Mechanism to convey discovery information in a wireless network
First Claim
1. An information element for wirelessly conveying information to a first device about a service provided by a second device, prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device that is suitable for providing the service, the information element comprising:
- at least one first portion comprising information related to the service provided by the second device; and
at least one second portion comprising information representing a first service discovery protocol used by the first device for discovering the service, the information representing the first service discovery protocol comprising a format identifier to allow the first device to identify the first service discovery protocol to use to discover the service, wherein the format identifier is compressed using a hash function and identifies an information element format associated with the first service discovery protocol, wherein the first service discovery protocol is the Web Services Discovery protocol, wherein the hashed format identifier is used by the first device to identify the first service discovery protocol as the Web Services Discovery protocol, and wherein, based on the identification of the Web Services Discovery protocol, the first device delivers information from the information element to a Web Services Discovery module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points or other wireless communication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, Bluetooth, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. An information element is used to wirelessly convey information related to a service and/or information related to service discovery.
170 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An information element for wirelessly conveying information to a first device about a service provided by a second device, prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device that is suitable for providing the service, the information element comprising:
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at least one first portion comprising information related to the service provided by the second device; and at least one second portion comprising information representing a first service discovery protocol used by the first device for discovering the service, the information representing the first service discovery protocol comprising a format identifier to allow the first device to identify the first service discovery protocol to use to discover the service, wherein the format identifier is compressed using a hash function and identifies an information element format associated with the first service discovery protocol, wherein the first service discovery protocol is the Web Services Discovery protocol, wherein the hashed format identifier is used by the first device to identify the first service discovery protocol as the Web Services Discovery protocol, and wherein, based on the identification of the Web Services Discovery protocol, the first device delivers information from the information element to a Web Services Discovery module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. At least one computer-readable memory device having computer-executable instructions for performing steps of a method of accessing, by a first device, a service provided by a second device that is in a proximity of first device, the method comprising:
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prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device that is suitable for providing the service, receiving by the first device an information element (IE) comprising compressed information related to the service provided by the second device and identifying a first service discovery protocol for the first device to use to discover the service provided by the second device, wherein the compressed information comprises a hashed format identifier, the hashed format identifier identifying an IE format associated with the first service discovery protocol, wherein the first service discovery protocol is the Web Services Discovery protocol; identifying, using the hashed format identifier, the first service discovery protocol as the Web Services Discovery protocol; extracting the information from the information element; based on the identification of the Web Services Discovery protocol, delivering the extracted information to a Web Services Discovery module; determining, using the Web Services Discovery module, if the service is desired; and establishing a connection between the first device and the second device, if the service is desired. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method of obtaining information related to a service provided by a second device that is in a proximity of a first device, the method comprising:
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prior to establishing a connection between the first device and the second device that is suitable for providing the service, receiving by the first device an information element (IE) comprising compressed information identifying a first service discovery protocol for the first device to use to discover the service provided by the second device, wherein the compressed information comprises a hashed format identifier, the hashed format identifier identifying an IE format associated with the first service discovery protocol, wherein the first service discovery protocol is the Web Services Discovery protocol; identifying, using the hashed format identifier, the first service discovery protocol as the Web Services Discovery protocol; extracting the information from the information element; based on the identification of the Web Services Discovery protocol, delivering the extracted information to a Web Services Discovery module; and determining, using the Web Services Discovery module, information related to the service provided by the second device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification