Method and apparatus for determining the availability of a first device in a wireless network to provide a service to a second device within the wireless network
US9338733B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W48/16
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with determining the availability of a first device in a wireless network to provide a service to a second device within the wireless network are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes periodically transmitting a discovery packet, in accordance with a broadcast communication protocol, within a network. The discovery packet comprises a request to reply with a corresponding name of the responding device. The corresponding name of each responding device is received and stored in memory. When a request to identify devices in the network is received, a confirmation packet comprising a request to confirm availability is respectively transmitted, in accordance with a point-to-point protocol, to devices having a corresponding name stored in the memory. A response confirming availability is received from responding devices. Only the names of the responding devices that confirmed availability are provided in response to the request.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.