Ad-hoc simple configuration

• US 9,019,866 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Chhabra, Kapil
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay P
• Application Number:
  US14/143,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0222 in packet switched networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A protocol governing the operation of an ad-hoc WLAN enables each device in the WLAN to be configured as a registrar and/or an enrollee. Accordingly, each device is configurable to support both the registrar as well as enrollee modes of operations. In response to a time-driven user action, the device may be configured to enter into a registrar mode or an enrollee mode. While in the registrar mode, the device enters into an aggressive beaconing phase by setting its beacon contention window to a relatively very small value. The aggressive beaconing increases the probability of the discovery of the registrar by the enrollees. Optionally the device may prompt the user to select between a registrar and an enrollee mode of operation by displaying the option on an LCD panel.

Claims

1. A method of forming an ad-hoc network, the method comprising:

receiving, with a user interface of the device, at least one user input of a pair of user inputs to configure a first device as one of an enrollee or a registrar; and

configuring the first device as the registrar in response to receiving the at least one user input;

setting, with the first device as the registrar, a timer to elapse by a predetermined time;

receiving, with the first device as registrar, a probe request from a second device as the enrollee before the timer elapses by the predetermined time;

performing, with the first device as the registrar, a registrar-enrollee handshake with the second device as the enrollee in response to receiving the probe request; and

establishing, with the first device as the registrar, the ad-hoc network with the second device as the enrollee in response to the registrar-enrollee handshake being successful.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the at least one user input comprises receiving, with the user interface, a first user input and a second user input, and wherein configuring the first device as the registrar comprises configuring the first device as the registrar in response to receiving the second user input within a predetermined period of time from receiving the first user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises at least one button configured to receive button presses, wherein receiving the at least one user input of the pair of user inputs comprises:

receiving, with the at least one button, at least one button press of a pair of button presses from a user to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the first user input;

exiting, with the first device, a power-save mode; and

presenting to a user of the first device, with the user interface, a selection to select the first device to be configured as the enrollee or the registrar, the second user input being indicative of the selection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a user of the first device, with the user interface, a PIN input indicative of a PIN associated with the enrollee;

transmitting, with first device as the registrar, the PIN to the second device as the enrollee indicating to the enrollee that the registrar communicates via a PIN mode only without participating in a push-button mode of an ad-hoc session; and

establishing, with the first device as the registrar, a connection with the second device as the enrollee, in response to transmitting the PIN.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

entering, with the first device as the registrar, an idle mode in response to the timer elapsing by the predetermined time.

7. A method of forming an ad-hoc network, the method comprising:

receiving, with a user interface of a first device, at least one user input of a pair of user inputs to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar; and

configuring the first device as the enrollee in response to receiving the at least one user input;

scanning, with the first device as the enrollee, for registrars;

determining, with the first device as the enrollee, a number of one or more second devices configured as the registrar in response to the scanning;

in response determining that a single second device is configured as the registrar, performing, with the first device as the enrollee, a handshake with the single second device to form the ad-hoc network with the single second device; and

in response to determining that no second devices or a plurality of second devices are configured as the registrar, starting, with the first device as the enrollee, a registrar application to form the ad-hoc network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

setting, with the first device as the enrollee, a scanning time according to a periodicity of beacon transmissions transmitted by a second device as the registrar.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting, with the first device as the enrollee, a PIN associated with the enrollee to a second device as the registrar to dispense a need for the second device, as the registrar, to receive a PIN input from a user of the second device in order to form a connection with the first device as the enrollee.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, the method further comprising:

starting, with the first device, a predetermined period of time upon receiving the first user input,

wherein configuring the first device as the enrollee comprises configuring first device as the enrollee in response to expiration of the predetermined period of time without receiving the second user input.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the user interface comprises at least one button configured to receive button presses, wherein receiving the at least one user input of the pair of user inputs comprises:

receiving, with the at least one button, at least one button press of a pair of button presses from a user to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the first user input;

exiting, with the first device, a power-save mode; and

presenting to a user of the first device, with the user interface, a selection to select the first device to be configured as the enrollee or the registrar, the second user input being indicative of the selection.

13. A first device with capability to be configured as one of an enrollee or a registrar to form an ad-hoc network, the first device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a pair of user inputs to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar; and

a processor circuit in communication with the user interface, the processor circuit configured to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar in response to receipt of the at least one input pair of user inputs by the user interface;

in response to the first device being configured as the registrar, the processor circuit is further configured to;

set a timer to elapse by a predetermined time;

determine whether a probe request from a second device as the enrollee was received within the predetermined time;

in response to a determination that the probe request was received within the predetermined time, perform a registrar-enrollee handshake with the second device; and

establish the ad-hoc network with the second device as the enrollee in response to the registrar-enrollee handshake being successful.

14. The first device of claim 13, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, and wherein the processor circuit is configured to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar in response to receipt of the second user input within a predetermined period of time from receipt of the first user input by the user interface.

15. The first device of claim 13, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a pair of button presses, and wherein the user interface comprises at least one button configured to receive the pair of button presses to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar.

16. The first device of claim 13, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

in response to receiving the first user input;

exit a power-save mode; and

present to a user of the first device, with the user interface, a selection to select the first device to be configured as the enrollee or the registrar, the second input being indicative of the selection.

17. The first device of claim 13, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

receive from a user of the first device, with the user interface, a PIN input indicative of a PIN associated with the enrollee;

transmit the PIN to a second device as the enrollee, the PIN indicating to the enrollee that the first device as the registrar communicates via a PIN mode only without participating in a push-button mode of an ad-hoc session; and

establish a connection with the second device as the enrollee, in response to transmission of the PIN.

18. The first device of claim 13, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

enter an idle mode in response to the timer elapsing by the predetermined time.

19. A first device with capability to be configured as one of an enrollee or a registrar to form an ad-hoc network, the first device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a pair of user inputs to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar; and

a processor circuit in communication with the user interface, the processor circuit configured to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar in response to receipt of the pair of user inputs by the user interface;

in response to the first device being configured as the enrollee, the processor circuit is further configured to;

scan for registrars to determine a number of second devices configured as the registrar;

in response determination that a single second device is configured as the registrar, perform a handshake with the single second device to form the ad-hoc network with the single second device; and

in response to determination that no second devices or a plurality of second devices are configured as the registrar, start a registrar application to form the ad-hoc network.

20. The first device of claim 19, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

set a scanning time according to a periodicity of beacon transmissions transmitted by a second device as the registrar.

21. The first device of claim 19, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

transmit a PIN associated with the enrollee to a second device as the registrar to dispense a need for the second device, as the registrar, to receive a PIN input from a user of the second device in order to form a connection with the first device as the enrollee.

22. The first device of claim 19, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, and wherein the processor circuit is configured to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar in response to receipt of the second user input within a predetermined period of time from receipt of the first user input by the user interface.

23. The first device of claim 19, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a pair of button presses, and wherein the user interface comprises at least one button configured to receive the pair of button presses to configure the first device as one of the enrollee or the registrar.

24. The first device of claim 19, wherein the pair of user inputs comprises a first user input and a second user input, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

in response to receiving the first user input;

exit a power-save mode; and

present to a user of the first device, with the user interface, a selection to select the first device to be configured as the enrollee or the registrar, the second input being indicative of the selection.