WIRELESS ARCHITECTURE FOR TRADITIONAL WIRE BASED PROTOCOL

• US 20090031035A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnan, Ranganathan, Dharmaraju, Dinesh, Sheth, Soham
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Aspects describe service discovery of wireless MDDI client-capable devices though interaction with an underlying bearer protocol. Service discovery can be performed when the underlying layer supports multicasting, when the underlying layer is wiMedia UWB MAC and/or UDP/IP. Service discovery can be initiated by a w-MDDI sender and/or a w-MDDI receiver. An optional mutual security association procedure can be conducted if both devices support security and security is necessary.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly communicating data at a high rate between a host entity and at least one remote wireless MDDI client capable device, comprising:

performing a service discovery process to obtain information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices in a local area;

receiving an indication to associate with at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

determining security capabilities of each of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

selectively performing a security association procedure; and

associating with the at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices includes a string identifier corresponding to a device name, capabilities of the device, and a state indication, wherein the information is retained locally.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a service discovery process comprises:

transmitting a message to a lower layer to obtain a list of devices;

receiving a response that includes the list of devices;

sending a packet to each of the devices included in the received list; and

receiving a response that contains strings identifiers for each of the responding devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the lower layer supports multicast, the method further comprises transmitting a service query packet to a multicast group to solicit information from a selected wireless MDDI client capable device, wherein the multicast group is specified by a multicast address.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC, the method further comprises receiving application specific information elements related to each of the w-MDDI client capable devices.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP, the method further comprising:

transmitting a service query packet to a multicast group on a UDP port;

joining the multicast group on the UDP port; and

receiving a service response from each device that supports w-MDDI.

7. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to performing a service discovery process to gather information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices in a local area, receiving a request to associate with at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices, determining security capabilities of each of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices, performing a security association procedure, and associating with the at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices includes a string identifier corresponding to a device name, capabilities of the device, and a state indication, wherein the information is retained locally.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory further retains instructions related to conveying a message to a lower layer to obtain a list of devices, receiving a response that includes the list of devices, transmitting a packet to each of the devices included in the received list, and receiving a response that contains strings identifiers for each of the responding devices.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower layer supports multicast, the memory further retains instructions related to transmitting a service query packet to a multicast group to solicit information from a selected wireless MDDI client capable device, wherein the multicast group is specified by a multicast address.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC, he memory further retains instructions related to receiving application specific information elements related to each of the w-MDDI client capable devices.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP, the memory further retains instructions related to communicating a service query packet to a multicast group on a UDP port, joining the multicast group on the UDP port, and receiving a service response from each device that supports w-MDDI.

13. A wireless communications apparatus that wirelessly communicates data at a high rate, comprising:

means for performing a service discovery process to gather information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices in a local area;

means for receiving a request to associate with at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

means for determining security capabilities of each of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

means for selectively performing a security association procedure; and

means for associating with the at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, wherein the information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices includes a string identifier corresponding to a device name, capabilities of the device, and a state indication, wherein the information is retained locally.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for conveying a message to a lower layer to obtain a list of devices;

means for receiving a response that includes the list of devices;

means for transmitting a packet to each of the devices included in the received list, and

means for receiving a response that contains strings identifiers for each of the responding devices.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower layer supports multicast, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting a service query packet to a multicast group to solicit information from a selected wireless MDDI client capable device, wherein the multicast group is specified by a multicast address.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving application specific information elements related to each of the w-MDDI client capable devices.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP, the apparatus further comprising:

means for communicating a service query packet to a multicast group on a UDP port;

means for joining the multicast group on the UDP port; and

means for receiving a service response from each device that supports w-MDDI.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to perform a service discovery process to obtain information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices in a local area;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to receive an indication to associate with at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to determine security capabilities of each of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to perform a security association procedure; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to associate with the at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices includes a string identifier corresponding to a device name, capabilities of the device, and a state indication, wherein the information is retained locally.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the lower layer supports multicast.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC or UDP/IP.

23. At least one processor configured to communicate data at a high rate between a host entity and at least one remote wireless MDDI client capable device, comprising:

a first module for performing a service discovery process to obtain information related to a plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices in a local area;

a second module for receiving an indication to associate with at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

a third module for determining security capabilities of each of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices;

a fourth module for selectively performing a security association procedure; and

a fifth module for associating with the at least one of the plurality of wireless MDDI client capable devices.

24. The at least one processor of claim 23, wherein the lower layer supports multicast.

25. The at least one processor of claim 23, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC or UDP/IP.

26. A method for wirelessly communicating data at a high rate with a host entity, comprising:

transmitting a neighbor list message to a lower layer, the neighbor list message solicits a list of devices in a local area;

receiving a list of devices in the local area;

sending a query packet to each of the devices;

receiving a reply that includes string identifiers for the replying device, the reply is received before expiration of a predetermined interval; and

selectively associating with the replying device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the neighbor list message is a “

Get Neighbor List”

message and the list of devices is received from a lower layer in a “

Lower Layer Neighbor List Response.”

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the query packet is a “

w-MDDI Service Query”

packet and the reply is a “

w-MDDI Service Response”

packet.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the query packet is a “

w-MDDI Host Query”

packet and the reply is a “

w-MDDI Host Response”

packet.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the lower layer supports multicasting.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein if a reply is not received before expiration of a predetermined interval, the association is unsuccessful and a previous state is resumed.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprises performing mutual security authentication.

35. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to transmitting a neighbor list message to a lower layer, the neighbor list message solicits a list of devices in a local area, receiving a list of devices in the local area, sending a query packet to each of the devices, receiving a reply that includes string identifiers for the replying device, and selectively associating with the replying device, wherein the reply is received before expiration of a predetermined interval; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the lower layer supports multicasting.

37. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein if a reply is not received before expiration of a predetermined interval, the association is unsuccessful and a previous state is resumed.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, the memory retains instructions related to performing mutual security authentication.

41. A wireless communications apparatus that wirelessly communicates data at a high rate, comprising:

means for sending a neighbor list message to a lower layer, the neighbor list message solicits a list of devices in a local area;

means for receiving a list of devices in the local area;

means for transmitting a query packet to each of the devices;

means for receiving a reply that includes string identifiers for the replying device, the reply is received before expiration of a predetermined interval; and

means for associating with the replying device.

42. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein the lower layer supports multicasting.

43. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC.

44. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein the lower layer is UDP/IP.

45. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, wherein if a reply is not received before expiration of a predetermined interval, the association is unsuccessful and a previous state is resumed.

46. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 41, further comprises means for performing mutual security authentication.

47. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to transmit a neighbor list message to a lower layer, the neighbor list message solicits a list of devices in a local area;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to receive a list of devices in the local area;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit a query packet to each of the devices;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to receive a reply that includes string identifiers for the replying device, the reply is received before expiration of a predetermined interval; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to associate with the replying device.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the lower layer supports multicasting.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the lower layer is wiMedia UWB MAC or UDP/IP.

50. At least one processor configured to communicate data at a high rate, comprising:

a first module for transmitting a neighbor list message to a lower layer, the neighbor list message solicits a list of devices in a local area;

a second module for receiving a list of devices in the local area;

a third module for sending a query packet to each of the devices;

a fourth module for receiving a reply that includes string identifiers for the replying device, the reply is received before expiration of a predetermined interval; and

a fifth module for selectively associating with the replying device.