System and method of device capability signaling

• US 9,154,558 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wohlert, Randolph, Pratt, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALGIBHAH, HAMZA N
• Application Number:
  US13/633,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20140095630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method includes sending, from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, a first capability request based on a first schedule. The first electronic device is associated with a first user and the second electronic device is associated with a second user. A first relationship strength is associated with a relationship of the first user and the second user and the first schedule is based on the first relationship strength. The method also includes sending, from the first electronic device to a third electronic device, a second capability request based on a second schedule. The third electronic device is associated with a third user and a second relationship strength is associated with a relationship of the first user and the third user. The second schedule is based on the second relationship strength and the second relationship strength is different from the first relationship strength.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending, from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, a first capability request based on a first schedule, wherein the first electronic device is associated with a first user, wherein the second electronic device is associated with a second user, wherein a first relationship strength is associated with a first relationship of the first user and the second user, and wherein the first schedule is based on the first relationship strength; and

sending, from the first electronic device to a third electronic device, a second capability request based on a second schedule, wherein the third electronic device is associated with a third user, wherein a second relationship strength is associated with a second relationship of the first user and the third user, wherein the second schedule is based on the second relationship strength, and wherein the second relationship strength is different from the first relationship strength.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the first electronic device, a response from the second electronic device, wherein the response indicates a capability of the second electronic device; and

displaying, at the first electronic device, information descriptive of the capability of the second electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the capability of the second electronic device includes a device capability for a service, a network support for the service, a valid subscription for the service, a willingness of the second user to use the service, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service includes text, voice, video, group chat, internet browsing, high quality voice, file transfer, thumbnail image display of files, delivery notification, location, global positioning system exchange format, multimedia messaging service, short message service, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first schedule indicates that the first capability request is to be sent periodically at a first frequency and wherein the second schedule indicates that the second capability request is to be sent periodically at a second frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency when the first relationship strength is higher than the second relationship strength.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first frequency is once every hour and the second frequency is once every day.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the first relationship strength based on user input received at the first electronic device, a frequency of communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, a geographic proximity of the first electronic device and the second electronic device, a family relationship of the first user and the second user, a behavior pattern of the second electronic device, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the first schedule in response to an update in the first relationship strength.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relationship strength is a positive number less than or equal to 24.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first relationship strength is a positive number less than or equal to a maximum relationship strength and wherein the first schedule is further based on the maximum relationship strength.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device includes a mobile device, a laptop computer, a cell phone, a tablet computer, a set-top box device, a television, a computing device, or any combination thereof.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor associated with a first user; and

a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

send, a first capability request to an electronic device based on a first schedule, wherein the electronic device is associated with a second user, and wherein the first schedule is based on a first relationship strength associated with a relationship of the first user and the second user;

send a second capability request to a second electronic device based on a second schedule, wherein the second electronic device is associated with a third user, wherein a second relationship strength is associated with a second relationship of the first user and the third user, wherein the second schedule is based on the second relationship strength, and wherein the second relationship strength is different from the first relationship strength.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first schedule is determined based on whether the first behavior pattern indicates that a first number of location changes of the electronic device during a first measurement time period is above a threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first capability request is sent during a first time period, wherein the computer-readable medium further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, during a second time period, a third capability request to the electronic device based on a third schedule, wherein the third schedule is determined based on whether a second behavior pattern indicates that a second number of location changes of the electronic device during a second measurement time period is equal to or below the threshold, and wherein the second time period is different from the first time period.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first schedule indicates that the first capability request is to be sent periodically at a first frequency, wherein the second schedule indicates that the second capability request is to be sent periodically at a second frequency, and wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable medium further stores instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive, from the electronic device, a response, and wherein the response indicates a capability of the electronic device.

18. A device comprising:

a processor associated with a first user; and

a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send a capability request to a second device based on a schedule, wherein the second device is associated with a second user, and wherein the schedule is based on a first relationship strength associated with a relationship of the first user and the second user, wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a second capability request to a third electronic device, wherein the second capability request is based on a second schedule, wherein the third electronic device is associated with a third user, wherein a second relationship strength is associated with a second relationship of the first user and the third user, wherein the second schedule is based on the second relationship strength, and wherein the second relationship strength is different from the first relationship strength.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive a response from the second device, wherein the response indicates a capability of the second device; and

a display device configured to display information descriptive of the capability of the second device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the behavior pattern from a service provider, a device manufacturer, the second device, or a combination thereof.