the station is a proximity-services (ProSe)-enabled user device and the application is a ProSe-enabled application.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving the discovery request, providing a server with a request for a user equipment (UE) ID associated with the application level ID; and

receiving the UE ID from the server,

wherein monitoring is performed by monitoring an occurrence of the UE ID on the discovery channel.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving a discovery signal indicating a UE ID;

and determining if a record associating the UE ID to second application level ID is stored within the station; and

providing notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving the discovery request, providing a server with a request for a UE ID associated with the application level ID,

receiving the UE ID and a corresponding index value;

wherein monitoring is performed by monitoring for an occurrence of the UE ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel, and

wherein, the application is a proximity-services (ProSe)-enabled application and providing the indication to the ProSe-enabled application of the discovery of the device is performed subsequent to discovering an occurrence of the UE ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the index value indicates that an application user is active and has provided a request to be discovered.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a discovery signal indicating a UE ID and an index value;

determining if a record associating the UE ID to a second application level ID is stored within the station;

determining if the index value matches the corresponding index value received from the server; and

providing notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the UE ID is one of a S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI), a ProSe ID, and a Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) level identifier.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the UE ID belongs to one of a public address space and a private address space.

10. A method for use in an access point, comprising:

receiving a request from an application stored within the access point to make an application user discoverable, wherein the request includes an application level identifier (ID);

determining an application ID of the requesting application; and

providing the application ID, a user equipment (UE) ID, and the application level ID to a proximity services (ProSe) server.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising:

in response to providing the UE ID to the ProSe server, receiving from the ProSe server, after positive determination of ProSe authorization, an acknowledgement of registration; and

providing notification to at least one application stored within the access point of UE ProSe enablement.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the application identifier is a digital signature or provides a link to a digital signature, verifying that the application is authorized for ProSe discovery or communication.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the UE ID is one of a S-TMSI, a ProSe ID, and a NAS level identifier.

14. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause a station comprising the apparatus to at least:

receive a discovery request from an application running on the station, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier (ID);

cause monitoring of a discovery channel for at least one device within a proximate distance; and

upon discovery of a device associated with the application level ID, provide an indication to the application of the discovery of the device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the station is a proximity services (ProSe)-enabled user device and the application is a ProSe-enabled application.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the station comprising the apparatus to:

upon receiving the discovery request, provide a server with a request for the user equipment (UE) ID associated with the application level ID; and

receive the UE ID from the server,

wherein monitoring is performed by monitoring an occurrence of the UE ID on the discovery channel.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the station comprising the apparatus to:

receive a discovery signal indicating the UE ID;

determine if a record associating the UE ID to a second application level ID is stored within the station; and

provide notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

18. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the station comprising the apparatus to:

upon receiving the discovery request, provide a server with a request for the UE ID associated with the application level ID; and

receive the UE ID and a corresponding index value;

wherein monitoring is performed by monitoring for an occurrence of the UE ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel, and

wherein the application is a proximity-services (ProSe)-enabled application and providing the indication to the ProSe-enabled application of the discovery of the device is performed subsequent to discovering an occurrence of the UE ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the index value indicates that an application user is active and has provided a request to be discovered.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the station comprising the apparatus to:

receive a discovery signal indicating the UE ID and an index value;

determine if a record associating the UE ID to a second application level ID is stored within the station;

determine if the index value matches the corresponding index value received from the server; and

provide notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

21-52. -52. (canceled)