Method and apparatus for discovering devices and application users

• US 9,369,859 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hakola, Sami-Jukka, Sebire, Guillaume, Turtinen, Samuli, Rexhepi, Vlora
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, April G
• Application Number:
  US14/242,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20150079899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/39, 455/456.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program for discovery of network devices and application user. An example method for use in an access point or station may comprise receiving a discovery request from an application, the application running thereon, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier, causing monitoring of a discovery channel for at least one device within a proximate distance, and upon discovery of a device associated with the application level ID, providing an indication to the application of the discovery of the device.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile station, the method comprising:

receiving a discovery request from a proximity services (ProSe) compatible application executed by the mobile station, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier (ID);

transmitting a request for a device ID associated with the application level ID;

receiving the device ID;

monitoring a discovery channel for an occurrence of the device ID; and

providing an indication to the application of discovery of a device associated with the device ID upon discovery of the device ID in the discovery channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the mobile station is a ProSe compatible user device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the request for a device ID associated with the application level ID is transmitted to a server upon receiving the discovery request, and

the device ID is received from the server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a discovery signal indicating a device ID;

determining if a record associating the device ID to a second application level ID is stored by the mobile station; and

providing notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an index value corresponding to the device ID, wherein

the monitoring includes monitoring for an occurrence of the device ID and the index value on the discovery channel, and

the providing includes providing the indication to the application of the discovery of the device subsequent to discovering an occurrence of the device ID and the index value on the discovery channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

the index value indicates that an application user is active and has provided a request to be discovered.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a discovery signal indicating a device ID and an index value;

determining if a record associating the device ID to a second application level ID is stored by the mobile station;

determining if the index value indicated by the discovery signal matches the index value corresponding to the device ID; and

providing notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein

the device ID is one of a S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI), a ProSe ID, or a Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) level identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein

the device ID belongs to one of a public address space or a private address space.

10. An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive a discovery request from a proximity services (ProSe) compatible application executed by the apparatus, the discovery request including at least one application level identifier (ID);

transmit a request for a device ID associated with the application level ID;

receive the device ID;

monitor a discovery channel for an occurrence of the device ID; and

provide an indication to the application of discovery of a device associated with the device ID upon discovery of the device ID in the discovery channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the apparatus is a ProSe compatible user device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

transmit the request for the device ID associated with the application level ID to a server upon receiving the discovery request; and

receive the device ID from the server.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive a discovery signal indicating the device ID;

determine if a record associating the device ID to a second application level ID is stored by the apparatus; and

provide notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

transmit the request for the device ID associated with the application level ID to a server upon receiving the discovery request;

receive the device ID and a corresponding index value;

monitor for an occurrence of the device ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel; and

provide the indication to the application of the discovery of the device subsequent to discovering an occurrence of the device ID and the corresponding index value on the discovery channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein

the index value indicates that an application user is active and has provided a request to be discovered.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive a discovery signal indicating the device ID and an index value;

determine if a record associating the device ID to a second application level ID is stored by the apparatus;

determine if the index value matches the corresponding index value; and

provide notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.

17. An electronic device comprising:

circuitry configured to

acquire at least one application level identifier ID corresponding to a proximity services (ProSe) compatible application executed by the electronic device;

acquire a device ID associated with the application level ID;

monitor a ProSe discovery channel for an occurrence of the device ID; and

provide an indication to the application of the discovery of a device associated with the device ID upon discovery of the device ID in the discovery channel.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

transmit a request for the device ID associated with the application level ID to a server; and

receive, from the server, the device ID in response to the request.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receive an index value corresponding to the device ID;

monitor the ProSe discovery channel for an occurrence of the device ID and the index value; and

provide the indication to the application of the discovery of the device subsequent to discovering an occurrence of the device ID and the index value on the discovery channel.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

receiving a discovery signal indicating a device ID;

determining if a record associating the device ID to a second application level ID is stored by the electronic device; and

providing notification to the application of the discovery of the second application level ID.