METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGING CONCURRENT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS DOCKEE DEVICES IN A WIRELESS DOCKING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150149679A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: MOSTAFA, Miraj, HUTTUNEN, Juhani
• Granted Patent: US 9,497,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/00 Network data management

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments enable a wireless docking center device to manage one or more wireless and/or wired peripheral devices on behalf multiple wireless dockee devices. An example embodiment of the invention includes receiving, by a wireless docking center device, at least two request messages for peripheral functions from at least two wireless dockee devices, including a first request message for a peripheral function from a first wireless dockee device, and a second request message for a peripheral function from a second wireless dockee device; and allocating, by the wireless docking center device, the requested peripheral function to the first wireless dockee device, based on determining at least a characteristic of the first request message indicates that the first wireless dockee device is entitled to the peripheral function.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a wireless docking center device, at least two request messages for peripheral functions from at least two wireless dockee devices, including a first request message for a peripheral function from a first wireless dockee device, and a second request message for the same peripheral function from a second wireless dockee device; and

allocating, by the wireless docking center device, the requested peripheral function to the first wireless dockee device, based on determining at least a characteristic of the first request message indicates that the first wireless dockee device is entitled to the peripheral function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based at least on the characteristic of the first peripheral function request message indicating at least one of the first peripheral function request message from the first wireless dockee device is received by the wireless docking center before the second peripheral function request message from the second wireless dockee device, the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has a greater need for the peripheral function than does the second wireless dockee device, the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has more suitable expected duration of use of the peripheral function than does the second wireless dockee device, and the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has a higher priority than does the second wireless dockee device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless docking center device, a relinquish request message from the second wireless dockee device, requesting that the first wireless dockee device relinquish its use for the requested peripheral function, the relinquish request message including information supporting the relinquish request;

analyzing, by the wireless docking center device, the information supporting the relinquish request, and considering configured settings including any conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the requested peripheral function;

determining, by the wireless docking center device, to relinquish the requested peripheral function of the first wireless dockee device to the second wireless dockee device, based on the analysis;

disconnecting, by the wireless docking center device, the first wireless dockee device from the requested peripheral function to make the peripheral function available for the second wireless dockee device, in response to the determination; and

transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a relinquish response message to the second wireless dockee device, indicating availability or direct allocation of the requested peripheral function for the second wireless dockee device, based on the analysis.

18. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

wherein the information supporting the relinquish request includes at least one of an indication of need for the requested peripheral function, a priority of the second wireless dockee device, an indication of a duration of the proposed use of the requested peripheral function, and an offer to exchange another peripheral function for the requested peripheral function; and

wherein the conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the peripheral function include at least one of no conditions, never relinquish the peripheral function while docked, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function for a pre-defined time before release back to the first wireless dockee device, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function until the first wireless dockee device re-starts use the peripheral function.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a wireless docking center device, from one or more wireless peripheral devices, information characterizing peripheral functions available from the at least the one or more wireless peripheral devices;

receiving, by the wireless docking center device, from one or more wireless dockee devices, information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices in a request message from one or more wireless dockee devices, and storing, by the wireless docking center device, the information for future use;

filtering, by the wireless docking center device, upon any change in peripheral information, to match the stored information characterizing peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or a list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports, with the information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices; and

transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a peripheral information change notification message, to only the one or more wireless dockee devices, that have capabilities and/or interests that match the peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or match the list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless docking center device, a selection request for connecting the peripheral function that was instantaneously indicated to be available in the transmitted change notification; and

transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a response message to a wireless dockee device that sent the request message.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by a wireless docking center device, from a first wireless dockee device, information describing the first wireless dockee device, including at least one of the name, location information and communication information of the wireless dockee device;

receiving, by the wireless docking center device, from a second wireless dockee device, a request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions;

analyzing, by the wireless docking center device, to find that at least one of the requested peripheral functions is occupied by the first wireless dockee device; and

providing, by the wireless docking center device, to the second wireless dockee device the information describing the first wireless dockee device, as a response to the received request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a response message to the one or more wireless dockee devices that sent the request message, including capabilities and/or interests that match the peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or the list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive at least two request messages for peripheral functions from at least two wireless dockee devices, including a first request message for a peripheral function from a first wireless dockee device, and a second request message for the same peripheral function from a second wireless dockee device; and

allocate the requested peripheral function to the first wireless dockee device, based on determining at least a characteristic of the first request message indicates that the first wireless dockee device is entitled to the peripheral function.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the determination is based at least on the characteristic of the first peripheral function request message indicating at least one of the first peripheral function request message from the first wireless dockee device is received by the apparatus before the second peripheral function request message from the second wireless dockee device, the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has a greater need for the peripheral function than does the second wireless dockee device, the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has more suitable expected duration of use of the peripheral function than does the second wireless dockee device, and the first peripheral function request message includes information indicating the first wireless dockee device has a higher priority than does the second wireless dockee device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a relinquish request message from the second wireless dockee device, requesting that the first wireless dockee device relinquish its use for the requested peripheral function, the relinquish request message including information supporting the relinquish request;

wherein the information supporting the relinquish request includes at least one of an indication of need for the requested peripheral function, a priority of the second wireless dockee device, an indication of a duration of the proposed use of the requested peripheral function, and an offer to exchange another peripheral function for the requested peripheral function;

analyze the information supporting the relinquish request, and considering configured settings including any conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the requested peripheral function;

wherein the conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the peripheral function include at least one of no conditions, never relinquish the peripheral function while docked, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function for a pre-defined time before release back to the first wireless dockee device, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function until the first wireless dockee device re-starts use the peripheral function;

disconnect the first wireless dockee device from the requested peripheral function to make the peripheral function available for the second wireless dockee device; and

transmit a relinquish response message to the second wireless dockee device, indicating availability or allocation of the requested peripheral function for the second wireless dockee device, based on the analysis.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive from one or more wireless peripheral devices, information characterizing peripheral functions available from the at least the one or more wireless peripheral devices;

receive from one or more wireless dockee devices, information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices in a request message from one or more wireless dockee devices, and storing, by the apparatus, the information for future use;

filter upon any change in peripheral information, to match the stored information characterizing peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or a list of capabilities of features and functions the apparatus supports, with the information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices; and

transmit a peripheral information change notification message, to only the one or more wireless dockee devices, that have capabilities and/or interests that match the peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or match the list of capabilities of features and functions the apparatus supports.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a selection request for connecting the peripheral function that was instantaneously indicated to be available in the transmitted change notification; and

transmit a response message to a wireless dockee device that sent the request message.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive from a first wireless dockee device, information describing the first wireless dockee device, including at least one of the name, location information and communication information of the wireless dockee device;

receive from a second wireless dockee device, a request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions;

analyze to find that at least one of the requested peripheral functions is occupied by the first wireless dockee device; and

provide to the second wireless dockee device the information describing the first wireless dockee device, as a response to the received request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit a response message to the one or more wireless dockee devices that sent the request message, including capabilities and/or interests that match the peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or the list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports.

13. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code, when executed by a computer processor, comprising:

code for receiving, by a wireless docking center device, at least two request messages for peripheral functions from at least two wireless dockee devices, including a first request message for a peripheral function from a first wireless dockee device, and a second request message for the same peripheral function from a second wireless dockee device; and

code for allocating, by the wireless docking center device, the requested peripheral function to the first wireless dockee device, based on determining at least a characteristic of the first request message indicates that the first wireless dockee device is entitled to the peripheral function.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

code for receiving, by the wireless docking center device, a relinquish request message from the second wireless dockee device, requesting that the first wireless dockee device relinquish its use for the requested peripheral function, the relinquish request message including information supporting the relinquish request;

wherein the information supporting the relinquish request includes at least one of an indication of need for the requested peripheral function, a priority of the second wireless dockee device, an indication of a duration of the proposed use of the requested peripheral function, and an offer to exchange another peripheral function for the requested peripheral function;

code for analyzing, by the wireless docking center device, the information supporting the relinquish request, and considering configured settings including any conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the requested peripheral function;

wherein the conditions set by the first wireless dockee device to relinquish the peripheral function include at least one of no conditions, never relinquish the peripheral function while docked, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function for a pre-defined time before release back to the first wireless dockee device, allowing use of the relinquished peripheral function until the first wireless dockee device re-starts use the peripheral function;

code for disconnecting, by the wireless docking center device, the first wireless dockee device from the requested peripheral function to make the peripheral function available for the second wireless dockee device; and

code for transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a relinquish response message to the second wireless dockee device, indicating availability or allocation of the requested peripheral function for the second wireless dockee device, based on the analysis.

15. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code, when executed by a computer processor, comprising:

code for receiving, by a wireless docking center device, from one or more wireless peripheral devices, information characterizing peripheral functions available from the at least the one or more wireless peripheral devices;

code for receiving, by the wireless docking center device, from one or more wireless dockee devices, information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices in a request message from one or more wireless dockee devices, and storing, by the wireless docking center device, the information for future use;

code for filtering, by the wireless docking center device, upon any change in peripheral information, to match the stored information characterizing peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or a list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports, with the information characterizing capabilities and/or interests of the one or more wireless dockee devices; and

code for transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a peripheral information change notification message, to only the one or more wireless dockee devices, that have capabilities and/or interests that match the peripheral functions available from the one or more wireless peripheral devices and/or match the list of capabilities of features and functions the wireless docking center device supports.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

code for receiving, by the wireless docking center device, a selection request for connecting the peripheral function that was instantaneously indicated to be available in the transmitted change notification; and

code for transmitting, by the wireless docking center device, a response message to a wireless dockee device that sent the request message.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

code for receiving, by a wireless docking center device, from a first wireless dockee device, information describing the first wireless dockee device, including at least one of the name, location information and communication information of the wireless dockee device;

code for receiving, by the wireless docking center device, from a second wireless dockee device, a request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions;

code for analyzing, by the wireless docking center device, to find that at least one of the requested peripheral functions is occupied by the first wireless dockee device; and

code for providing, by the wireless docking center device, to the second wireless dockee device the information describing the first wireless dockee device, as a response to the received request for querying or selecting one or more peripheral functions.