Wireless network service transaction protocol

• US 9,137,621 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: McCann, Stephen, Montemurro, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US13/548,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A mobile device may retrieve service information about a network prior to associating with the network. Utilizing an advertisement protocol to transmit service query messages, a mobile device may receive service query responses from a network that identify the services available prior to establishing network capability. In other words, the messaging is prior to the exchange of any authentication parameters between the device and the network as well prior to the establishment of a recognized session between the device and the network.

Claims

1. A method for:

receiving a service message request for service information encapsulated with an upper layer protocol (“

ULP”

) from a wireless communication device, wherein the service information comprises requirements or resources from a network that are necessary for operation of an application on the wireless communication device;

utilizing the ULP to identify the service information requested; and

transmitting, prior to an association with a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

), a service message response that encapsulates the identified service information using the ULP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the service message response includes a return code field for matching the service message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting is by a service transaction proxy (“

TPX”

) server.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the TPX server is coupled with an access point that provides access to the WLAN for a mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing the services available through the WLAN to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the service message request includes a certificate field.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

verifying the certificate field.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the service message request includes a location field that identifies a location of a service.

9. A system that comprises:

an access point that provides a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

); and

a service transaction proxy (“

TPX”

) server coupled with the access point that transmits a service query message to an external network for receiving service information based on a response received for the service query message, wherein the service query message and the response are encapsulated with an upper layer protocol (“

ULP”

) and the service query message and response are transmitted prior to an association with the WLAN;

wherein the response includes a return code field for matching the service query message.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a mobile device that connects with the WLAN.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the mobile device communicates with the access point prior to connecting with the WLAN to determine whether the access point can transmit service query messages.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the TPX server transmits the service query message after receiving the request from the mobile device.

13. A method for communicating service discovery messages comprising:

receiving a service discovery message from an access point for a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) prior to an association with the access point, wherein the service discovery message indicates support for a service transaction protocol;

providing, to the access point prior to association with the WLAN, a service transaction protocol request message that requests information about available services when the service discovery message is encapsulated with an upper layer protocol (“

ULP”

) and indicates support for the service transaction protocol, wherein the service transaction protocol request message includes a certificate field;

verifying the certificate field; and

receiving, from the access point prior to association with the WLAN and upon the verifying, a service transaction protocol response message that is encapsulated with an upper layer protocol (“

ULP”

) and provides the information about available services in response to the service transaction protocol request message.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the information about available services comprises a list of available services from third parties through the WLAN or an external network.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the access point is coupled with a service transaction proxy (“

TPX”

) server that communicates with the external network to identify the available services.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the service transaction protocol request message and the service transaction protocol response message include a certificate element.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

verifying the service transaction protocol request message and the service transaction protocol response message using the certificate element.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the service transaction protocol request message request comprises a keyword that is searched for by a service transaction proxy (“

TPX”

) server coupled with the access point that communicates with the external network to identify the available services.