Multicast relay for mobile devices

• US 20060002320A1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Costa-Requena, Jose, Hussmann, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 7,830,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Exchanging data between a mobile device and a network involves receiving, via the network, multicast service announcements from a plurality of service providers. The multicast service announcements are stored in a cache. A service search request originating from the mobile device is received. A reply to the service search request is determined based on the multicast service announcements stored in the cache. The reply is provided to the mobile device in response to the service search request.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging data between a mobile device and a network, comprising:

receiving, via the network, multicast service announcements from a plurality of service providers;

storing the multicast service announcements in a cache;

receiving a service search request originating from the mobile device;

determining a reply to the service search request based on the multicast service announcements stored in the cache; and

providing the reply to the mobile device in response to the service search request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a service announcement originating from the mobile terminal; and

providing repeated multicast service announcements to the network based on the service announcement originating from the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly checking the cache to determine an expiration time of each of the multicast service announcements; and

removing from the cache selected multicast service announcements having expiration times that satisfy a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multicast service announcements are received by a data processing arrangement coupled to the network and the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

defining a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertising the data relay device type on the network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

defining a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertising the data relay device type with the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

9. A processor-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a data processing arrangement capable of being coupled to a network and a mobile device, for performing steps comprising:

receiving, via the network, multicast service announcements from a plurality of service providers;

storing the multicast service announcements in a cache;

receiving a service search request originating from the mobile device;

determining a reply to the service search request based on the multicast service announcements stored in the cache; and

providing the reply to the mobile device in response to the service search request.

10. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving a service announcement originating from the mobile terminal; and

providing repeated multicast service announcements to the network based on the service announcement originating from the mobile terminal.

11. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network.

12. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

repeatedly checking the cache to determine an expiration time of each of the multicast service announcements; and

removing from the cache selected multicast service announcements having expiration times that satisfy a threshold value.

13. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

defining a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertising the data relay device type on the network.

14. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

defining a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertising the data relay device with the mobile device.

15. The processor-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

16. A system comprising:

a network;

a mobile device having a data interface; and

a data processing arrangement coupled to the network and the mobile device, the data processing arrangement configured to,

receive, via the network, multicast service announcements from a plurality of service providers;

store the multicast service announcements in a cache;

receive a service search request originating from the mobile device;

determine a reply to the service search request based on the multicast service announcements stored in the cache; and

provide the reply to the mobile device in response to the service search request.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data processing arrangement is further configured to:

receive a service announcement originating from the mobile terminal;

provide repeated multicast service announcements to the network based on the service announcement originating from the mobile terminal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the data processing arrangement is further configured to:

repeatedly check the cache to determine an expiration time of each of the multicast service announcements; and

remove from the cache selected multicast service announcements having expiration times that satisfy a threshold value.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the data processing arrangement is further configured to:

define a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertise the data relay device type on the network.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the data processing arrangement is further configured to:

define a data relay device type associated with the data processing arrangement; and

advertise the data relay device type with the mobile device.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

23. An apparatus configured for exchanging multimedia data between a network and a mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving, via the network, multicast service announcements from a plurality of service providers via the network;

means for storing the multicast service announcements in a cache;

means for receiving a service search request originating from the mobile device;

means for determining a response to the service search request based on the multicast service announcements stored in the cache; and

means for providing the reply to the mobile device in response to the service search request.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a service announcement originating from the mobile terminal; and

means for providing repeated multicast service announcements to the network based on the service announcement originating from the mobile terminal.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

means for repeatedly checking the cache to determine an expiration time of each of the multicast service announcements; and

means for removing from the cache selected multicast service announcements having expiration times that satisfy a threshold value.