Method and device for prompt and efficient service discovery in wireless networks

Abstract

Methods, system and apparatus are provided for advertising service offerings in a communication system. An example embodiment comprises at least one device. A first device broadcasts a message of a first type, chooses a value for a time limit and listens for a message sent by a second device. If no message has been received before time limit, elapse, it again broadcasts a message of a first type. Otherwise, the message received from said second device is analyzed and if said message includes valid information about said first device chooses a value for the time limit. However, if said message received does not include valid service description about said first device, a message of a second type is broadcast. This reduces useless broadcast of a complete service list. Broadcast may be initiated more often and, service discovery for new devices coming into proximity takes less time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention is directed to wireless local area networks and the communication between the devices forming such a network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication scheme which allows devices within the wireless local area network to announce their service and / or discover services provided by other devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Computer terminals and peripherals have become dramatically smaller and more portable. Personal computers and peripherals are small enough to sit on the desk at work. Smaller still are lap top computers and notebook computers. There are computer terminals which are small enough to be mounted in a vehicle such as a delivery truck. Still smaller are the hand held terminals typically used for their portability features where the user can carry the terminal in one hand and operate it with the other. A physical connection of the above devices by means of cables or fibers might have drawbacks, such...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an efficient method and device for service discovery in wireless networks. The method involves broadcasting a message of a first type, choosing a value for a time limit, and listening for a message sent by a second device. The message of the first type includes a digest of the service description of the first device and other devices, while the message of the second type includes the service description of the first device and other devices. The first device maintains a counter for each service description and the counter is incremented for each broadcast. The method also uses a push-model to distribute service descriptions to an environment of nodes that can communicate with each other through wireless communication technology. The invention limits or avoids useless broadcast of a complete service list and reduces redundancy in broadcasting the complete service list.

Problems solved by technology

A physical connection of the above devices by means of cables or fibers might have drawbacks, such as configuration constraints because of the limited length of the cable, limited number of ports on the computer thus limiting the number of peripherals that can be attached, cumbersome reconfiguration of hardwired devices, etc.

The smaller the devices get, the more important it becomes to replace fixed physical connections by wireless ad-hoc connections (e.g. body networks, radio frequency connections, or infrared connections), since physically connecting the computer terminals, peripherals, and other devices by means of cables or fibers severely reduces the efficiency gained by making the units smaller.

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