Apparatus and methods for establishing client-host associations within a wireless network

Apparatus and method for establishing client-host association in wireless network

The present invention relates to the field of communications as a whole. More specifically, in some aspects the invention relates to establishing and changing a one-to-one client-host association in a wireless network.

The portability and functionality of wireless communication devices continue to improve, thereby contributing to the expansion of wireless communication networks. Many traditional wired connections are being replaced by wireless connections, including when one wireless device moves into the connection area of another wireless device<i>ad hoc</i>connect. Some of the concerns are wireless local area networks (wireless LAN or WLAN), such as wireless networks based on various IEEE 802.11 standards. Some of the concerns are also wireless personal area networks (wireless PAN or WPAN), which are networks often used for communication between two or more devices in the vicinity of a person. The range of WLAN and WPAN is usually on the order of ten meters, although some networks operate at distances three, ten, or even thirty times longer.

A wireless LAN or PAN network can be used for communication between two or three private devices, or for communication between such private devices and higher-level networks including the Internet. Wireless network can use infrared data alliance (IrDA), bluetooth, ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee and IEEE 802.11 standard technology to realize.

The wireless body area network can be regarded as a subset of the personal area network. The wireless body area network may include wireless sensors for monitoring various physical parameters and functions. These sensors can send real-time data to, for example, a base station located in a private residence.

A link can be established between two wireless devices in a wireless network for one-to-one communication between the two devices. One of the devices, the client, can exclusively provide the use of resources to the other device, the host, through the link. Examples of such resources are display devices that can be operated wirelessly from personal computers, personal digital assistants, or cellular phones that have wireless capabilities in addition to cellular connections.

In the art, there is a need for devices, methods, and manufactured products that help establish links in wireless networks including wireless LANs and wireless PANs. There is also a need for devices, methods, and manufactured products that help change the availability of resources from one host to another in a wireless network.

The embodiments disclosed herein can solve one or more of the above-mentioned needs by providing devices, methods, and manufactured products for establishing one-to-one wireless network associations in different categories.

Describes a method for providing access to shared resources of clients through a wireless network. The method includes establishing a passive association between a client and a first host for communication via a wireless network. The passive association does not allow the first host to use the shared resource. The method further includes receiving, at the client, from the first host, a request to establish an active association, the active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the first host. The request is received via a wireless network. The method further includes determining at the client whether there is an active association allowing the exclusive use of the shared resource by the second host (ie, whether there is any previously established active association with any other host), wherein the response from the first The host request to perform this step. If there is no active association with the second (ie, any other) host, the method further includes establishing an active association with the first host and allowing the first host to exclusively use the shared resource.

Describes a wireless network client device. The client device includes: shared resources, memory, wireless network receiver, wireless network transmitter, and controller. The controller is coupled to the receiver, transmitter, shared resources, and memory. The controller is used to establish a passive association between the client device and the first host for communication through the wireless network. The passive association does not allow the first host to use the shared resource. The controller is further configured to receive a request for establishing an active association from the first host via a wireless network, and the active association allows the first host to exclusively use the shared resource. The controller is further configured to respond to the request from the first host to determine whether there is an active association that allows the second host to use the shared resource exclusively (that is, to determine whether there is any previously established relationship with any other host). Active association). If there is no active association that allows the second host to use the shared resource exclusively, the controller is further configured to establish an active association with the first host and allow the first host to use the shared resource exclusively.

Describes a machine-readable medium storing instructions. When at least one processor of a client device that has shared resources and is used for receiving and transmitting through a wireless network executes these instructions, these instructions cause the client device to perform multiple steps. These steps include establishing a passive association between the client device and the first host for communication via the wireless network. The passive association does not allow the first host to use the shared resource. These steps further include receiving a request for establishing an active association from the first host via the wireless network, the active association allowing the first host to exclusively use the shared resource. These steps further include determining whether there is an active association allowing the exclusive use of the shared resource by the second host in response to the request from the first host. (That is, determine whether there is any previously established active association with any other host.) If it is determined whether there is an active association that allows the second host to use the shared resource exclusively, the result of the step is to determine that there is no association with the second host. Active association, these steps further include establishing an active association with the first host and allowing the first host to exclusively use the shared resource.

Describes another kind of client equipment, which has: a shared resource module, a data storage component, a component for receiving information through a wireless network, a component for sending information through a wireless network, and a component for controlling shared resources, data Storage components, components for receiving, and controller components for sending components. The controller component is used to establish a passive association between the client device and the first host for communication through the wireless network. This passive association does not allow the first host to use shared resources. The controller component is also used to receive a request for establishing an active association from the first host via the wireless network, and the active association allows the first host to exclusively use the shared resource component. The controller component is further used to respond to the request from the first host to determine whether there is an active association that allows any other hosts to use the shared resource component exclusively. If there is no active association that allows any other host to use the shared resource component exclusively, the controller component is further used to establish an active association with the first host and allow the first host to use the shared resource component exclusively.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, drawings and appended claims.

In this document, the words "embodiments", "variants" and similar expressions are used to refer to specific devices, processes, or manufactured products, and do not necessarily refer to the same device, process, or manufactured products. Therefore, "an embodiment" (or similar expressions) used in one location or context can refer to a specific device, process, or manufactured product; the same or similar expressions in different locations can refer to different devices, processes, or manufactured products . The expressions "alternative embodiment", "alternatively" and similar words can be used to indicate one of many different possible embodiments. The number of possible embodiments need not be limited to two or any other number.

The word "exemplary" may be used here to mean "as an example, instance, or example." It is not necessary to interpret any embodiment or variant described herein as "exemplary" as superior or advantageous over other embodiments or variants. All the embodiments and variants described in this specification are exemplary embodiments and variants, which are used to enable those skilled in the art to implement and use the present invention without limiting the legal protection scope consistent with the present invention.

The term "association" refers to the communication link established between the client device where the resource is located and the host device that wishes to use the resource. The communication link can be through wired or wireless media. "Association" is a temporary relationship established between the corresponding application entities on the host and the client device, where any entity can initiate an association and negotiate service parameters (for example, quality of service) and/or communication parameters. An "active" association is an association that provides exclusive use of shared resources located at or through the client. A "passive" association allows the negotiation of communication (and possibly other) parameters, but does not provide for the use of shared resources available at the client. Based on passive association, regular monitoring messages can be sent between the host and the client (one-way or two-way), so that these devices know each other's existence within the communication distance of the wireless network; and according to various environments, such as power availability, Computing resources and the presence of other hosts in the wireless network can maintain or periodically change communication parameters. Certain aspects of these associations are described in a uniformly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/951,919 filed on July 25, 2007 under the title Wireless Architecture for a Traditional Wire-Based Protocol.

FIG. 1 shows selected components of a client 120 and a host 140 in a one-to-one association within the wireless network 100. The client 120 includes a processor 122, a memory 124, a shared resource 126 that can provide one or more services to the host 140 and one or more other hosts one at a time, and is used to receive communications from devices in the wireless network 100 The receiver 128 of the wireless network 100, and the transmitter 130 for sending communications to devices in the wireless network 100. The memory 124, the shared resource 126, the receiver 128, and the transmitter 130 are coupled to the processor 122, which can configure, read, and/or write to these devices.

Similarly, the host 140 includes a processor 142, a memory 144, a receiver 148 for receiving communications from devices in the wireless network 100, and a transmitter 150 for sending communications to devices in the wireless network 100. The host 140 also has a human interface output block 152 and a human interface input block 154. The memory 144, the receiver 148, the transmitter 150, the human interface output block 152, and the human interface input block 154 are coupled to the processor 142, which can configure, read, and/or write to these devices.

The processors 122 and 142 may include, for example, one or more controllers, one or more microprocessors, one or more digital signal processors, one or more state machines, or a combination of these devices. The memories 124 and 144 may be inside or outside the corresponding processor (122 or 142), and may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), and Erase PROM (EPROM), Electronically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM) ), direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), magnetic storage unit and/or other memory devices.

In some variations, communications within the wireless network 100 can span ten meters, thirty meters, one hundred meters, or three hundred meters. It can communicate with one of the WiMedia standard, ECMA-368/369 standard, Bluetooth standard, IrDA standard, UWB standard, ZigBee standard or IEEE 802.11 standard. (This enumeration is not exclusive.) Therefore, the receiver 128/148 and the transmitter 130/150 are configured to operate based on applicable standards.

The shared resource 126 may be, for example, a display, such as a projector, a TV display screen, or a computer display screen. In some variations, the shared resource 126 includes a display device with mobile display digital interface (MDDI) capabilities. The common resource 126 may be a sound reproduction device, such as one or more speakers. The shared resource 126 may also be a storage device used to store and/or provide data. The shared resource 126 may be a gateway to another network such as a wireless or wired network; the other network may be or may be connected to the Internet or telephone network. The shared resource 126 may also be an electronic game device, where the host 140 performs the function of a game controller when there is an active association between the host 140 and the client 120. The shared resource 126 may also be a personal computer or other computers with pre-loaded software, thereby allowing the host 140 to substantially use the pre-loaded software to perform user input and output functions of the computer. Shared resources can also be human interface input, such as keyboards or pointing devices (mouse, trackball, and similar devices). In addition, shared resources can include mechanical equipment and optical equipment.

The human interface input block 154 may be, for example, a keyboard, a touch pad, and/or a pointing device. For example, the human interface output block 152 may be a display device, a speaker, and/or a headset. The human interface input block and output block can also be integrated into, for example, a touch screen.

The association between the client 120 and the host 140 can be established in various ways. For example, when these two devices are within the communication range of each other (wireless network), a passive association can be automatically established. The client 120, the host 140, or each of these devices may be responsible for automatically discovering another device at the same time. For example, after a passive association is established between these two devices, as a result of a request generated by a user of the host 140, an active association can be established.

The client 120, the host 140, or each of these devices may have other components, including a receiver designed to communicate with other wireless networks or networks other than wireless networks, including cellular networks. And/or transmitter. For example, cellular networks can operate based on UTRAN or UMTS terrestrial wireless access network standards, which include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global Mobile Communications (GSM) network standards.

Figure 2 shows selected steps of a process 200 for establishing a passive association first and then an active association between a client (e.g., client 120) and a requesting host (e.g., host 140). In the case that there is a previously established association between the client and another host, the other host may be the same, similar, similar, or different from the requesting host.

At process point 201, the host and client are operating.

At step 205, at least one device detects that another device is within a distance that allows wireless network communication between the two devices. The detection device can be a client or a host.

At step 210, the client and the host negotiate or determine the communication parameters of the passive association between them. These parameters can include media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) communication parameters. In response to the detection of step 205, step 210 may be performed automatically.

At step 215, the host receives a command from its user to establish an active association with the client for exclusive use of the client's shared resources. For example, the host can receive commands through the host's human interface input block.

At step 220, the host sends a request to establish an active association to the client. The request may include introductory information, such as text, audio, video, or other information. The introduction information can identify the operator or owner of the host.

At step 225, the client receives the request.

At decision block 230, the client checks the existence of previously established active associations with any other hosts. If there is currently such a previously established active association, the processing flow branches to the step generally marked by reference numeral 235, where this situation can be handled as described further below.

If there is currently no previously established active association, the processing flow proceeds to step 280. In step 280, the client approves the request of the requesting host and negotiates or determines other parameters of the active association between the host and the client, and then The association becomes an active association. The previously determined parameters applicable to the communication between the client and the host (for example, the communication parameters determined in step 210) can be maintained, or these parameters can be renegotiated or changed.

For example, the other parameters may include quality of service (QoS) to be provided by the shared resource to the host. For example, for a display, the resolution of the display can be such a parameter. For a connection to another network through a client, these parameters may include the QoS of the connection (for example, bandwidth and delay). The payment for the use of the shared resource may be transmitted or authorized by the user as part of step 280, and a visual or audio indication may notify the user of the availability of the resource. The visual or audio indication can be generated by the host (for example, from a human interface output block of the host) or by the client.

At step 285, the user of the host exclusively uses the shared resources of the client. Then, the process ends at flow point 299.

One type of active association is a "stable" association, which does not allow any other host to interrupt the association. In other words, the client does not accept the active association request if there is a previously established active and stable association. Returning to the decision block 230 of the process 200, the existence of the previously established firm association results in the rejection of the association requested by the user in step 235. On the other hand, if the user manages the establishment of a stable association in step 280, the request from other hosts for active association will be immediately rejected, without asking the host user who has the current ownership of the active stable association whether the stable association can be released. Associated. The user with the solid association may or may not be notified of another user's request.

Figure 3 shows selected step 235A corresponding to the presence of a previously established firm association. The processing flow of the processing 200 may proceed to step 235A, in which it is determined in the judgment block 230 that there is currently a previously established active association. Step 235A may include: a determination block 237A for checking whether the previously established association is a stable association; and step 239A, in step 239A, the client sends a message to the requesting host to immediately reject the request. If the request to establish an active association received in step 225 includes introduction information (for example, text, video, or audio), step 235A may include sending all or part of the introduction information to the host with the previously established active association. A host with a previously established active association can provide (for example, via a display, indicator light, or sound) all or part of the introduction information, or derivative information of the introduction information, to its users. In this way, the host user who has the previously established active association can be notified that another person is trying to use the shared resource.

Another type of association can be a "semi-stable" association, which generates a request to the (first) host with the current active association in order to release the association for acquisition by the requesting (second) host. Figure 4 shows selected step 235B corresponding to this scenario. After it is determined in the determination block 230 that there is currently a previously established semi-stable active association, the processing flow of the process 200 may proceed to step 235B. As shown in FIG. 4, step 235B corresponding to this scenario may include: a determination block 241B for checking whether the previously established active association is a semi-stable association; The associated host sends a message requesting authorization to release the previously established active association.

According to the determination in the decision blocks 245B, 246B and 247B, if the host possessing the previously established association permits the request before the timeout, the previously established association is discarded or converted to a passive association in step 249B. Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds to steps 280 and 285 (as shown in FIG. 2) to establish a new active association between the client and the host requesting the active association, and then the requesting host uses the new association.

The request to authorize the release may include information describing the association attempted to establish, such as the type of association (stable, semi-stable, or other type). If the request for establishing an active association received in step 225 includes introduction information, the query may include all or part of the introduction information. The host with the previously established active association can provide the introduction information or some derivative information of the introduction information to its users.

The host that permits or denies the release request can be pre-programmed to automatically permit or deny the request regardless of other environments (for example, always permit or always deny), and the host can request authorization from its user via the human interface block (For example, it displays "Enter YES to approve the request and release the projector"), or according to some circumstances, such as the length of time that the host user does not use the resource, the host can automatically perform this operation.

Another type of association can be soft association or weak association, so that when an active association request is received, the client automatically releases the previously established active association (or reduces it to a passive association) and permits the newly received request.

Associations can combine attributes of different association categories on a time basis. An example of such a combined association is an active association that is stable for a predetermined period of time after establishment, and then transitions to a weak or semi-stable association. The time period can be configured by the user at the host when the association is requested.

Figure 5 shows selected steps 235 of the process of merging different types of active associations, where these active associations include stable active associations, semi-stable active associations, and weak active associations. As described above, when the process 200 of FIG. 2 determines in the determination block 230 that there is currently a previously established active association, the process 200 may proceed to step 235.

In the decision block 237, the client determines whether the previously established active association is a solid active association as described above. If so, the client immediately rejects the active association request in step 239, that is, there is no need to ask the host that has the previously established association.

Otherwise, the processing flow proceeds to decision block 255. Here, the client determines whether the previously established active association is a weak active association as described above. If the previously established active association is a weak active association, the association is released in step 249. Releasing the association can release all or part of the resources dedicated to the association (shared resources, computing resources, storage resources and/or possibly other resources). By releasing shared resources and possible other resources but keeping the communication link open to the host that owns the association, the release can also transform the association into a passive association.

The processing flow continues from step 249 to steps 280 and 285 (as shown in FIG. 2), where a new active association is established with the requesting host, and the requesting host uses the new association.

Now returning to the decision block 255, if the made judgment shows that the previously established association is not a weak association, the processing flow proceeds to the decision block 241 to determine whether the previously established active association is a semi-stable association as described above. If the previously established association is not a semi-stable association, other association categories are handled in a similar way to the treatment of stable, weak, and semi-stable associations. If the association is a semi-stable association, the client proceeds to step 243 to send an inquiry to the host that owns the previously established association.

The query may result in a message asking whether the association can be released at the host. The request may include all or part of the introduction information or information derived from the introduction information.

It should be noted that if there are only these three types of associations (ie, stable, weak, and semi-stable), then because the negative judgments made at decision boxes 237 and 255 mean that the previously established active association must be a semi-stable association, it is not necessary. Requires decision block 241.

The processing flow proceeds from step 243 to decision block 245 to determine whether the owner of the previously established association authorizes its release. If the owner authorizes the release, the processing flow proceeds to step 249 to release the previously established association. Processing continues from step 249 to steps 280 and 285, thereby establishing the requested association and allowing the requesting host to use the resource.

However, if the release has not been authorized according to the decision in decision block 245, the client determines in decision block 246 whether a negative response to the query has been received. If a negative response has been received, the client proceeds to step 239 to reject the request for a new active association.

If the host with the previously established active association has not yet responded (confirmed or denied), the timeout condition is tested in the determination block 247. The time-out condition may be the expiration of a timer that defines a time period from the query until the release permission is received. If the timer expires, the time-out condition essentially indicates that permission to release the previously established active association has been presumably denied. The client then proceeds to step 239 to reject the request for a new active association. If the timeout has not occurred, the client returns to the decision block 245, thereby effectively looping until a response to the query is received or the timeout occurs.

A different connection scheme is similar to a semi-stable association, but directly sends a request to release the previously established association from the requesting host to the host that has the previously established active association. Here, the previously established association may be a stable association. When a new host requests an active association, the client rejects the request, indicating that there is an active association currently. The rejection message may include enough information to request the host to directly contact the owner of the previously established active association. Alternatively, the requesting host can identify one or all hosts within its communication distance through a wireless network (or identify these hosts by other means, such as querying through a different network, where the different network may be a cellular network) road). Once the requesting host recognizes the owner of the previously established association, the requesting host uses the same wireless network or a different method such as another network to directly send a request to the host to release the previously established association. The request can identify the requesting host. Alternatively, the requesting host may broadcast the release request, multicast the release request, or send multiple release requests to different wireless network devices.

When the owner of a previously established association receives a release request from the requesting host, the owner can allow its user to authorize or refuse to release the association; for example, the owner can also be based on the owners configuration, pre-programming or conditions (For example, using or not using the previously established association within a predetermined period of time), the request is automatically authorized, rejected or ignored. If the host decides to release the association, it can send a release message directly to the client. In some variations, the release message is non-dedicated, that is, the message does not identify the requesting host. In some variations, the release message indicates the requesting host. In the latter case, the client can try to establish an active association with the requesting host, or the client can provide a time window for the requesting host to re-request the active association. Requests from other hosts within this time window can be rejected immediately.

Although the steps and judgment blocks of various methods are described sequentially in the present disclosure, some of these steps and judgments can be executed by independent elements simultaneously or in parallel, asynchronously or synchronously, in a pipeline manner, or in other manners. Unless explicitly stated or clearly understood through context or inherent requirements, there are no specific requirements for performing these steps and judgments in the same order as listed in this description. It should be noted, however, that these steps and judgments are performed in the specific order described above and/or the specific order shown in the drawings in the selected variant. In addition, although some steps and judgments not specifically shown may be required or necessary in some systems according to the present invention, every step and judgment shown may not be required in each system according to the present invention.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the concepts described in this article are applicable to various networks, including wireless local area networks, such as networks operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard, and wireless personal area networks.

Those skilled in the art should understand that any of a variety of different methods and techniques can be used to represent information and signals. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned in the entire specification above can use voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or light particles, or any combination thereof To represent.

Those skilled in the art should also note that the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. In order to clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, various schematic elements, blocks, modules, circuits, and functions have been described in general terms. Whether this function is implemented as hardware, as software, or as a combination of hardware and software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. Those skilled in the art can implement the described functions in various ways for each specific application, but this implementation decision should not be construed as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

The various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the various embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or executed using the following components designed to perform the functions described herein: general-purpose processors, digital signal processors ( DSP), dedicated integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, individual gate or transistor logic, individual hardware components or any combination of these components. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of the method or algorithm described in the various embodiments disclosed herein can be directly included in the hardware, in the software module executed by the processor, or in a combination of the two. The software module can be located in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, scratchpad, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any known in the art Other storage media forms. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium or write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor. The processor and storage medium can be located in the ASIC. The ASIC can be located in the access terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may be located in the access terminal as separate components.

The above provides a description of the disclosed embodiments, so that any person skilled in the art can implement or use the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various modifications to these embodiments are obvious, and the general principles defined in this application can also be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments given here, but is consistent with the broadest scope of the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

<p>120. . . Client</p><p>122. . . processor</p><p>124. . . Memory</p><p>126. . . Shared resources</p><p>128. . . Wireless receiver</p><p>130. . . Wireless transmitter</p><p>140. . . Host</p><p>142. . . processor</p><p>144. . . Memory</p><p>148. . . Wireless receiver</p><p>150. . . Wireless transmitter</p><p>152. . . Human interface output</p><p>154. . . Human interface input</p>

Figure 1 shows selected components of the wireless network, including the host and the client;

Figure 2 shows selected steps and judgments for establishing a passive association between a client and a host and processing active association requests;

FIG. 3 shows specific details of selected steps and judgments of the processing of FIG. 2 in the presence of a previously established active and stable association;

FIG. 4 shows the specific details of the selected steps and judgments of the processing of FIG. 2 in the presence of a previously established active semi-stable association; and

Figure 5 shows specific details of selected steps of the process of Figure 2 in the presence of previously established active associations that may fall into different categories.