Methods and apparatus for efficiently communicating information using a proxy

• US 8,446,917 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Park, Vincent D., Wu, Zhibin
• Primary Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US12/474,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Methods for communicating discovery information are described. A module intercepts messages within a device which include a first identifier, e.g., a service, application, device or other identifier which is to be communicated or which is to be monitored for in the case of a device seeking something. A second identifier corresponding to the information to be communicated or item or service being sought is generated. The second identifier is transmitted in the case of an advertisement or monitored for in the case of the device seeking something. Following a second device establishing a communications connection in response to an advertisement, stored information such as all or a portion of the first identifier is transmitted over the established connection. A device seeking an item or service, in response to detecting the second identifier, establishes a connection with the second device. The second identifier maybe shorter than the first identifier.

Claims

1. A communications method, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first communications device, a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

storing at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier at the first communications device;

transmitting a second message from the first communications device to a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier;

receiving, at the first communications device, a signal from the second communications device responsive to the second message, indicating an interest in the application; and

delaying transmission of the first application identifier to the second communications device at least until receiving the signal.

2. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to receiving the signal.

3. The communications method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

4. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the first format is one of an mDNS format, a DNS-SD format, an UPnP format, and a SSDP format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first message comprises intercepting the first message at a proxy module and providing the second message to an airlink module, thereby bypassing intermediate modules between the proxy module and the airlink module.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the second application identifier having fewer bits than the first application identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the second application identifier by hashing the first application identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising deferring establishment of a communications connection with the second communications device at least until receiving the signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising supplying information lost as a result of generating the second message in the second format to the second communication device, via the communications connections.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second message is performed over a wireless peer-to-peer link.

11. A first communications device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

store at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier; and

transmit a second message to a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier;

receiving a signal from the second communications device responsive to the second message, indicating an interest in the application;

delaying transmission of the first application identifier to the second communications device at least until receiving the signal; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

12. The first communications device of claim 11, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to receiving the signal.

13. The first communications device of claim 11, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

14. A first communications device comprising:

means for receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

means for storing at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier;

means for transmitting a second message to a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier;

means for receiving a signal from the second communications device responsive to the second message, indicating an interest in the application; and

means for delaying transmission of the first application identifier to the second communications device at least until receiving the signal.

15. The communications device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to receiving the signal.

16. The communications device of claim 14, wherein said means for transmitting the second message includes means for transmitting the second message during a discovery time interval.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use in a first communications device, comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the at least one computer;

code for causing the at least one computer to store at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier;

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit a second message to a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier;

code for causing the at least one computer to receive a signal from the second communications device responsive to the second message, indicating an interest in the application; and

code for causing the at least one computer to delay transmission of the first application identifier to the second communications device at least until receiving the signal.

18. A communications method, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first communications device, a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

storing at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier at the first communications device;

monitoring, at the first communications device, for a second message from a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier; and

refraining from transmitting the first application identifier from the first communication device to the second communications device at least until the first communication device detects the second message communicating the second application identifier.

19. The communications method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to detecting the second message.

20. The communications method of claim 18, wherein the first format is one of an mDNS format, a DNS-SD format, an UPnP format, and a SSDP format.

21. The communications method of claim 18, wherein said first message is a search query message.

22. A first communications device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

store at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier;

monitor for a second message from a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier;

refraining from transmitting the first application identifier from the first communication device to the second communications device at least until detecting the second message communicating the second application identifier; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

23. The first communications device of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to detecting the second message.

24. The first communications device of claim 22, wherein said first message is a search query message.

25. A first communications device comprising:

means for receiving a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

means for storing at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier;

means for monitoring for a second message from a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier; and

means for refraining from transmitting the first application identifier from the first communication device to the second communications device at least until detecting the second message communicating the second application identifier.

26. The first communications device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for transmitting at least a portion of said stored portion of the first message to said second communications device including the first application identifier in the first format, in response to detecting the second message.

27. The first communications device of claim 25, wherein said first message is a search query message.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use in a first communications device, comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to receive a first message in a first format which is in accordance with a first communications protocol, said first message including a first application identifier corresponding to an application of the first communications device;

code for causing the at least one computer to store at least a portion of said first message including the first application identifier;

code for causing the at least one computer to monitor for a second message from a second communications device in a second format which is in accordance with a second communications protocol, said second message communicating a second application identifier corresponding to said application, wherein the second application identifier is more concise than the first application identifier; and

code for refraining from transmitting the first application identifier from the first communication device to the second communications device at least until detecting the second message communicating the second application identifier.