Method for forming an ad hoc network

• US 8,625,473 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Frank, Michael, Rieken, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): PARK, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US10/210,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20030026213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,176 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/338, 370/389, 370/466, 370/255, 370/282, 370/401, 709/203, 707/10
• US Class Current: 370/282
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An ad hoc network is formed as a connection between a local area network with its services and at least one body-worn network when at least one computer in the local area network detects the local services located in the local area network, translates them into Jini services and offers them on the IP plane with the use of Jini middleware for body-worn networks.

Claims

1. A method for providing Jini services in a local area network, comprising:

assigning a location-dependent attribute to at least one computer in the local area network;

detecting, by the at least one computer, local services of the local area network that are not Jini services;

translating, by the at least one computer, the detected local services into Jini services;

assigning, by the at least one computer, the location-dependent attribute to the translated Jini services;

offering, by the at least one computer, the translated Jini services in the local area network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one computer is a server in the local area network.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one computer is a client of the local area network.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one computer is a base station of a room network.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1,

further comprising assigning an appliance connected to the local area network the location-dependent attribute of the at least one computer.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising selecting the location-dependent attribute in a room-specific fashion.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, when similar services are available in the local area network, offering at least one service nearest in location to an appliance in the local area network, based on at least one of priority and exclusively per appliance.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the location-dependent attribute is defined hierarchically in accordance with location-dependent possibility of use.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one computer is adapted for:

assigning an access computer via which an appliance can be connected to the local area network a location-dependent attribute; and

assigning an appliance belonging to a body-worn network and connected to the local area network via said access computer the same location-dependent attribute as that of the access computer.

10. A system for forming an ad hoc network as a connection between a local area network providing local services and at least one body-worn network, comprising:

at least one computer in the local area network, the least one computer being assigned a location-dependent attribute and being configured to detect the local services of the local area network that are not Jini services, to translate the detected local services into Jini services, to assign the translated services the location-dependent attribute, and to offer the translated services as Jini services in the local area network; and

at least one appliance of the at least one body-worn network that is connected to the local area network and uses the Jini services offered by the at least one computer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one computer is a server in the local area network.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one computer is a client of the local area network.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one computer is a base station of a room network.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one of a wireless and galvanic coupling between said at least one computer and the at least one body-worn network.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one computer further selects the location-dependent attribute in a room-specific fashion.

16. The system as claimed in claim 10,

wherein, when similar services are available in the local area network, said at least one computer further offers at least one service nearest in location to the at least one appliance, based on at least one of priority and exclusively per appliance.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one computer further assigns the services offered in the local area network, location-dependent attributes defined hierarchically in accordance with location-dependent possibility of use.

18. A computer in a local area network, comprising:

an assigned location-dependent attribute;

a detector configured to detect local services of the local area network that are not Jini services;

a translator to translate the detected local services into Jini services;

an assignor to assign the translated Jini services the location-dependent attribute; and

a unit to offer the translated Jini services in the local area network.

19. The computer as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

a unit to assign an access computer, via which an appliance can be connected to the local area network, a location-dependent attribute; and

a unit to assign an appliance belonging to a body-worn network and connected to the local area network via said access computer the same location-dependent attribute as that of the access computer.

20. The computer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer is a server in the local area network.

21. The computer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer is a client of the local area network.

22. The computer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer is a base station of a room network.