Method and apparatus for opening a virtual serial communications port for establishing a wireless connection in a Bluetooth communications network

• US 7,043,205 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Randy C., Smith, Ronald D., Plasson, Ned, Caddes, Scott, Raines, William, Hunt, Elwin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karovalia, Samir
• Application Number:
  US09/953,700
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/61, 455/556.2, 455/517, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/322 Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for opening a communications port for communication over a wireless communication network. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for opening a virtual communications (VCOM) port that is configured with a particular profile over a Bluetooth network. After an attempt to open the VCOM port is received from a first application at a first electronic device, the process is suspended until a communication path is established over the Bluetooth communication network between the first electronic device and a remote electronic device within a Bluetooth network. The remote electronic device may be selected by a user from a list of available devices. In another embodiment, a user may pre-configure the VCOM port for a specific functional profile and pre-configure a remote electronic device to the VCOM port.

Claims

1. A method for opening a communications port for communication over a wireless communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring a VCOM port with a first functional profile from a plurality of functional profiles that are supported by said protocol stack, said first application and said remote electronic device supporting said first functional profile, said functional profile comprising;

a dial-up networking (DUN) profile;

a facsimile profile;

a generic client serial port profile;

a generic host serial port profile; and

a local area network (LAN) access profile;

a) receiving a call from a first application at a driver of said virtual communication (VCOM) port to open said VCOM port, said VCOM port located on a first electronic device;

b) notifying a protocol stack of said call, by said driver, said protocol stack associated with said wireless communication network;

c) establishing a communication path between said VCOM port and a remote electronic device, by said protocol stack;

d) notifying said driver that said communication path has been established, by said protocol stack;

e) opening said VCOM port, by said driver; and

f) sending a message to said first application, by said driver, indicating said VCOM port is open allowing for data transfer between said first application and said remote electronic device over said wireless communication network.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein step b) further comprises:

notifying a Bluetooth wireless communication protocol stack of said call by said driver, said protocol stack being said Bluetooth wireless communication protocol stack that substantially complies with a version of a Bluetooth wireless communication standard.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said step f) further comprises:

sending a message to said first application indicating said VCOM port is open allowing for data transfer between said first application and a second communications port located at said remote electronic device, said second communications port configured to support said first functional profile.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said method comprises further steps performed after step b) and before step c) of:

j) presenting a list of available devices to a user of said first electronic device, said list of available devices including all electronic devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, each of said list of available devices capable of supporting said first functional profile; and

jj) receiving a first selection of said remote electronic device from said list of available devices from said user.

5. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

k) presenting an option to said user for conducting an inquiry in order to locate a group of currently available devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, said group of currently available devices supporting said first functional profile;

kk) receiving a second selection of said option; and

kkk) conducting said inquiry to locate said group of currently available devices, said list of available devices including said group of currently available devices.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said remote electronic device is pre-configured for said VCOM port.

7. The method as described in claim 1, comprising the further steps before step a)

i) assigning said VCOM port with said first application for the transfer of data to and from said first application.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said VCOM port is a virtual serial communications port.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said step a) further comprises:

receiving said call from a legacy application, wherein said first application is said legacy application that as written is not compatible with either said protocol stack or said wireless communication network.

10. The method as described in claim 1;

wherein said method before step a) further comprises the steps of;

receiving a first designation, by a user of said first electronic device, configuring a first functional profile to said VCOM port, said first functional profile supported by said protocol stack; and

receiving a second designation, by said user, configuring said remote electronic device with said VCOM port, said VCOM port used for the transfer of data between said first application and a second application located on said remote electronic device, said second application capable of supporting said first functional profile.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein said method before step a) comprises the further steps of:

loading said first application on said first electronic device; and

assigning said first VCOM port to said first application for the transfer of data to and from said first application, said first application capable of supporting said first functional profile.

12. A method for establishing a communication path over a wireless communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a1) receiving a call from a first application to open a first virtual communication (VCOM) port, said first VCOM port located on a first electronic device that is coupled to said wireless communication network;

a2) presenting a first option to said user for conducting an inquiry in order to locate a group of currently available devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, said group of currently available devices supporting said first functional profile;

a3) receiving a second selection by said user for selecting said option;

a4) conducting said inquiry to locate said group of currently available devices, said list of available devices including said group of currently available devices;

b) presenting a list of available devices, said list of available devices including all electronic devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, each of said list of available devices supporting a first functional profile from a plurality of functional profiles that are supported by a protocol stack associated with said wireless communication network;

c1) receiving a first selection of a remote electronic device from said list of available devices from a user of said first electronic device;

c2) creating said communication path between said remote electronic device and said first electronic device; and

d) opening said first VCOM port for data transfer between said first application and said remote electronic device over said wireless communication network.

13. The method as described in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

presenting a second option to cancel said opening of said first VCOM port as described in step d).

14. The method as described in claim 12, comprising before step a1) the further step of:

receiving a second selection for selecting said first VCOM port from a plurality of VCOM ports on said first electronic device for the transfer of data to and from said first application.

15. The method as described in claim 12, wherein said protocol stack and said wireless communication network substantially comply with a version of a Bluetooth wireless communication standard.

16. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to said bus,

a memory unit coupled to said bus, wherein said memory unit contains instructions that when executed implement a method for opening a communications port for communication over a wireless communication network, said method comprising the steps of;

a1) configuring a VCOM port with a first functional profile from a plurality of functional profiles that are supported by said protocol stack, said first application and said remote electronic device supporting said first functional profile, said functional profile comprising;

a dial-up networking (DUN) profile;

a facsimile profile;

a generic client serial port profile;

a generic host serial port profile; and

a local area network (LAN) access profile;

a2) receiving a call from a first application at a driver of a virtual communication (VCOM) port to open said VCOM port, said VCOM port located on a first electronic device;

b) notifying a protocol stack of said call, by said driver, said protocol stack associated with said wireless communication network;

c) establishing a communication path between said VCOM port and a remote electronic device, by said protocol stack;

d) notifying said driver that said communication path has been established, by said protocol stack;

e) opening said VCOM port, by said driver; and

f) sending a message to said first application, by said driver, indicating said VCOM port is open allowing for data transfer between said first application and said remote electronic device over said wireless communication network.

17. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said step f) in said method for opening a communications port further comprises:

sending a message to said first application indicating said VCOM port is open allowing for data transfer between said first application and a second communications port located at said remote electronic device, said second communications port configured to support said first functional profile.

18. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said method for opening a communications port comprises further steps performed after step b) and before step c) of:

j) presenting a list of available devices to a user of said first electronic device, said list of available devices including all electronic devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, each of said list of available devices capable of supporting said first functional profile; and

jj) receiving a first selection of said remote electronic device from said list of available devices from said user.

19. The computer system as described in claim 18, wherein said method for opening a communications port further comprises the steps of:

k) presenting an option to said user for conducting an inquiry in order to locate a group of currently available devices within said wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with said first electronic device, said group of currently available devices supporting said first functional profile;

kk) receiving a second selection of said option; and

kkk) conducting said inquiry to locate said group of currently available devices, said list of available devices including said group of currently available devices.

20. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said remote electronic device is pre-configured for said VCOM port.

21. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said method for opening a communications port comprises the further steps before step a1)

i) assigning said VCOM port with said first application for the transfer of data to and from said first application.

22. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said VCOM port is a virtual serial communications port.

23. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said step a2) in said method for opening a communications port further comprises:

receiving said call from a legacy application, wherein said first application is said legacy application that as written is not compatible with either said protocol stack or said wireless communication network.

24. The computer system as described in claim 16, wherein said method for opening a communications port further comprises the steps of:

i) receiving a first designation, by a user of said first electronic device, configuring a first functional profile to said VCOM port, said first functional profile supported by said protocol stack; and

ii) receiving a second designation, by said user, configuring said remote electronic device with said VCOM port, said VCOM port used for the transfer of data between said first application and a second application located on said remote electronic device, said second application capable of supporting said first functional profile.

25. The computer system as described in claim 24, wherein said method for opening a communications port comprises the further steps of:

iii) loading said first application on said first electronic device; and

iv) assigning said first VCOM port to said first application for the transfer of data to and from said first application, said first application capable of supporting said first functional profile.