Method for wireless capability discovery and protocol negotiation, and wireless device including same
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a wireless data session between a first wireless device capable of wireless communication via at least a first wireless protocol and a second wireless device capable of wireless communication via at least the first wireless protocol, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a wireless control channel between the first and the second wireless devices using the first wireless protocol;
exchanging wireless capability information between the first and the second wireless devices via the wireless control channel to determine common wireless capabilities including at least two common wireless protocols activating a first profile stored on the first wireless device and a second profile stored on the second wireless device when establishing the wireless control channel, each respective profile comprising preference information indicating a connection priority for the at least two common wireless protocols;
negotiating a preferred wireless protocol based on the preference information, wherein negotiating comprises;
exchanging messages between the first wireless device and the second wireless device via the wireless control channel, the messages indicating the preference information for the respective wireless devices, and selecting the preferred wireless protocol as the one of the at least two common wireless protocols having a highest connection priority as indicated by the exchanged preference information; and
establishing a wireless data session utilizing the preferred wireless protocol between the first and the second wireless devices.
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Abstract
A protocol and method for establishing wireless data sessions between wireless clients, each of which support multiple wireless protocols is presented. A commonly supported wireless protocol is utilized to share the wireless protocols supported by the clients'"'"' circuitry. A wireless data session is then established based on the common capabilities of the wireless clients. Where multiple common protocols are supported, user preferences are utilized to determine which of the commonly supported protocols will be utilized for the wireless data session. Once a data session is established, the control channel may be idled periodically to conserve power. Alternatively, the protocol utilized in the wireless data session may be used to transmit control messages using the protocol of the present invention.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a wireless data session between a first wireless device capable of wireless communication via at least a first wireless protocol and a second wireless device capable of wireless communication via at least the first wireless protocol, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a wireless control channel between the first and the second wireless devices using the first wireless protocol;
exchanging wireless capability information between the first and the second wireless devices via the wireless control channel to determine common wireless capabilities including at least two common wireless protocols activating a first profile stored on the first wireless device and a second profile stored on the second wireless device when establishing the wireless control channel, each respective profile comprising preference information indicating a connection priority for the at least two common wireless protocols;
negotiating a preferred wireless protocol based on the preference information, wherein negotiating comprises;exchanging messages between the first wireless device and the second wireless device via the wireless control channel, the messages indicating the preference information for the respective wireless devices, and selecting the preferred wireless protocol as the one of the at least two common wireless protocols having a highest connection priority as indicated by the exchanged preference information; and establishing a wireless data session utilizing the preferred wireless protocol between the first and the second wireless devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- establishing a wireless control channel between the first and the second wireless devices using the first wireless protocol;
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6. A method of establishing a wireless data session between a first and a second wireless device, each device supporting multiple wireless capabilities, comprising the steps of:
- establishing wireless communication between the first and the second wireless devices;
exchanging information identifying each wireless devices'"'"' wireless capabilities;
determining common wireless capabilities including at least two common wireless protocols;
activating a first profile stored on the first wireless device and a second profile stored on the second wireless device when establishing wireless communication between the first and the second wireless devices, each respective profile comprising preference information indicating a connection priority for the at least two common wireless protocols;
negotiating a preferred wireless protocol based on the preference information, wherein negotiating comprises;(A) exchanging messages between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, the messages including the preference information for the respective wireless devices; and (B) selecting the preferred wireless protocol as the one of the at least two common wireless protocols having a highest connection priority as indicated by the exchanged preference information; and utilizing the preferred wireless protocol in the wireless data session. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- establishing wireless communication between the first and the second wireless devices;
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11. A first wireless device, comprising:
- a wireless network interface including communication circuitry adapted to communicate in accordance with at least one wireless protocol; and
a network driver including a wireless capabilities manager, the wireless capabilities manager configuring the wireless network interface to utilize a particular wireless protocol to establish wireless communication with a second wireless device,wherein the wireless capabilities manager; (A) provides first information of wireless capabilities supported by the first wireless device to the wireless network card for transmission via the particular wireless protocol; (B) receives second information of wireless capabilities supported by the second wireless device via the particular wireless protocol; (C) compares the first information with the second information to determine common wireless capabilities including at least two common wireless protocols; (D) negotiates a preferred wireless protocol from the at least two common wireless protocols based on preference information stored on the first wireless device and the second wireless device, the preference information indicating connection priorities for the at least two common wireless protocols on each of the respective wireless devices, wherein negotiating comprises; i. exchanging messages between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, the messages indicating the preference information for the respective wireless devices; and ii. selecting the preferred wireless protocol as the one of the at least two common wireless protocols having a highest connection priority as indicated by the exchanged preference information; and (E) configures the wireless interface to utilize the preferred wireless protocol. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- a wireless network interface including communication circuitry adapted to communicate in accordance with at least one wireless protocol; and
Specification