Efficient transition from discovery to link establishment
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, via a first communication interface of a first station, a probe request signal transmitted by a second station;
determining, at the first station, a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link between the first station and the second station;
generating, at the first station, a probe response signal, wherein generating the probe response signal includes(i) generating a first field within the probe response signal, whereinthe first field specifies an address of the first communication interface of the first station, and the first field is located in a media access control (MAC) header of the probe response signal,(ii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with a second communication interface of the first station that is different than the first communication interface of the first station, generating a second field within the probe response signal, whereinthe second field specifies an address of a second communication interface of the first station, andthe second field is located in a payload of the probe response signal, and(iii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with the first communication interface of the first station, generating the probe response signal such that the address of a second communication interface is not included in the probe response signal; and
transmitting, via the first communication interface of the first station, the probe response signal to the second station,wherein the address of the second communication interface specified in the second field of the probe response signal is useable by the second station to establish the wireless communication link between the first station and the second station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes receiving, via a first communication interface of a first station, a probe request signal transmitted by a second station, and determining, at the first station, a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link between the first and second stations. The determined connectivity type is associated with a different, second communication interface of the first station. The method also includes generating, at the first station, a probe response signal, at least in part by generating a first field within the probe response signal. The first field specifies an address of the second communication interface. The method also includes transmitting, via the first communication interface, the probe response signal to the second station. The address of the second communication interface specified in the first field is useable by the second station to establish the wireless communication link between the first and second stations.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, via a first communication interface of a first station, a probe request signal transmitted by a second station; determining, at the first station, a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link between the first station and the second station; generating, at the first station, a probe response signal, wherein generating the probe response signal includes (i) generating a first field within the probe response signal, wherein the first field specifies an address of the first communication interface of the first station, and the first field is located in a media access control (MAC) header of the probe response signal, (ii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with a second communication interface of the first station that is different than the first communication interface of the first station, generating a second field within the probe response signal, wherein the second field specifies an address of a second communication interface of the first station, and the second field is located in a payload of the probe response signal, and (iii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with the first communication interface of the first station, generating the probe response signal such that the address of a second communication interface is not included in the probe response signal; and transmitting, via the first communication interface of the first station, the probe response signal to the second station, wherein the address of the second communication interface specified in the second field of the probe response signal is useable by the second station to establish the wireless communication link between the first station and the second station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication device, comprising:
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a first communication interface; a second communication interface; a link establishment module configured to determine a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link between the communication device and a station; and a discovery module configured to receive a probe request signal from the station via the first communication interface, generate a probe response signal, wherein generating the probe response signal includes (i) generating a first field within the probe response signal, wherein the first field specifies an address of the first communication interface, and the first field is located in a media access control (MAC) header of the probe response signal, (ii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with a second communication interface of the first station that is different than the first communication interface of the first station, generating a second field within the probe response signal, wherein the second field specifies an address of a second communication interface of the first station, and the second field is located in a payload of the probe response signal, and (iii) in response to determining that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link is associated with the first communication interface of the first station, generating the probe response signal such that the address of a second communication interface is not included in the probe response signal, and cause the probe response signal to be transmitted to the station via the first communication interface, wherein the address of the second communication interface specified in the second field of the probe response signal is useable by the station to establish the wireless communication link between the communication device and the station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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transmitting, at a first station, a probe request signal; receiving, at the first station and from a first communication interface of a second station, a probe response signal in response to the probe request signal, wherein the probe response signal includes a first field specifying an address of the first communication interface of the second station, wherein the first field is located in a media access control (MAC) header of the probe response signal, and if the second station determined that a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link with the first station is associated with a second communication interface of the first station, a second field specifying an address of the second communication interface of the second station, wherein the second field is located in a payload of the probe response signal, the second communication interface is different than the first communication interface, and if the second station determined that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link with the first station is associated with the first communication interface of the first station, the address of the second communication interface of the second station is not included in the probe response signal; determining, at the first station, the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link between the first station and the second station; and participating, at the first station, in establishment of the wireless communication link between the first station and the second station using (i) the determined connectivity type and (ii) a communication interface of the first station associated with the determined connectivity type. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A communication device comprising:
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a discovery module configured to cause a probe request signal to be transmitted, and receive, in response to the probe request signal, a probe response signal from a first communication interface of a station, wherein the probe response signal includes a first field specifying an address of the first communication interface of the second station, wherein the first field is located in a media access control (MAC) header of the probe response signal, and if the second station determined that a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link with the first station is associated with a second communication interface of the first station, a second field specifying an address of the second communication interface of the second station, wherein the second field is located in a payload of the probe response signal, the second communication interface is different than the first communication interface, if the second station determined that the connectivity type to be used in establishing the wireless communication link with the first station is associated with the first communication interface of the first station, the address of the second communication interface of the second station is not included in the probe response signal; and a link establishment module configured to determine a connectivity type to be used in establishing a wireless communication link between the communication device and the station, and participate in establishment of the wireless communication link between the communication device and the station (i) according to the determined connectivity type and (ii) via a communication interface of the station associated with the determined connectivity type. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification