Portable Network Device For The Discovery Of Nearby Devices And Services

• US 20100130240A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hart, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method of determining communication resource availability within range of a user-centric mobile network is disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises discovering communication resources within range of the user-centric mobile network, the communication resources including unique resource identifiers, and transmitting the unique resource identifiers and a user identifier to a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network. The communication resources may have associated therewith an available service and a current status and the method may further comprise transmitting available service information and current status information to the server. Also disclosed is a service discovery device for use in implementing the method.

Claims

1. A method of determining communication resource availability within range of a user-centric mobile network, the user-centric mobile network being associated with a particular user having a user identifier, the method comprising:

discovering communication resources within range of the user-centric mobile network, the communication resources including unique resource identifiers;

associating the unique resource identifiers with the user identifier; and

transmitting the unique resource identifiers to an entity that is external to the user-centric mobile network and that intends to communicate with the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication resources have associated therewith an available service and a current status, the method further comprising:

transmitting available service information and current status information to the entity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the resource identifiers, available service information and current status information is aggregated by a service discovery device within the user-centric mobile network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein an external server polls the communications resources to determine available service information and current status information.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the service discovery device serves as a gateway for communications between communication resources that become members of the user-centric mobile network and devices that are external to the user-centric mobile network.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein a discovered communication resource transmits its available service and current status to a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein a service discovery device within the user-centric mobile network transmits the user identifier and information identifying the server to the discovered communication resource.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the communication resources that is discovered is not available to become a member of the user-centric mobile network but is available to receive communications for the user.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a communication resource that is not available to become a member of the user-centric mobile network transmits its unique resource identifier and the user identifier to a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the server polls the communication resource that is not available to become a member of the user-centric mobile network to determine available service information and current status information.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the communication resource that is not available to become a member of the user-centric mobile network transmits its available service information and current status information to a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network transmits the available service information and current status information to the entity, the server including preference information relating to how a user prefers to be contacted via the communications resources.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the preference information is updated based on available service information and current status information.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein a server that is external to the user-centric mobile network transmits the available service information and current status information to the entity, the server being associated with a social networking service.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein access to information associated with the user identifier is limited to individuals who have been authorized by the user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a server that is external to the user-centric mobile network transmits the available service information and current status information to the entity.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein a server that is a member of the user-centric mobile network transmits the available service information and current status information to the entity.

18. A portable communications service discovery device for determining communication resource availability within range of a user-centric mobile network, comprising:

a resource discovery module for discovering communication resources within range of the user-centric mobile network, the communication resources having unique resource identifiers; and

a reporting module for providing the unique resource identifiers and a user identifier to a server that is accessible from outside the user-centric mobile network.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the communication resources have associated therewith an available service and a current status and wherein the reporting module provides available service information and current status information to the server.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the device aggregates resource identifiers, available service information and current status information.

21. The device of claim 19 further comprising a gateway module to serve as a gateway for communications between communication resources that become members of the user-centric mobile network and devices that are external to the user-centric mobile network.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein a discovered communication resource transmits its available service and current status to the server.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the provision of a discovered communication resource'"'"'s available service information and current status is initiated by the reporting module transmitting the user identifier and information identifying the server to the discovered communication resource.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the provision of a discovered communication resource'"'"'s available service information and current status is initiated by the reporting module transmitting the user identifier and the unique identifier of the discovered communication resource to the server, which in turn polls the discovered communication resource for its available service information and current status.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the server is located in the service discovery device.