US6532368B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Service advertisements in wireless local networks
Assignee: Wistron Corp
•
Filing: 2000-01-19
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Granted: 2003-03-11
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Expires: 2020-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for advertising service offerings in a communications network. A service offering includes information about the device making the advertisement, including what functions the device may serve. The advertisement also includes information about other devices in the network, when that information is available. Each device in the network determines a time value, at the end of which the device will send an advertisement. Each device listens for advertisements from other devices up to the time previously determined. If a device receives an advertisement that contains information about itself then the device will determine a new time value, at the end of which the device will send an advertisement. If a device receives an advertisement that does not contain information about itself then the device will send its own advertisement.
Inventors
- 👤 Stefan G. Hild
- 👤 Dirk Husemann
- 👤 Michael Nidd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/189; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/04; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/60; H04L67/62; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L12/185; H04L12/1895; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for advertising service offerings in a communications system having two devices, a first and a second device, comprising the steps of: a. transmitting from each device, service information, including information about itself wherein said two devices form an ad-hoc group; i. choosing a timeout value T A , by each device; ii. listening by the first device, for up to said first device's timeout value T A , for said service information sent by the second device; iii. if said first device timed out, return to step a, otherwise, determining whether said service information sent by the second device comprises information including local services information; if yes, continue with step i.; if no, return to step a.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for advertising service offerings in a communications system having two devices, a first and a second device, comprising the steps of: a. transmitting from each device, service information, including information about itself wherein said two devices form an ad-hoc group; i. choosing a timeout value T A , by each device; ii. listening by the first device, for up to said first device's timeout value T A , for said service information sent by the second device; iii. if said first device timed out, return to step a, otherwise, determining whether said service information sent by the second device comprises information including local services information; if yes, continue with step i.; if no, return to step a.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said two devices share a broadcast medium for advertising service offerings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said two devices are part of a local network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said two devices form an ad-hoc group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said two devices each broadcast their individual service information in a non-even statistical time distribution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said two devices acts as a master and the other as slave.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two devices is put into a power-saving mode by increasing its timeout value T A such that a small number of transmissions by said device occur in a given time frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein all devices within mutual communication range of each share said broadcast medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said shared medium is an infrared (IR) channel, a radio-frequency (RF) channel, a HomeRF channel, or a Personal Area Network channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said communications system has a coverage area between a few square meters and a few hundred square meters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said service offerings is described by means of a service identifier being transmitted as part of said service information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said service identifier is a flag or bit combination which describes standard types of services.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information comprises a service parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information comprises expiry information associated with a service offering.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said expiry information is an expiry time or an age field.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said expiry information is used to age out the respective service.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein a device removes an expired service.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said broadcast medium is also used for transmission of user data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information comprises a device identifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information includes destination information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a first of said two devices receives said service information from the second of said two devices more often than it sends own service information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two devices listens periodically for service information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two devices alters its transmission probability distribution by reducing its timeout value T A to make it more likely that it will send service information, or increasing it to make it less likely to transmit service information.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for exchanging service information with other devices, comprises a transceiver, a processing unit, a memory for storing information about its local services and/or services provided by other devices, and a protocol resource manager which a. triggers said transceiver to send service information, comprising information about itself and/or other known devices to their devices, b. triggers said transceiver to choose a timeout value T A , c. ensures that the apparatus listens for up to a maximum time T A for service information received by said transceiver, d. if the transceiver timed out without having received said service information by said transceiver, triggers said transceiver to repeat step a, e. if said service information was received by said transceiver prior to said transceiver timing out, checks whether said service information received comprises information about itself, and f. if yes, then chooses another timeout value T A , and continuing with step c, g. if no, then continuing with step a.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for exchanging service information with other devices, comprises a transceiver, a processing unit, a memory for storing information about its local services and/or services provided by other devices, and a protocol resource manager which a. triggers said transceiver to send service information, comprising information about itself and/or other known devices to their devices, b. triggers said transceiver to choose a timeout value T A , c. ensures that the apparatus listens for up to a maximum time T A for service information received by said transceiver, d. if the transceiver timed out without having received said service information by said transceiver, triggers said transceiver to repeat step a, e. if said service information was received by said transceiver prior to said transceiver timing out, checks whether said service information received comprises information about itself, and f. if yes, then chooses another timeout value T A , and continuing with step c, g. if no, then continuing with step a.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , comprising a MAC unit which is employed for the avoidance of collisions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 24 being part of a local network, preferably a local network with a mesh topology.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said devices form an ad-hoc group.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said transceiver broadcasts said service information in a non-even statistical time distribution.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said device acts as a master.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said device has a power saving unit to put it into a power-saving mode by increasing said timeout value T A such that a small number of transmissions by said device occur in a given time frame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said device intentionally decrease T A to increase the number of its transmissions, saving power for all other devices in the group.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said device sends empty service information to save power during periods where no advertisements are being received.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said transceiver is an infrared (IR) transceiver, a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, a HomeRf transceiver, or a Personal Area Network transceiver.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein said local network has a coverage area between a few square meters and a few hundred square meters.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said service information is described by means of service identifier.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein said service identifier is a flag or bit combination which describes standard types of services.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said service information comprises a service parameter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said service information comprises expiry information associated with a service offering.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said expiry information is an expiry time or an age field.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said expiry information is used to age out the respective service.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein protocol resource manager removes an expired service.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said transceiver is also used for transmission of user data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said service information comprises a device identifier.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said service information comprises destination information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said protocol resource manager alters the transmission probability distribution of the transceiver by reducing its timeout value T A to make it more likely that it will send service information.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said protocol resource manager is implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-10 | 2006-09-09 | 2007-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-10 | 2010-09-09 | 2011-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-10 | 2014-09-09 | 2015-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |