Identifying and accessing a network device via wireless communication

• US 9,026,092 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doshi, Rajesh
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US14/174,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/412.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/466, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• 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: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is a method that includes a mobile device receiving via a wireless communication channel a request for an identifier corresponding to a network device. The mobile device transmits the identifier. The mobile device receives a network identifier corresponding to the network device. The mobile device utilizes the network identifier to establish communication with the network device via the wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

to transmit a first identifier from a first device to a server in a network, wherein said network is communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of devices comprises a second device, said first identifier comprising a user name for said second device;

to receive from said server at said first device a unique second identifier for said second device, wherein said second identifier is found based on said user name; and

to utilize said second identifier at said first device to establish wireless communication between said first device and said second device, wherein said wireless communication occurs directly between said first device and said second device and bypasses said server.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured:

to perform a synchronization process between said first device and said second device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first identifier further comprises a password associated with said user name.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is established using a wireless communication channel selected from the group consisting of:

Wi-Fi®

communication, Bluetooth®

wireless communication, cellular communication, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication technology, Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) communication technology, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication technology, Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) communication technology, third-generation wireless (3G) communication technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) communication technology, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) communication technology.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second identifier is static or dynamic.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

7. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to transmit a first identifier from a first device to a server in a network, wherein said network is communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices, wherein said plurality of devices comprises a second device, said first identifier comprising a user name for said second device;

program code to receive from said server at said first device a unique second identifier for said second device, wherein said second identifier is found based on said user name; and

program code to utilize said second identifier at said first device to establish wireless communication between said first device and said second device, wherein said wireless communication occurs directly between said first device and said second device and bypasses said server.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program code to perform a synchronization process between said first device and said second device.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein said first identifier further comprises a password associated with said user name.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein said wireless communication is established using a wireless communication channel selected from the group consisting of:

Wi-Fi®

communication, Bluetooth®

wireless communication, cellular communication, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication technology, Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) communication technology, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication technology, Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) communication technology, third-generation wireless (3G) communication technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) communication technology, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) communication technology.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein said second identifier is static or dynamic.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein said second identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

13. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured;

to establish communication between a mobile device and a network via a wireless communication channel;

to receive at said mobile device via said wireless communication channel a listing of a plurality of network devices coupled to said network;

to utilize at said mobile device said listing and a first identifier comprising a user name associated with a particular network device of said plurality of devices to determine if said particular network device is coupled to said network; and

to utilize at said mobile device, provided said particular network device is coupled to said network, a unique second identifier associated with said particular network device to establish direct wireless communication between said mobile device and said particular network device, wherein information stored by said particular network device is accessible by said mobile device and vice versa.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured:

to perform a synchronization process between said mobile device and said particular network device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first identifier further comprises a password associated with said user name.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication channel is selected from the group consisting of:

Wi-Fi®

communication technology, Bluetooth®

wireless communication technology, cellular communication technology, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication technology, Code Division Multiple Access (COMA) communication technology, Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) communication technology, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication technology, Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) communication technology, third-generation wireless (3G) communication technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) communication technology, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) communication technology.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured:

to output by said mobile device, provided said particular network device is not coupled to said network, a notification that said particular network device is not coupled to said network.

18. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including;

program code to establish communication between a mobile device and a network via a wireless communication channel;

program code to receive at said mobile device via said wireless communication channel a listing of a plurality of network devices coupled to said network;

program code to utilize at said mobile device said listing and a first identifier comprising a user name associated with a particular network device of said plurality of devices to determine if said particular network device is coupled to said network; and

program code to utilize at said mobile device, provided said particular network device is coupled to said network, a unique second identifier associated with said particular network device to establish direct wireless communication between said mobile device and said particular network device, wherein information stored by said particular network device is accessible by said mobile device and vice versa.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

program code to perform a synchronization process between said mobile device and said particular network device.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said first identifier further comprises a password associated with said user name.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said wireless communication channel is selected from the group consisting of:

Wi-Fi®

communication technology, Bluetooth®

wireless communication technology, cellular communication technology, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication technology, Code Division Multiple Access (COMA) communication technology, Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) communication technology, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication technology, Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) communication technology, third-generation wireless (3G) communication technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) communication technology, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) communication technology.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

program code to output by said mobile device, provided said particular network device is not coupled to said network, a notification that said particular network device is not coupled to said network.