Event-driven discovery method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A discovery method to discover devices in a close physical proximity for facilitating communication between the devices in an ad-hoc network, comprising:
- detecting a characteristic of a common-event associated with a first device in the ad-hoc network preparing to communicate with a second device in close physical proximity to the first device, wherein the characteristic of the common-event is based on the relationship to a user, wherein the common event is a single event detected by a sensor for the first device and is also detectable by a sensor for the second device;
initiating discovery of the second device by the first device responsive to detection of the common-event associated with the first device, wherein discovery includessending a discovery signal from the first device to any devices within range of the first device;
receiving a description of capabilities of the second device at the first device in response to the sensor for the second device also detecting the characteristic of the common event and the second device receiving the discovery signal; and
the first device communicating with the discovered second device if the second device discovered the first device.
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Abstract
Provided is a method and apparatus for performing discovery between devices in a network. Using event-driven discovery, devices conserve energy resources and more rapidly join a given network. The event-driven discovery detects a common-event associated with a first device preparing to communicate with a second device. The first device then discovers the second device in response to detection of the common-event. For example, this common-event could be a handshake with another person. During discovery, the first and second devices exchange respective information and optionally may establish a communication session to exchange further information if desired.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A discovery method to discover devices in a close physical proximity for facilitating communication between the devices in an ad-hoc network, comprising:
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detecting a characteristic of a common-event associated with a first device in the ad-hoc network preparing to communicate with a second device in close physical proximity to the first device, wherein the characteristic of the common-event is based on the relationship to a user, wherein the common event is a single event detected by a sensor for the first device and is also detectable by a sensor for the second device; initiating discovery of the second device by the first device responsive to detection of the common-event associated with the first device, wherein discovery includes sending a discovery signal from the first device to any devices within range of the first device; receiving a description of capabilities of the second device at the first device in response to the sensor for the second device also detecting the characteristic of the common event and the second device receiving the discovery signal; and the first device communicating with the discovered second device if the second device discovered the first device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A discovery apparatus operable to discover devices in a close physical proximity to facilitate detection of devices in an ad-hoc network network, comprising:
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sensor means for detecting a characteristic of a common-event at a first device in the ad-hoc network, wherein the characteristic of the common-event is based on the relationship to a user, wherein the common event is a single event detectable by the sensor means for the first device and is also detectable by a sensor means for a second device in close physical proximity to the first device; means for the first device to initiate discovery of the second device responsive to the detection of the common-event by sending a discovery signal from the first device to any devices within range of the first device; means for both the first and second device to exchange respective information during the discovery, including capabilities of each device, if the sensor means for the second device also detected the characteristic of the common event; and means for establishing a communication session between the first device and the second device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for discovering devices in a network, comprising:
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a sensor component capable of detecting a characteristic of a common-event and initiating a discovery of devices in a network responsive to the common-event, wherein the characteristic of the common-event is based on the relationship to a user, wherein the common event is a single event that is also detectable by a second sensor component of a second device; a transceiver component capable of processing a discovery protocol for discovering other devices if the sensor component detected the characteristic of the common event and is further capable of communicating with the second device if the second sensor component for the second device detected the characteristic of the common event; a power source component that provides energy to operate the apparatus; and
a processor that processes operations associated with discovering devices in a network. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification