Methods for establishing wireless network communication and device utilizing same

• US 7,672,291 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria; Sharad
• Application Number:
  US11/058,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20060013187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 370345-350, 370/337, 370/321, 370/442, 370/331, 370/338, 370/335, 455/426.1, 455/466, 455 411- 412, 455517-519, 455423-425, 455/502, 455/509, 455/67.11
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Method for establishing wireless networks between devices is disclosed. When a first device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices, a first activation reference time is recorded. At least one second device that has at least one compatible networking capability is searched for and identified. When the second device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices, a second activation reference time also is recorded. The first and second activation reference times are compared to determine whether they fall into the same time window. The offset between the system time of the first device and that of the second may be factored into the calculation to further enhance the accuracy. If the first and second activation reference times are in the same time window, the authentication of wireless network is established between the devices.

Claims

1. A method for establishing wireless network communication between devices, comprising:

recording a first activation reference time when a first device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices;

searching for and identifying at least one second device on a network corresponding to at least one wireless network capability;

receiving a second activation reference time of the second device, wherein the second activation reference time is generated when the second device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices;

comparing the first activation reference time and the second activation reference time to determine whether they fall into the same time window; and

establishing a wireless network between the first and second devices if the first and second activation reference times are in the same time window.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating an offset between the system times of the first and second devices, wherein the offset is factored into a calculation to further enhance the accuracy of the comparison of the first and second activation reference times.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing at least one wireless operation between the first and second devices.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the wireless operation comprises a data exchange or synchronization between the first and second devices.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining the types of the wireless operations corresponding to the first and second devices, and terminating the wireless network between the first and second devices if the types are different.

6. A method for establishing wireless network communication between devices, comprising:

generating an activation signal when a first device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices;

checking whether a wireless connection module providing at least one wireless network capability is on in response to the activation signal, and turning on the wireless connection module if it is off;

searching for and identifying at least one second device on a network corresponding to the wireless network capability; and

automatically establishing a wireless network between the first and second devices.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising performing at least one wireless operation between the first and second devices after the wireless network is established.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising turning off the wireless connection module if the wireless operation is completed.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising terminating the wireless network between the first and second devices if the wireless operation is completed.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising recording a first activation reference time when the first device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

comparing the first activation reference time and a second activation reference time of the second device to determine whether they fall into the same time window, wherein the second activation reference time is generated when the second device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices; and

establishing the wireless network between the first and second devices if the first and second activation reference times are in the same time window.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising calculating an offset between the system times of the first and second devices, wherein the offset is factored into a calculation to further enhance the accuracy of the comparison of the first and second activation reference times.

13. A device for establishing wireless network communication between devices, comprising:

an activation key generating a first activation reference time when the device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices;

at least one wireless connection module to search for and identify at least one target device on a network corresponding to at least one wireless network capability; and

a processing unit to receive a target activation reference time of the target device, wherein the target activation reference time is generated when the target device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices, compare the first activation reference time and the target activation reference time to determine whether they fall into the same time window, and establish a wireless network to the target devices if the first and target activation reference times are in the same time window.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the processing unit further calculates an offset between the system times of the devices, wherein the offset is factored into a calculation to further enhance the accuracy of the comparison of the first and target activation reference times.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the processing unit further performs at least one wireless operation between the devices.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the wireless operation comprises data exchange or synchronization between the devices.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the processing unit further determines the types of the wireless operations corresponding to the respective devices, and terminates the wireless network if the types are different.

18. A device for establishing wireless network communication between devices, comprising:

an activation key generating an activation signal when the device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices;

a wireless connection module providing at least one wireless network capability; and

a processing unit to check whether the wireless connection module is on in response to the activation signal, turn on the wireless connection module if it is off, search for and identify at least one target device on a network corresponding to the wireless network capability, and automatically establish a wireless network to the target device.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the processing unit further performs at least one wireless operation between the devices after the wireless network is established.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the processing unit further turns off the wireless connection module if the wireless operation is completed.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the processing unit further terminates the wireless network if the wireless operation is completed.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the processing unit further records a first activation reference time when the device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the processing unit further compares the first activation reference time and a target activation reference time of the target device to determine whether they fall into the same time window, wherein the target activation reference time is generated when the target device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices, and establishes the wireless network to the target devices if the first and target activation reference times are in the same time window.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the processing unit further calculates an offset between the system times of the devices, wherein the offset is factored into a calculation to further enhance the accuracy of the comparison of the first and target activation reference times.

25. A method for establishing wireless network communication between devices, comprising:

recording a first activation reference time when a first device is activated to establish a wireless network with other devices;

searching for and identifying at least one second device on a network corresponding to at least one wireless network capability;

receiving a second activation reference time of the second device, wherein the second activation reference time is generated when the second device is activated to establish wireless network with other devices;

comparing the first activation reference time and the second activation reference time to determine whether they fall into the same time window;

establishing a wireless network between the first and second devices if the first and second activation reference times are in the same time window; and

performing digital business card exchange between the first and second devices wirelessly.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising calculating an offset between the system times of the first and second devices, wherein the offset is factored into a calculation to further enhance the accuracy of the comparison of the first and second activation reference times.