`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTIWENT 0F COIVIVIERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Adm:s COMMISSICNER FCR PATENTS
`PO Box1450
`Alcxrmdn'a Vil'gmial23131450
`WWWusgtogm
`
`GRPAR
`FILING or
`APPLICATION
`
`IWOI CLAIIVIS IND CLAIMS
`AW’II)DOCKETNO
`I‘ILI‘EI: RECD
`UNI'TI
`371(C)DAIE
`NUMBER
`61/248 328
`10/02/2009
`:35829-US-PRV
`CONFIRMATION NO. 5091
`
`90140
`Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC
`150 s. Wacker Dr. Suite 2100
`Chicago, IL 60606
`
`FILING RECEIPT
`
`|IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII00IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III III III III
`
`Date Mailed: 10/19/2009
`
`It will not be examined for patentability and will
`Receipt is acknowledged of this provisional patent application.
`become abandoned not later than twelve months after its filing date. Any correspondence concerning the application
`must include the following identification information: the US. APPLICATION NUMBER, FILING DATE, NAME OF
`APPLICANT, and TITLE OF INVENTION. Fees transmitted by check or draft are subject to collection. Please verify
`the accuracy of the data presented on this receipt. If an error is noted on this Filing Receipt, please submit
`a written request for a Filing Receipt Correction. Please provide a copy of this Filing Receipt with the
`changes noted thereon. If you received a "Notice to File Missing Parts" for this application, please submit
`any corrections to this Filing Receipt with your reply to the Notice. When the USPTO processes the reply
`to the Notice, the USPTO will generate another Filing Receipt incorporating the requested corrections
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`Michael Montemurro, Mississauga, CANADA;
`Brian Edward McColgan, Mississauga, CANADA;
`Stephen McCann, Southampton, UNITED KINGDOM;
`Power of Attorney:
`Felipe Hernandez .Jr.--61971
`
`If Required, Foreign Filing License Granted: 10/14/2009
`The country code and number of your priority application, to be used for filing abroad under the Paris Convention,
`is US 61/248,328
`Projected Publication Date: None, application is not eligible for pre—grant publication
`Non-Publication Request: No
`Early Publication Request: No
`Title
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATIONS
`
`PROTECTING YOUR INVENTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
`
`Since the rights granted by a US. patent extend only throughout the territory of the United States and have no
`effect in a foreign country, an inventor who wishes patent protection in another country must apply for a patent
`in a specific country or in regional patent offices. Applicants may wish to consider the filing of an international
`application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). An international (PCT) application generally has the same
`effect as a regular national patent application in each PCT-member country. The PCT process simplifies the filing
`of patent applications on the same invention in member countries, but does not result in a grant of "an international
`page 1 of 3
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1014
`
`1
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`APPLE 1014
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`

`

`patent" and does not eliminate the need of applicants to file additional documents and fees in countries where patent
`protection is desired.
`
`Almost every country has its own patent law, and a person desiring a patent in a particular country must make an
`application for patent in that country in accordance with its particular laws. Since the laws of many countries differ
`in various respects from the patent law of the United States, applicants are advised to seek guidance from specific
`foreign countries to ensure that patent rights are not lost prematurely.
`
`Applicants also are advised that in the case of inventions made in the United States, the Director of the USPTO must
`issue a license before applicants can apply for a patent in a foreign country. The filing of a US. patent application
`serves as a request for a foreign filing license. The application‘s filing receipt contains further information and
`guidance as to the status of applicant's license for foreign filing.
`
`Applicants may wish to consult the USPTO booklet, "General Information Concerning Patents" (specifically, the
`section entitled "Treaties and Foreign Patents") for more information on timeframes and deadlines for filing foreign
`patent applications. The guide is available either by contacting the USPTO Contact Center at 800—786—91 99, or it
`can be viewed on the USPTO website at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html.
`
`For information on preventing theft of your intellectual property (patents, trademarks and copyrights), you may wish
`to consult the US. Government website, http://www.stopfakes.gov. Part of a Department of Commerce initiative,
`this website includes self-help "toolkits" giving innovators guidance on how to protect intellectual property in specific
`countries such as China, Korea and Mexico. For questions regarding patent enforcement issues, applicants may
`call the US. Government hotline at 1—866—999—HALT (1—866—999—4158).
`
`LICENSE FOR FOREIGN FILING UNDER
`
`Title 35, United States Code, Section 184
`
`Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations, 5.11 & 5.15
`
`GRANTED
`
`if the phrase "IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING
`The applicant has been granted a license under 35 U.S.C. 184,
`LICENSE GRANTED" followed by a date appears on this form. Such licenses are issued in all applications where
`the conditions for issuance of a license have been met, regardless of whether or not a license may be required as
`set forth in 37 CFR 5.15. The scope and limitations of this license are set forth in 37 CFR 5.15(a) unless an earlier
`license has been issued under 37 CFR 5.15(b). The license is subject to revocation upon written notification. The
`date indicated is the effective date of the license, unless an earlier license of similar scope has been granted under
`37 CFR 5.13 or 5.14.
`
`This license is to be retained by the licensee and may be used at any time on or after the effective date thereof unless
`it is revoked. This license is automatically transferred to any related applications(s) filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d). This
`license is not retroactive.
`
`The grant of a license does not in any way lessen the responsibility of a licensee for the security of the subject matter
`as imposed by any Government contract or the provisions of existing laws relating to espionage and the national
`security or the export of technical data. Licensees should apprise themselves of current regulations especially with
`respect to certain countries, of other agencies, particularly the Office of Defense Trade Controls, Department of
`State (with respect to Arms, Munitions and Implements of War (22 CFR 121-128)); the Bureau of Industry and
`page 2 of 3
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`2
`
`

`

`Security, Department of Commerce (15 CFR parts 730—774); the Office of Foreign AssetsControl, Department of
`Treasury (31 CFR Parts 500+) and the Department of Energy.
`
`NOT GRANTED
`
`No license under 35 U.S.C. 184 has been granted at this time, if the phrase "IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING
`LICENSE GRANTED" DOES NOT appear on this form. Applicant may still petition for a license under 37 CFR 5.12,
`if a license is desired before the expiration of 6 months from the filing date of the application. If 6 months has lapsed
`from the filing date of this application and the licensee has not received any indication of a secrecy order under 35
`U.S.C. 181, the licensee may foreign file the application pursuant to 37 CFR 5.15(b).
`
`page 3 of 3
`
`3
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`
`Docket No: 35829-US—PRV
`
`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`PO. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 223 13- 1450
`
`Sir:
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing is the provisional patent application under 37 CFR l.53(c) of
`
`Inventors:
`
`Michael Montemurro, Brian Edward McColgan and Stephen McCann
`
`Title:
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER—TO—PEER
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`1.
`
`Application Papers Attached
`
`46
`
`1
`
`22
`
`Pages of Specification
`(excluding Claims, Abstract, Sequence Listing & Drawings)
`
`Provisional Cover Sheet
`
`Sheets ofDraWings (FIGS. 1—16, l7A—17C, 18A, 18B, 19, 20, 21A, 21B, 22,
`and 23)
`
`IE
`
`[I
`
`Formal
`
`Informal
`
`4
`
`

`

`2.
`
`Small Entity Status
`
`I:I
`
`Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27.
`
`D A small entity statement is(are) attached.
`
`3.
`
`Additional Papers Enclosed
`
`EflE]E]E]E]E]E]
`
`Preliminary Amendment
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`Power(s) of Attorney(s)
`
`Verified translation of a non—English patent application
`
`An assignment of the invention
`
`Request and Certification Under 35 U.S.C. l22(b)(2)(B)(i)
`
`Application Data Sheet
`
`4.
`Filing Fee Calculation (37 CFR 1.16)
`orSMALL ENTITY LARGE ENTITY
`
`
`
`
`
`FOR
`
`RATE(
`
`FEE(S)
`
`RATE(S)
`
`FEE(S)
`
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
`FEE
`
`S)
`
`$110
`
`$0
`
` $220 APPUCATKHJQZEFEE
`
`
`
`
` $220.00
`
`(37CFR116@»
`
`(lf the Specification and
`Drawings Exceed 100 sheets of
`paper, the application size fee
`due is $250 ($125 for small
`entity) for each additional 50
`sheets or fraction thereof.)
`
`TOTAL:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Other Fees (e.g. Recording Assignment)
`
`Filing Fee:
`
`Total Fees Enclosed: $220.00
`
`5.
`
`Method of Payment of Fees
`
`I:I
`
`IE
`
`[I
`
`Charge Deposit Account No. 50—2455 in the amount of:
`
`$0.00
`
`Electronic Funds Transfer in the amount of:
`
`$ 220.00
`
`Not enclosed
`
`5
`
`

`

`6.
`
`Deposit Account and Refund Authorization
`
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any deficiency in the amount
`enclosed or any additional fees which may be required during the pendency of this
`application under 37 CFR 1. 16 or 37 CFR 1.17 or under other applicable rules (except
`payment of issue fees), to Deposit Account No. 50—2455. A copy of this Transmittal
`is enclosed.
`
`Please refund any oveipayment to Hanley, Flight & Zimmeiman, LLC at the address
`associated With USPTO Customer Number 90140.
`
`7.
`
`Correspondence Address
`
`Please direct all correspondence for this matter to USPTO Customer NLunber 90140.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`By:
`
`/Felipe Hernandez/
`Felipe Hernandez
`Registration No.: 61,971
`Attorney for Applicants
`
`October 2, 2009
`
`6
`
`

`

`
`
`Electronic Patent Application Fee Transmittal
`
`Application Number:
`
`TItle oflnventlon:
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Michael Montemurro
`
`_ FEIlpe HernandEZ/Kathryn Bartelt
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`20197/35829-US-PRV
`
`Filed as Large Entity
`
`Provisional Filing Fees
`
`Basic Filing:
`
`“has:
`
`1005 -——
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_rOVlSlonal—ppllcatlonfillng
`
`Claims:
`
`
`Miscellaneous-Filing:
`
`Patent-Appeals-and-Interference:
`
`Post-Allowance-and-Post-Issuance:
`
`Extension-of—Time:
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`
`
`Description | FeeCode Quantity Amount | USD($)
`
`
`
`
`
`Sub-Total in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Miscellaneous:
`
`Total in USD (5)
`
`8
`
`

`

`
`
`Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt
`
`6196774
`EFS ID:
`
`
`Application Number:
`
`61248328
`
`TItle of Invention:
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Michael Montemurro
`
`
`
`
`
`Filer Authorized By: Felipe Hernandez
`
`
`
`Attorney Docket Number: 20197/35829—US—PRV
`
`Receipt Date:
`
`02—OCT—2009
`
`Payment information:
`
`
`Submitted with Payment
`yes
`Payment Type Electronic Funds Transfer
`
`
`
`Payment was successfully received in RAM
`
`$220
`
`
`
`——
`
`Pages
`Multi
`File Size(Bytes)/
`Document
`File Name
`Document Description
`
`Number Part /.zip (ifappl.) Message Digest
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`
`
`1
`
`Provisional Cover Sheet (5316)
`
`35829-US-
`PRV7COVER75HEETJ 00209.
`pdf
`
`56543
`
`(I40
`30bf435fff7 15es 183bc4c40becki9 109(1de
`
`no
`
`1
`
`Warnings:
`
`This is not a USPTO supplied Provisional Cover Sheet S316 form.
`
`Information:
`
`Wa rni ngs:
`
`Specification
`
`35829-US-
`PRV_APPL|CAT|ON_100209.pdf bOCCfoI cIOfaL‘OAI 088fcc097c50c‘cb37c01
`egc
`
`254880
`
`Application Data Sheet
`
`35829-US-PRV_ADS_100209.
`pdf
`
`6b003e6e58d73d550f3emd77543584d9f7 l
`b1b3
`
`Information:
`
`This is not an USPTO supplied ADS fillable form
`
`Drawings-only black and white line
`drawings
`
`35829-US-
`PRViDRAWINGS7100209.pdf
`
`220631
`
`6e23a106b29cfb703b383c5510363ed736
`d49f9
`
`
`
`Warnings:
`Information:
`
`Information:
`
`Transmittal of New Application
`
`PRV_TRANSM|'|'|'AL_100209.
`pdf
`
`d5e3
`ee7a480429cd97c349a51214a6c93488aefe
`
`35829-US-
`
`Fee Worksheet (PTO-875)
`
`fee-info.pdf
`
`945cfd330040ecd4845ce445cf9b1IbdefQQ
`5M?
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`
`
`This Acknowledgement Receipt evidences receipt on the noted date by the USPTO ofthe indicated documents,
`characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidence of receipt similar to a
`Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.
`
`New Applications Under 35 U.S.C. 111
`lfa new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary components for a filing date (see 37 CFR
`1.53(b)—(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown on this
`Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the filing date of the application.
`
`National Stage of an International Application under 35 U.S.C. 371
`Ifa timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35
`U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT/DO/EO/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a
`national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.
`
`New International Application Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`Ifa new international application is being filed and the international application includes the necessary components for
`an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 1810), a Notification of the International Application Number
`and ofthe International Filing Date (Form PCT/R0/105) will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`national security, and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the international filing date of
`the application.
`
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`Joint Inventors
`35829-US-PRV
`
`Date of Deposit: October 2, 2009
`[hereby certify that this pap er (or fee) is being
`electronically deposited with the United States Patent and
`Trademark Office on the above-identifi ed date.
`
`/Felipe Hernandez/
`Felipe Hernandez
`
`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR
`
`UNITED STATES LETTERS PATENT
`
`SPECIFICATION
`
`TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
`
`Be it known that we, Michael Montemurro, a citizen of Canada, at 14999-4701
`
`Tahoe Blvd, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 0B4, Canada; Brian Edward McColgan, a
`
`citizen of Canada, at 14596-5090 Commerce Blvd, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5M4,
`
`Canada; and Stephen McCann, a citizen of the United Kingdom, at 67099-200 Bath Road,
`
`Southampton, Hampshire, SL1 3XE, United Kingdom have invented new and useful
`
`“METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER
`
`COMMUNICATIONS,” of which the following is a specification. Our legal
`
`representative for this provisional patent application is Felipe Hernandez (Registration
`
`No. 61,971) of Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC, 150 S. Wacker Drive Suite 2100,
`
`Chicago, IL 60606; phone 312.580.1020.
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`PATENT
`ATTY. DOCKET NO. 35829-US-PRV
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ESTABLISH PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATIONS
`
`FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`[0001]
`
`The present disclosure relates generally to network communications and, more
`
`particularly, to methods and apparatus to establish peer-to-peer communications.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002]
`
`Wireless network deployments, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), allow
`
`wireless terminals to access other devices and services when those terminals are within
`
`proximity of wireless communication signals of those wireless networks. Another method of
`
`accessing such devices and/or services involves the use of peer—to—peer (P2P) connections, in
`
`which a wireless terminal can communicate directly with another wireless terminal, device or
`
`service. However, known methods of establishing P2P connections require a significant amount
`
`of user involvement to provide proper configuration information and to discover other devices
`
`capable of P2P communications. This can often prove frustrating and can discourage many users
`
`from attempting to establish such P2P connections.
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`PATENT
`ATTY. DOCKET NO. 35829-US-PRV
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0003]
`
`FIG. 1 depicts an example wireless local area network (WLAN) topology.
`
`[0004]
`
`FIG. 2 depicts a communication layer architecture in accordance with the Open
`
`Systems Interconnection Standard (OSI) model.
`
`[0005]
`
`FIG. 3 depicts example wireless terminals discovering peer-to-peer (P2P) capabilities
`
`Via a wireless access point and establishing a P2P connection.
`
`[0006]
`
`FIG. 4 depicts example wireless terminals discovering P2P capabilities Via wireless
`
`access points communicatively coupled via a network and establishing a P2P connection.
`
`[0007]
`
`FIG. 5 depicts example wireless terminals discovering P2P capabilities via a wireless
`
`network and establishing a P2P connection without the use of an access point.
`
`[0008]
`
`FIG. 6 depicts a control point in a network to facilitate discovering P2P capabilities of
`
`wireless terminals and establishing P2P connections between wireless terminals.
`
`[0009]
`
`FIG. 7 depicts a control point in a wireless access point to facilitate discovering P2P
`
`capabilities of wireless terminals and establishing P2P connections between wireless terminals.
`
`[0010]
`
`FIG. 8 depicts a control point in a wireless terminal to facilitate discovering P2P
`
`capabilities of other wireless terminals and establishing P2P connections between wireless
`
`terminals.
`
`[0011]
`
`FIG. 9 depicts a plurality of control points present in a network environment.
`
`[0012]
`
`FIG. 10 depicts a virtual control point made up of separately located control points in
`
`a network environment.
`
`[0013]
`
`FIG. 1 1 depicts wireless terminals forming a multi-connection P2P session.
`
`[0014]
`
`FIG. 12 depicts an example terminal capabilities data structure.
`
`[0015]
`
`FIG. 13 depicts an example control point management data structure.
`
`-2-
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`PATENT
`ATTY. DOCKET NO. 35829-US-PRV
`
`[0016]
`
`FIG. 14 depicts an example message flow diagram representative of communications
`
`between wireless terminals via a wireless access point to discover each other’s P2P capabilities
`
`and establish a P2P connection.
`
`[0017]
`
`FIG. 15 depicts an example message flow diagram representative of communications
`
`between wireless terminals and a control point to discover each other’s P2P capabilities and
`
`establish a P2P connection.
`
`[0018]
`
`FIG. 16 depicts an example message flow diagram representative of a P2P
`
`capabilities dynamic update process facilitated by the control point of FIGS. 6-10 and 15.
`
`[0019]
`
`FIGS. l7A—l7C depict an example schema for use in arranging P2P capabilities and
`
`configuration information communicated between wireless terminals.
`
`[0020]
`
`FIGS. 18A and 183 depict an example P2P capabilities message that indicates one or
`
`more P2P services available in a network.
`
`[0021]
`
`FIG. 19 depicts a block diagram of an example wireless terminal that can be used to
`
`implement the example methods and apparatus described herein.
`
`[0022]
`
`FIG. 20 depicts a block diagram of an example control point that can be used to
`
`facilitate P2P capabilities discovery and P2P connections between wireless terminals.
`
`[0023]
`
`FIGS. 21A and 21B depict a flow diagram representative of example processes,
`
`which may be implemented using computer readable instructions to discover P2P capabilities
`
`and establish P2P connections between wireless terminals.
`
`[0024]
`
`FIG. 22 depicts a flow diagram representative of example processes, which may be
`
`implemented using computer readable instructions to discover P2P capabilities using a control
`
`point and establish P2P connections between wireless terminals.
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`PATENT
`ATTY. DOCKET NO. 35829-US-PRV
`
`[0025]
`
`FIG. 23 depicts a flow diagram representative of example processes, which may be
`
`implemented using computer readable instructions to dynamically update P2P capabilities of
`
`wireless terminals using a control point and update established P2P connections between
`
`wireless terminals.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0026]
`
`Although the following discloses example methods and apparatus including, among
`
`other components, software executed on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and
`
`apparatus are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is
`
`contemplated that any or all of these hardware and software components could be embodied
`
`exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combination
`
`of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the following describes example
`
`methods and apparatus, persons having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the
`
`examples provided are not the only way to implement such methods and apparatus.
`
`[0027]
`
`The example methods and apparatus described herein can be used by wireless
`
`terminals to discover peer-to-peer (P2P) capabilities of other wireless terminals in wireless
`
`network environments and establish P2P connections with one or more of those wireless
`
`terminals. At least some advantages of P2P connections are that they can be made secure
`
`between two entities and involve unicast communications instead of multicast communications
`
`that are typically used by access points to communicate information to all wireless terminals or
`
`devices connected thereto. Unicast communications require relatively less bandwidth use by an
`
`access point (AP) than multicast communications. Thus, using unicast P2P communications
`
`between two peers can be especially advantageous when the peers are transferring relatively
`
`large amounts of information (e.g., large files, streaming media, VoIP video or voice calls, etc.).
`
`-4-
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`PATENT
`ATTY. DOCKET NO. 35829-US-PRV
`
`[0028]
`
`The example methods and apparatus described herein can be used in connection with
`
`mobile communication devices, mobile computing devices, or any other element, entity, device,
`
`or service capable of communicating wirelessly with a wireless network. Devices, also referred
`
`to as terminals, wireless terminals, stations (non-AP stations), or user equipment (UE), may
`
`include mobile smart phones (e.g., a BlackBerry® smart phone), wireless personal digital
`
`assistants (PDA), laptop/notebook/netbook computers with wireless adapters, etc. The example
`
`methods and apparatus are described herein in connection with the wireless local area network
`
`(WLAN) communication standard known as IEEE® (Institute for Electrical and Electronics
`
`Engineers) 802.11. However, the example methods and apparatus may additionally or
`
`alternatively be implemented in connection with other wireless communication standards
`
`including other WLAN standards, personal area network (PAN) standards, wide area network
`
`(WAN) standards, or cellular communication standards.
`
`[0029]
`
`The example methods and apparatus described herein can be implemented in any
`
`environment providing wireless access for network connectivity (e.g., WLANs). For instance,
`
`the example methods and apparatus can be implemented in private WLAN access locations or
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`environments or in public WLAN access locations or environments in which it is expected that
`
`one or more users carrying respective wireless terminals will frequently connect and disconnect
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`from a WLAN as they enter and exit the WLAN access locations or environments.
`
`[0030]
`
`Some known techniques or standards for establishing P2P connections between
`
`wireless terminals require that a P2P connection go through an intermediary WLAN
`
`infrastructure the entire time during which the P2P connection is active. Other P2P connection
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`types allow for wireless terminals to connect directly to one another without an intermediary
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`WLAN infrastructure. However, in both instances, users must manually configure their wireless
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`terminals to establish such P2P connections. Such configurations can often be complicated and
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`user-error prone. For instance, it is often necessary that a user be aware of another wireless
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`terminal or perform some prior investigation regarding whether another wireless terminal to
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`which the user seeks to connect has the same P2P communication capabilities as the user’s
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`wireless terminal. Such investigation requires that the user understands or knows the
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`configuration information for which to search and may require navigating through a series of
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`user-interface menus and screens on both wireless terminals or referring to user manuals of the
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`wireless terminals. In some instances, user manuals may be of no help in this regard. In
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`addition, some wireless terminals may not provide sufficient user interface functionality to
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`invcstigatc thcir P2P capabilitics and/or P2P configuration paramctcrs. For cxamplc, while onc
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`wireless terminal may be a BlackBerry® smart phone, another wireless terminal may be a third-
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`party printer of which P2P capabilities and/or configuration information may not be readily
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`attainable. Such a process can often prove frustrating, especially for a novice user, for whom
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`P2P communications may be extremely useful but may rarely, if ever, be able to benefit from
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`such communications due to the complicated configuration process.
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`[0031]
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`Known standards that enable P2P communications include WLAN infrastructure,
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`WLAN ad-hoc, Wi-Fi P2P, Wi-Fi Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS), and Wi-Fi single-hop
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`mesh. WLAN ad-hoc is rarely used due to wireless terminal interoperability issues and
`
`useability issues. Wi-Fi P2P is specified by the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) and allows one of the
`
`peer devices to provide P2P connectivity by acting or functioning as an AP. Wi-Fi TDLS is a
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`mcchanism of pccr communications dcfincd by thc IEEE 802.] 12 standard. Wi-Fi TDLS allows
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`peer devices to communicate over P2P connections traversing a WLAN infrastructure which is
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`configured to transfer data frames or packets between two peer terminals via a tunneled link.
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`Wi-Fi single-hop mesh is a mechanism defined in IEEE 802.1 ls that also provides P2P
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`connectivity via a WLAN infrastructure.
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`[0032]
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`Many wireless terminals can be capable of establishing P2P connections using one or
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`more intemet protocol (IP) protocols. As such, a user is often burdened with configuring both
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`the wireless local area network (WLAN) link level (layer 2 of the 081 model) and IP level (layer
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`3 of the OSI model) information. In addition, when configuration, capability, or state changes
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`occur to the WLAN infrastructure or to a wireless terminal, the user must re-configure link level
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`and IP level information to re-establish or update a P2P connection. A wireless terminal state
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`change may occur when a user of the wireless terminal is detected as being in a meeting and the
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`wireless terminal has been pre-eonfigured to disable certain functionality (e.g., ignore voice calls
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`or data transfer requests) when its user is in a meeting. Such a change in functionality can cause
`
`a profile change (e. g., move to silent mode; do not accept voice calls under any circumstances;
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`etc.).
`
`[0033]
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`In addition, many wireless terminals are mobile and are frequently moved between
`
`different wireless infrastructure environments. Wireless infrastructure environments often have
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`different infrastructure capabilities and allow a wireless terminal to detect many different
`
`wireless terminals with different P2P capabilities when moved between the different wireless
`
`infrastructure environments. When the wireless terminal is moved from one wireless
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`infrastructure environment to another, its user must re-configure it for P2P connectivity in the
`
`new environment. In addition, the user must re—configure the wireless terminal for P2P
`
`connectivity with any other wireless terminal in the wireless infrastructure environment.
`
`[0034]
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`The methods and apparatus described herein enable wireless terminals to perform
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`automatic discovery and negotiation/association of P2P networks and/or P2P services through a
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`P2P discovery exchange over one or more P2P—supported protocols within a WLAN
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`environment. The P2P discovery exchange enables wireless terminals to discovery wireless
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`terminals capable of different P2P network connections (e.g., WiFi direct or other types of P2P
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`network connections) and/or to access different P2P services (e.g., voice over intemet protocol
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`(VoIP), media streaming, etc.) over such P2P network connections. In this manner, wireless
`
`terminals can determine whether to establish P2P connections with other wireless terminals
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`based on the discovered P2P network types and the discovered P2P services. For example, the
`
`example methods and apparatus described herein enable wireless terminals to request or propose
`
`P2P connections based on particular P2P network types and particular P2P services. Such a
`
`proposed combination of P2P network type and service may involve a wireless terminal
`
`requesting to connect with another wireless terminal via a WiFi direct network connection type
`
`to use a VoIP service.
`
`[0035]
`
`Example physical, logical, or functional entities capable of P2P communications
`
`include printers, gateways, personal information management (PIM) synchronization services
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`(e.g., calendar synchronization, media source synchronization, etc.), media playback (e. g., play
`
`specific media file — a digitally encoded music track), printing (e. g., wireless printing service),
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`and download services (e.g., P2P download, file sharing, and/or network storage). In addition,
`
`the P2P discovery enables wireless terminals to access service registry/information interfaces
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`(e.g., endpoints offering resources, applications, and/or service logic including wirelessly
`
`accessible agents/nomadic agents, proxies, etc.) and domain information (i.e., network
`
`information that a domain is authorized to share with wireless terminals pcrformin g P2P
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`discovery) (e.g., access points topology, naming, locations within the domain, ete.). Thus,
`
`although illustrated examples are described herein in connection with two or more wireless
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`terminals discovering and connecting to one another, the methods and apparatus described herein
`
`may alternatively be implemented in substantially identical or similar manners using other P2P-
`
`capable elements (or P2P-capable entities) including any other type of P2P-capable terminals or
`
`services including the above—noted elements.
`
`[0036]
`
`In operation, when a P2P-capable wireless terminal has established a connection with
`
`a WLAN, the wireless terminal transmits a P2P capabilities message using an existing WLAN
`
`infrastructure, indicating its P2P connection capabilities. In response, another P2P—capable
`
`wireless terminal that is also connected to the WLAN responds to the P2P capabilities message
`
`to begin a P2P capabilities exchange and P2P connection negotiation should the wireless
`
`terminals havc compatiblc P2P capabilitics. During a discovcry proccss, wirclcss tcrminals
`
`exchanging discovery, capability, and negotiation messages are referred to as discovering
`
`wireless terminals or discovery devices.
`
`[0037]
`
`As described in connection with the examples herein, each discovering wireless
`
`terminal is able to exchange information without user intervention to exchange P2P capabilities
`
`information with other discovering wireless terminals and/or P2P services and seek to establish
`
`P2P connections. In some example implementations described herein, a P2P discovery exchange
`
`can occur between two wireless terminals connected via a wireless LAN. In other example
`
`implementations, while two wireless terminals are connected and communicate via a wireless
`
`LAN, the P2P discovery exchange can be facilitated by a control point (CP), which is an
`
`additional logical component accessible by the discovering wireless terminals. In the illustrated
`
`cxamplc implcmcntations dcscribcd hcrcin, a control point can assist in tracking P2P capabilitics
`
`of different wireless terminals and facilitate communicating such P2P capabilities to any
`
`discovering wireless terminal that connects to a WLAN associated with the control point. As
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`explained below in connection with FIGS. 6—10, a control point can reside in different places
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`relative to a WLAN environment (e.g., in a wireless access point, in a network communicatively
`
`coupled to the wireless access point, and/or in a wireless terminal) or can be a virtual entity made
`
`up of separate control points working in cooperation with one another.
`
`[0038]
`
`Turning to FIG. 1, an example WLAN topology 100 is shown as having a LAN 102
`
`connected to a wireless AP 104. Also shown are P2P-capable devices or wireless terminals 106
`
`capable of connecting to and co