Automatic and dynamic service information delivery from service providers to data terminals in an access point network

• US 7,379,958 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karhu, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin; Kenny S
• Application Number:
  US10/334,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/230, 709/243, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for dynamically updating service information from a service provider to a data terminal in an access point network wherein an access point requests service information from a local server; in response, the access point receives service information from the local server. Subsequently, the access point maps the service information to a link-level communication Service Discovery Protocol (SDP). The access point then sends the mapped service information to a data terminal.

Claims

1. A method for updating service information, comprising:

initiating a request, by an access point, requesting service information that corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point from a local server;

receiving, at the access point, the service information that corresponds to the access zone associated with the access point from the local server;

mapping the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication; and

advertising, by the access point, the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point;

wherein the service information received by the access point includes only service information intended for the access zone the access point is associated with.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to a service provided by at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer and a printer.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service information is mapped to a Bluetooth service discovery protocol.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the service information to be mapped to the Bluetooth service discovery protocol includes at least one of a Service Location Protocol (SLP), JINI, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Salutation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mapped service information is advertised using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

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

receiving an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

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

storing service information received from the local server.

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

removing service information received from the local server.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local server is disposed in an access point.

13. A method for updating service information, comprising:

initiating a request, by an access point, requesting a list of service information that corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point from a local server;

receiving, at the access point, the list of service information that corresponds to the access zone associated with the access point from the local server;

requesting attributes for the service information that are not stored in the access point;

receiving the attributes of the service information;

mapping the attributes of the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication; and

advertising, by the access point, the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point;

wherein access points within the access zone only receive the service information intended for the access zone.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first service discovery protocol includes at least one of a SLP, JINI, UPnP and Salutation.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the service information requested is based on an attribute of the service.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the attribute may further include a service lifetime.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the service information is restricted based on an attribute.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the attribute is at least one of a device type, and a service lifetime.

22. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

removing service information based on the service'"'"'s attributes.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the mapped service information is advertised using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

24. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

25. The method according to claim 13, wherein the local server is disposed in an access point.

26. A method, comprising:

discovering service information advertised by an access point though a link-level service discovery protocol; and

sending a request, to the access point, to use a service associated with the advertised service information;

wherein said service information, which corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point, is initially requested by the access point from a local server and mapped from a first service discovery protocol to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication;

wherein access points within the access zone only receive the service information intended for the access zone.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service requested is from at least one of a PDA, a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer and a printer.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first service discovery protocol includes at least one of a SLP, JINI, UPnP and Salutation.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the service information is advertised using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the request is sent using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

31. An access point, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program;

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

initiate a request for, requesting service information that corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point from a local server;

receive service information that corresponds to the access zone associated with the access point from the local server;

map the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication; and

advertise the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point;

wherein the access point only receives the service information intended for the access zone.

32. The access point of claim 31, wherein the local server stores service information from a service provider.

33. The access point of claim 32, wherein the service information corresponds to an internal service provider.

34. The access point of claim 32, wherein the service information corresponds to an external service provider that provides a service over a data network such as the internet.

35. The access point claim 31, wherein the service information is mapped to a Bluetooth service discovery protocol.

36. The access point claim 35, wherein the service information to be mapped to the Bluetooth service discovery protocol includes at least one of an SLP, JINI, UPnP and Salutation.

37. The access point of claim 31, wherein the mapped service information is advertised using a Bluetooth communication protocol.

38. The access point claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

receive an advertisement of the local server'"'"'s existence.

39. The access point claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

store service information received from the local server.

40. The access point claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

remove service information received from the local server.

41. The access point claim 31, wherein the local server is disposed in the access point.

42. A computer program product recorded on a computer-readable medium, the computer program product comprising:

program code for initiating a request, by an access point, requesting service information that corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point from a local server;

program code for receiving, at the access point, only the service information that corresponds to the access zone associated with the access point from the local server;

program code for mapping the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication; and

program code for advertising the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point.

43. An access point, comprising:

at least one communication module to communicate with devices over a short range wireless communication link;

a memory device storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

initiate a request, requesting service information that corresponds to an access zone associated with the access point from a local server;

receive the service information that corresponds to the access zone associated with the access point from the local server;

map the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information in link-level communication; and

advertise the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point;

wherein the access point only receives the service information intended for the access zone.

44. An access point network, comprising:

a local server; and

at least one access point configured to initiate a request requesting service information from the local server;

wherein the at least one access point comprises;

at least one communication module to communicate with devices over a short range wireless communication link;

a memory device storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

initiate a request, requesting service information that corresponds to an access zone associate with the at least one access point from a local server;

receive the service information that corresponds to the access zone associate with the access point from the local server;

map the service information to a link-level communication service discovery protocol for enabling advertisement of the service information link-level communication; and

advertise the mapped service information in the link-level service discovery protocol to be discoverable by at least one device in wireless communication with the access point;

wherein said local server provides the service information from a service provider to the at least one access point; and

wherein the at least access point only receive the service information intended for the access zone.