System for communicating between a group of apparatuses

• US 6,028,866 A
• Filed: 12/11/1996
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Engel, Anna J. P. M., Beuk, Leonardus G. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US08/763,865
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/312, 370/313, 370/315, 370/349, 370/338, 370/389, 370/425, 370/462, 370/347, 370/461, 371/31, 371/32
• US Class Current: 370/461
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1868 Measures taken after transmission, e.g. acknowledgments
• 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 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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

Abstract

The system allows a group of end apparatuses (101, 102, 103, . . .), such as a game computer or a PDA, to communicate wirelessly, for instance via infra-red. In order to increase the reliability of the communication, the end apparatuses communicate via a central apparatus 100. This makes it easier to maintain contact. Furthermore, conventional acknowledgement schemes can be used to increase the reliability of the communication between an end apparatus and the central apparatus 100. Each end apparatus comprises execution means 240 for executing a group application. During the execution, the group application communicates to a corresponding group application in at least one end apparatus. The communication takes place by exchanging application messages. To this end, an end apparatus uses message sending means 200 to send the application message to the central apparatus 100. Message receiving means 210 of the central apparatus 100 receive the message. Group resolution means 250 of the central apparatus determine for which group of end apparatuses the received application message is destined. The group resolution means 250 use message sending means 200 to transmit the received application message to end apparatuses of the group. Message receiving means 210 in the end apparatuses receive the message.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a sending apparatus and a receiving apparatus communicating via a wireless communication medium;

said receiving apparatus comprising message receiving means for receiving via said wireless communication medium a message destined for said receiving apparatus;

said sending apparatus comprising message sending means for transmitting a message via said wireless communication medium, characterised;

in that said system comprises at least three end apparatuses and a central apparatus;

each end apparatus and the central apparatus being a sending apparatus as well as a receiving apparatus;

in that each end apparatus comprises execution means for executing a group application;

said group application, while being executed by said execution means, communicating application messages to a corresponding group application in at least one other end apparatus via said central apparatus;

in that said message sending means of each end apparatus is configured to send said application messages only to said central apparatus;

in that said central apparatus comprises group resolution means for, upon said message receiving means receiving a first application message from a first one of said end apparatuses, determining a group of end apparatuses for which said first application message is destined and for causing said message sending means to transmit said first application message to end apparatuses of said group.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises a communication identification, which identifies said receiving apparatus with respect to said wireless communication medium;

said message receiving means is configured to receive a message in a message frame identifying said receiving apparatus;

said message sending means is configured to transmit a message in a message frame identifying a receiving apparatus, characterised in that

said group resolution means is configured to transmit said first application message to end apparatuses of said group by causing said message sending means to transmit separate message frames, each comprising said first application message, to said end apparatuses of said group.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised:

in that said message sending means is configured to transmit a message in a broadcast frame;

in that said message receiving means is configured to receive a message in a broadcast frame;

in that said group resolution means is configured to transmit said first application message to end apparatuses of said group by causing said message sending means of said central apparatus to transmit a broadcast frame comprising said first application message to said end apparatuses of said group.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises acknowledge sending means for transmitting an acknowledgement frame upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, and wherein said sending apparatus comprises acknowledge receiving means for receiving an acknowledgement frame, characterised:

in that each message frame sent by an end apparatus and comprising an application message further comprises said communication identification of the sending end apparatus; and

in that said central apparatus comprises confirmation means for, upon said acknowledge receiving means receiving an acknowledgment frame in response to each message frame transmitted by said central apparatus and comprising said first application message, causing said message sending means to transmit a confirmation message to the end apparatus which sent said first application message.

5. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises acknowledge sending means for transmitting an acknowledgement frame upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, and wherein said sending apparatus comprises acknowledge receiving means for receiving an acknowledgement frame, characterised:

in that each message frame sent by an end apparatus and comprising an application message further comprises said communication identification of the sending end apparatus; and

in that said confirmation means is configured to cause said message sending means to transmit a negative confirmation message to the end apparatus which sent said first application message if said acknowledge receiving means does not receive within a predetermined period an acknowledgment frame in response to each message frame transmitted by said central apparatus and comprising said first application message.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised:

in that said message sending means is configured to transmit a message in a broadcast frame;

in that said message receiving means is configured to receive a message in a broadcast frame;

in that said central apparatus comprises construction means for constructing a group of communicating apparatuses by causing said message sending means to transmit a broadcast frame comprising an invitation message inviting end apparatuses to join a group;

in that each end apparatus comprises acceptance means for, upon said message receiving means receiving a broadcast frame comprising said invitation message inviting to join a group, verifying whether said invitation to join should be accepted or rejected by said end apparatus and for, if said invitation is to be accepted by said end apparatus, causing said message sending means to transmit a message frame identifying said central apparatus and comprising an acceptance message and the identification of said end apparatus;

in that said central apparatus comprises storage means for storing a membership list for each group of apparatuses executing corresponding group applications;

said list corresponding to said group and comprising said communication identification of each apparatus of said group; and

in that said construction means is further configured to store for each received message frame, which comprises an acceptance message and the identification of an end apparatus, said identification in the membership list which corresponds to the group being constructed.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, characterised:

in that said invitation message comprises an identification of a group application; and

in that said acceptance means further verifies whether the group application identified in the received invitation message should be executed by said end apparatus and, if so, causing said execution means to execute said application.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 characterised:

in that said end apparatus comprises initiative means for causing said message sending means to transmit an initiative message to said central apparatus indicating that said end apparatus wishes to execute a group application; and

in that said construction means is configured to, upon said message receiving means receiving said initiative message, causing said message sending means to transmit said invitation message.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, characterised:

in that said initiative message comprises an identification of a group application, which the end apparatus wishes to execute; and

in that said construction means is configured to use said group application identification in the received initiative message as the group application identification in said invitation message.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised:

in that said central apparatus comprises storage means and display means;

said storage means storing at least one membership list;

said list comprising identifications of end apparatuses executing corresponding group applications and forming a group;

said display means displaying said membership list and its identifications of end apparatuses;

in that said end apparatus comprises selection means for causing said message sending means to transmit a message frame identifying said central apparatus and comprising a message requesting to join a selected group and the identification of said end apparatus;

in that said central apparatus comprises updating means for, upon receiving a message requesting to join a selected group and the identification of an end apparatus, adding said end apparatus to a membership list, which corresponds to said selected group, and causing said display means to update the display of said membership list.

11. A system as claimed in claim 6, characterised:

in that each end apparatus is configured to participate in at most one group at a time;

in that each message frame sent by an end apparatus and comprising an application message further comprises said communication identification of the sending end apparatus; and

in that for a received message frame comprising an application message said group resolution means determines said group of end apparatuses by extracting the communication identification of the sending end apparatus from the received message frame and by locating among said membership lists a list which comprises said extracted identification.

12. A system as claimed in claim 6, characterised:

in that at least one end apparatus is configured to participate simultaneously in a plurality of groups;

in that said storage means stores for each membership list a corresponding group identification;

said group identification uniquely identifying a group within said system;

in that each message frame comprising an application message further comprises said communication identification of an end apparatus and one of said group identifications; and

in that for a received message frame comprising an application message said group resolution means determines said group of end apparatuses by extracting said group identification from the received message frame and by locating among said membership lists a list which corresponds to a group corresponding to said group identification.

13. A system as claimed in claim 6, characterised:

in that at least one end apparatus is configured to participate simultaneously in a plurality of groups;

in that for each membership list said storage means stores a sub-identification for each end apparatus on said list;

said sub-identification uniquely identifying a group within said end apparatus;

in that each message frame comprising an application message further comprises said communication identification of an end apparatus and one of said sub-identifications for said end apparatus;

in that for a received message frame comprising an application message said group resolution means determines said group of end apparatuses by extracting the communication identification and the sub-identification of the sending end apparatus from the received message frame and by locating among said membership lists a list which comprises said extracted identifications.

14. A system as claimed in claim 6, characterised:

in that at least one end apparatus is configured to participate simultaneously in a plurality of groups;

said apparatus comprising a plurality of said communication identifications, where each communication identification within said apparatus corresponds to one of said plurality of groups and earth communication identification is unique within said system;

in that each message frame sent by an end apparatus and comprising an application message further comprises a selected one of said communication identifications of the sending end apparatus; and

in that for a received message frame comprising an application message said group resolution means determines said group of end apparatuses by extracting the selected communication identification of the sending end apparatus from the received message frame and by locating among said membership lists a list which comprises said extracted identification.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised:

in that said system comprises a first subsystem and a second subsystem;

said first subsystem comprising said end apparatuses and said central apparatus;

said second subsystem comprising a further end apparatus and a relay apparatus;

in that said relay apparatus is a sending apparatus as well as a receiving apparatus;

in that said relay apparatus and said central apparatus are connected via a further communication medium;

in that said central apparatus and said relay apparatus comprise second message sending means for sending a message via said further communication medium and second message receiving means for receiving a message transmitted via said further communication medium;

in that said group resolution means is configured to, if said group of end apparatuses comprises a second apparatus of said second subsystem, cause said second message sending means to transmit to said relay apparatus a relay message comprising said first application message and indicating said communication identification of said second apparatus;

in that said relay apparatus comprises relay means for, upon said second receiving means receiving said relay message, causing said first message sending means to transmit said first application message to an end apparatus indicated by said communication identification in said relay message;

in that said relay means is configured to, upon said message receiving means receiving a second application message from a third one of said end apparatuses, causing said second message sending means to transmit a second relay message comprising said second application message and indicating said communication identification of said third apparatus; and

in that said group resolution means is configured to, upon said second message receiving means receiving said second relay message, determining a group of end apparatuses for which said second application message is destined and for causing said message sending means to transmit said second application message to each end apparatus of said first subsystem, which is a member of said group.