Wireless communication system and wireless device for quickly connecting to device providing desired service, and method of controlling wireless communication system and wireless device

• US 7,006,836 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/461,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20040009769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/507, 455/514, 455/517, 455/66.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A specific device periodically detects devices existing proximally thereto, and holds a list of information of services provided by the detected devices. Further, as its own device information, the specific device publicizes that the device holds the list of service information relating to the proximate other devices. When the other device is to use a specific service, the device holding the service information list is distinguished, a list of devices among the detected devices which provide the desired service is obtained, and by connecting the other device to a device that is on the list and is within a communication range of the other device, a connection can be made quickly to the device providing the desired service.

Claims

1. A wireless apparatus comprising:

a search device that searches for one or more other wireless apparatuses which are capable of communicating with the wireless apparatus;

a distinguishing device that distinguishes a first wireless apparatus having a predetermined function from among other apparatuses which are capable of communicating with said first wireless apparatus in accordance with a search result by said search device, wherein said predetermined function is a function of notifying a second wireless apparatus which is capable of communicating with said first wireless apparatus and which provides a predetermined service designated by said wireless apparatus;

a request device that requests said first wireless apparatus to notify said second wireless apparatus which provides the predetermined service; and

a discrimination device that discriminates said second wireless apparatus which is capable of communicating with said wireless apparatus and which provides the predetermined service, in accordance with the search result by said search device and a response from said first wireless apparatus in response to said request device.

2. A wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said search device searches the other wireless apparatuses for apparatuses which are capable of directly and wirelessly communicating with said wireless apparatus.

3. A wireless apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation device that confirms to said second wireless apparatus that the predetermined service is available.

4. A wireless apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a use request device that requests use of the predetermined service in accordance with the confirmation result by said confirmation device.

5. A wireless apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a service search that searches for said second wireless apparatus which provides with the predetermined service, among the other apparatuses searched by said search device.

6. A wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said service search device searches for said second wireless apparatus which provides the predetermined service, among the other apparatuses searched by said search device, in a case where any response from said first wireless apparatus is not received in response to the request by said request device.

7. A wireless apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said service search device searches for said second wireless apparatus which provides the predetermined service, among the other apparatuses searched by said search device, in a case where said second wireless apparatus notified from said first wireless apparatus in response to the request by said request device is not included in the other wireless apparatuses searched by said search device.

8. A method of controlling a wireless apparatus, comprising the steps of:

searching for one or more other wireless apparatuses which are capable of communicating with said wireless apparatus;

distinguishing a first wireless apparatus having a predetermined function from among other apparatuses which are capable of communicating with said first wireless apparatus in accordance with a search result by said search step, wherein said predetermined function is a function of notifying a second wireless apparatus which is capable of communicating with said first wireless apparatus and which provides a predetermined service designated by said wireless apparatus;

requesting said first wireless apparatus to notify said second wireless apparatus which provides the predetermined service; and

discriminating said second wireless apparatus which is capable of communicating with said wireless apparatus and which provides the predetermined service, in accordance with the search result by said search step and a response from said first wireless apparatus in response to said request step.