Automatic ad-hoc network creation and coalescing using WiFi protected setup
First Claim
1. A method of establishing an ad-hoc network connection between a first device and a second device using an ad-hoc network established by the second device, wherein the first device is initially configured as a first registrar and the second device is initially configured as a second registrar, and wherein the first device as the first registrar and the second device as the second registrar are each operable in a beacon mode to transmit beacons and a scanning mode to receive beacons, the method comprising:
- transmitting beacons, with the first device as the first registrar, in the beacon mode, wherein beacon periods extend in between each of two consecutive beacon transmissions;
during every Nth beacon period, scanning for beacons with the first device as the first registrar in a scanning mode for a scanning period that covers the entire beacon period, wherein N is an integer greater than one;
during each of the beacon periods other than the every Nth beacon periods, entering a standby mode with the first device as the first registrar, wherein the first device does not transmit or scan for beacons in the standby mode;
while operating in the scanning mode during one of the Nth beacon periods, receiving, with the first device as the first registrar, a beacon from the second device as the second registrar;
upon receiving the beacon from the second device as the second registrar;
determining, with the first device as the first registrar, whether to change from being configured as the first registrar to an enrollee to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device, the determining whether to change being based on a predetermined criteria;
in response to determining to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, prompting, with the first device as the first registrar, a user of the first device with an option to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device; and
in response to determining not to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, discarding, with the first device as the first registrar, results of receiving the beacon without prompting the user with the option to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device previously configured as a registrar and that has established an independent ad-hoc network is automatically discovered by another device also previously configured as a registrar. To form an ad-hoc wireless network between these two devices, each device periodically enters a scanning mode to scan for and intercept beacons transmitted by the other device. Upon such interception, one of the devices becomes an enrollee in accordance with a predefined condition and in response to a user selected option. Subsequently, the enrollee modifies its beacons to include an attribute, such as the MAC address, associated with the other device. After intercepting the modified beacon, the remaining registrar prompts it user to decide whether to allow the enrollee to join the registrar'"'"'s network. If the user responds affirmatively, a handshake is performed between the two devices and a subsequent attempt is made by the enrollee to join the registrar'"'"'s network.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of establishing an ad-hoc network connection between a first device and a second device using an ad-hoc network established by the second device, wherein the first device is initially configured as a first registrar and the second device is initially configured as a second registrar, and wherein the first device as the first registrar and the second device as the second registrar are each operable in a beacon mode to transmit beacons and a scanning mode to receive beacons, the method comprising:
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transmitting beacons, with the first device as the first registrar, in the beacon mode, wherein beacon periods extend in between each of two consecutive beacon transmissions; during every Nth beacon period, scanning for beacons with the first device as the first registrar in a scanning mode for a scanning period that covers the entire beacon period, wherein N is an integer greater than one; during each of the beacon periods other than the every Nth beacon periods, entering a standby mode with the first device as the first registrar, wherein the first device does not transmit or scan for beacons in the standby mode; while operating in the scanning mode during one of the Nth beacon periods, receiving, with the first device as the first registrar, a beacon from the second device as the second registrar; upon receiving the beacon from the second device as the second registrar; determining, with the first device as the first registrar, whether to change from being configured as the first registrar to an enrollee to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device, the determining whether to change being based on a predetermined criteria; in response to determining to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, prompting, with the first device as the first registrar, a user of the first device with an option to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device; and in response to determining not to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, discarding, with the first device as the first registrar, results of receiving the beacon without prompting the user with the option to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 27, 31, 33, 34)
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8. A method of adding a first device to an ad-hoc network established by a second device to form an ad-hoc network connection between the first device and the second device, wherein the first device is initially configured as a first registrar and the second device is initially configured as a second registrar, the method comprising:
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transmitting beacons with the second device as the second registrar in a beacon mode, wherein beacon periods extend in between each of two consecutive beacon transmissions; during every Nth beacon period, scanning for beacons with the second device as the second registrar in a scanning mode for a scanning period that covers the entire beacon period, wherein N is an integer greater than one; during each of the beacon periods other than the every Nth beacon periods, entering a standby mode with the second device as the second registrar, wherein the second device does not transmit or scan for beacons in the standby mode; while operating in the scanning mode during one of the Nth beacon periods, intercepting, with the second device as the second registrar, a beacon transmitted by the first device after the first device changed from being configured as the first registrar to an enrollee; in response to intercepting the beacon; verifying, with the second device as the second registrar, that the beacon includes an attribute of the second device; and prompting, with the second device as the second registrar, a user with an option to decide whether to allow the first device as the enrollee to be added to the ad-hoc network in response to verifying that the beacon includes the attribute of the second device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28)
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14. A system comprising a first device configured as a first registrar and adapted to participate in a wireless ad-hoc network session with a second device configured as a second registrar, the first device comprising:
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a user interface; and a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller configured to; transmit beacons in a beacon mode wherein beacon periods extend in between each of two consecutive beacon transmissions; during every Nth beacon period, scan for beacons in a scanning mode for a scanning period that covers the entire beacon period, wherein N is an integer greater than one; during each of the beacon periods other than the every Nth beacon periods, enter a standby mode, wherein beacons are not transmitted or scanned for in the standby mode; while in the scanning mode during one of the Nth beacon periods, receive a beacon transmitted by the second device as the second registrar; upon reception of the beacon from the second device as the second registrar; determine whether to change the first device from being configured as the first registrar to an enrollee to join an ad-hoc network established by the second device, the determination whether to change being based on a predetermined criteria; in response to a determination to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, prompt a user of the first device with an option to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device; and in response to a determination not to change from being configured as the first registrar to the enrollee based on the predetermined criteria, discard results of reception of the beacon without a prompt to the user to join the ad-hoc network established by the second device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 32, 35, 36)
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20. A first device adapted to participate in a wireless ad-hoc network session, the first device comprising:
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a user interface; and a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller configured to; transmit beacons in a beacon mode, wherein beacon periods extend in between each of two consecutive beacon transmissions; during every Nth beacon period, scan for beacons in a scanning mode for a scanning period that covers the entire beacon period, wherein N is an integer greater than one; during each of the beacon periods other than the every Nth beacon periods, enter a standby mode, wherein beacons are not transmitted or scanned for in the standby mode; while in the scanning mode during one of the Nth beacon periods, receive a beacon transmitted by a second device, wherein the beacon includes an attribute of the first device; and in response to receipt of the beacon including the attribute, prompt a user of the first device with an option to allow the second device to be added to an ad-hoc network established by the first device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30)
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Specification