USOO8687536B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Michaelis
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,687,536 B2
`Apr. 1, 2014
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CREATE
`MULTICAST GROUPS BASED ON
`PROXIMITY
`
`(75) Inventor: Oliver Michaelis, San Diego, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated, San
`Diego, CA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 848 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/035,358
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Feb. 21, 2008
`
`65
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2008/0219227A1
`Sep. 11, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/891,231, filed on Feb.
`23, 2007.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2008.01)
`H04H2O/7
`(2006.01)
`H04L 2/28
`(52) U.S. Cl
`USPC ............................ 370,312.370/300: 370432
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1/2006 Magret et al.
`6,988,146 B1
`3f2005 Oommen ...................... 370/432
`2005/0063409 A1
`2005, 0138369 A1* 6/2005 Lebovitz et al. .............. T13,163
`2006/0029078 A1
`2/2006 Lu et al. ..................... 370,395.2
`
`2/2006 Moon et al. ................... 370,328
`2006/0034215 A1
`4/2006 Dorenbosch et al.
`2006/0072532 A1 ck
`1/2007 Otranen ..................... 340,572.1
`2007/0001853 A1
`2009/0313689 A1* 12/2009 Nystrom et al. .................. 726/9
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2, 2006
`2006054616 A
`JP
`7, 2008
`2008524906. A
`JP
`6, 2006
`WO WO2006.064480 A1
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report—PCT/US08/054783—International
`Search Authority—European Patent Office—Jun. 24, 2008.
`Search
`Written
`Opinion PCT/US08/054783 International
`Authority—European Patent Office, Munich—Jun. 24, 2008.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Yemane Mesfin
`y
`Assistant Examiner — Christine Duong
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — James T. Hagler
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Devices and methods use close range communication links,
`such as near field communication (NFC) protocol links, to
`enable users to authenticate mobile devices to one another to
`create or expand secure multicast groups. Once the two or
`more devices establish a close range communication peer-to
`peer link the devices exchange multicast group communica
`to data sufficient to permit the devices to receive or send
`multicast messages. Long range wireless or wired network
`communication links are then used for multicast message
`communications. ProXimity limits of the close range commu
`nication P2P link enables mutual trust to be presumed among
`devices, reducing the need for security and authentication
`signaling. The limited range of close range communication
`P2Plinks renders multicast groups established in this manner
`less Vulnerable to eavesdropping and intrusion. Embodiments
`enable users to initiate secure multicast group participation
`merely by bringing two or more devices into close proximity.
`
`40 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`55
`- initiate multicast -
`request
`create a multicast group
`
`50
`ed
`
`request
`multigest
`advertiserhart
`
`send multicast
`advertisement
`
`70
`
`80
`
`8808
`capabilities
`
`
`
`relay
`capabilities
`
`addevice to
`multicast
`group
`
`90
`
`S. Multicast group includes multicast server, initial device, and requesting
`dewlce
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
`
`FIG. 1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
`
`NFC Handshake
`
`Multicast Request
`
`MultiCast Advertisement
`
`Signaling Data
`
`Multicast Group Established
`
`Signaling Data
`
`MultiCast
`
`FIG. 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
`
`initiate multiCast
`
`Create a multicast group
`
`multiCast
`advertisement
`
`Send multiCast
`advertisement
`
`anOUCe
`Capabilities
`
`relay
`Capabilities
`
`add device to
`multicast
`group
`
`Multicast group includes multicast server, initial device, and requesting
`device
`
`FIG. 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
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`NFC Handshake
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`34
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`Multicast Group Advertisement
`
`Signaling Data
`
`MultiCast
`
`NFC Handshake
`
`Multicast Request
`
`MultiCast Advertisement
`
`Signaling Data
`
`Signaling Data
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`43
`
`MultiCast
`
`FIG. 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
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`Bring devices in
`close proximity
`
`establish NFC Connection
`
`create a multicast group
`
`Send multiCast
`advertisement
`
`request
`multiCast
`advertisement
`
`Add device to
`multiCast
`grOup
`
`relay
`capabilities
`
`aOUCS
`capabilities
`
`Multicast group Communications among the three devices
`
`FIG. 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`
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`Group Exit Announcement
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`NFC Handshake
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`Group Exit Confirmation
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`MultiCast
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`Group Exit Confirmation
`
`MultiCast
`
`FIG. 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 7 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`<capabilities.>
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 110
`<protocola
`
`<identifier21 92.168.0.1 </identifier2
`</protocold
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`115
`-
`
`<protocola
`<name>EVDO</name>
`<identifier2555-555-1212</identifierd
`</protocold
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`|
`
`</capabilities.>
`
`FIG. 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 1, 2014
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`Sheet 8 of 8
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`170
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`174
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`FIG. 8
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`1.
`METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CREATE
`MULTICAST GROUPS BASED ON
`PROXMITY
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application claims the benefit of priority to
`U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/891,231 filed
`Feb. 23, 2008 entitled “Method and Apparatus to Create
`Multi-Cast Groups Based on Proximity, the entire contents
`of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to computer net
`work communications, and more specifically to creating mul
`ticast groups based on proximity.
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`BACKGROUND
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`US 8,687,536 B2
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`2
`the general description given above and the detailed descrip
`tion given below, serve to explain the features of the inven
`tion.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of wireless cellular network
`which includes short-range wireless communication imple
`mented on a number of mobile devices.
`FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
`joining a device to a multicast group.
`FIG.3 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment method
`Suitable for joining a device to a multicast group.
`FIG. 4 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
`establishing a multicast group.
`FIG.5 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment method
`Suitable for establishing a multicast group.
`FIG. 6 is a diagram of a data structure suitable for use with
`the various embodiments.
`FIG. 7 is a message flow diagram of an embodiment for
`removing a device from an established multicast group.
`FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of an example mobile
`device suitable for use with the various embodiments.
`
`As mobile devices and consumer electronic devices target
`converging markets there is increasing interest in multicast
`communication technologies. In multicast groups, multiple
`participants are linked together into an inter-networkin which
`the participants send and receive communications to and from
`one another. Such networks have a variety of useful applica
`tions, from business collaboration to interactive gaming.
`Multicast groups are not without their hazards, however, as
`members have communication access to all members of the
`group. Allowing an intruder into a multicast group could
`leave members vulnerable to electronic attack and eavesdrop
`ping. Accordingly, most multicast groups employ some form
`of security or authentication protocols to limit group access.
`Such mechanisms may work well in established and stable
`groups. However, ad hoc multicast groups and groups that
`frequently add and delete members may become burdened by
`Such security or authentication protocols.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In the various embodiments a wireless proximity-limited
`communication technology is used to establish an initial link
`between mobile devices to recognize one another and estab
`lish a multicast group. A variety of wireless proximity-limited
`communication technologies may be used for mobile devices
`(e.g., cellphones, PDAs, and other wireless devices) to estab
`lish a peer-to-peer (P2P) data link. After the P2P link has been
`configured with wireless proximity-limited communication,
`another wireless communication technology, Such as Blue
`tooth R or Wi-Fi, can be used for longer-range communica
`tion or for transferring larger amounts of data. The longer
`range communication technology can then be used as the
`medium for establishing a multicast group. Since wireless
`proximity-limited communication technologies are limited to
`short ranges, this self establishing wireless communication
`link provides an intuitive mechanism for users to authenticate
`mobile devices to a multicast group and to initiate multicast
`group participation merely by bringing two or more mobile
`devices into close proximity.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated
`herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate
`exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together with
`
`65
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The various embodiments will be described in detail with
`reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,
`the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
`drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to
`particular examples and implementations are for illustrative
`purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inven
`tion or the claims.
`As used herein, the terms “mobile handset,” “handset.”
`“mobile device” and “handheld device” refer to any one or all
`of cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs),
`palm-top computers, wireless electronic mail receivers and
`cellular telephone receivers (e.g., the Blackberry(R) and Treo(R)
`devices), multimedia Internet enabled cellular telephones
`(e.g., the iPhone(R), and similar personal electronic devices
`which include a programmable processor and memory and
`the capability to connect to a wireless network. While the
`various embodiments refer to cellular telephone network sys
`tems including cell towers of Such networks, the scope of the
`present invention and the claims encompass any wireless
`communication system including disperse communication
`cells centered on base stations which include an identifier,
`including for example, WiFi, WiMax, and other wireless data
`network communication technologies.
`The various embodiments make use of wireless proximity
`limited communication technologies to impose the need to
`bring two electronic devices to exchange information neces
`sary to establish a multicast group. A variety of wireless
`proximity-limited communication technologies may be used
`for this purpose. For example, close range communication
`link technologies, such as near field communications (NFC)
`protocol technologies, may be used. NFC protocol technol
`ogy devices operate in the unregulated RF band of 13.56MHz
`and fully comply with existing contactless Smart-card tech
`nologies, standards, and protocols such as FeliCa and Milfare.
`NFC protocol-enabled devices are interoperable with con
`tactless Smart-cards and Smart-card readers conforming to
`these protocols. The effective NFC protocol range is approxi
`mately 0-20 cm (up to 8 in.) and data communications termi
`nates either by a command from an application using the link
`or when the communicating devices move out of range.
`Evolving from a combination of contactless, identification
`and networking technologies, NFC protocol is a short-range
`wireless connectivity standard. A number of international
`standards have been established for NFC protocols, including
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`for example: ISO/IEC 14443; ISO/IEC 15693; ISO/IEC
`18092; ISO/IEC 21481; ISO/IEC 22536; ISO/IEC 23917;
`ISO/IEC DIS 28361; ECMA-340, referred to asNFCIP-1:
`ECMA-352, referred to as NFCIP-2: ECMA-356: ECMA
`362; ECMA-373: ECMA/TC32-TG19/2006/057; NFC-WI;
`and NFC-FEC.
`However, the embodiments and the claims are not limited
`to any one orall of the NFC protocols, and instead encompass
`any short range (i.e., proximity-limited) wireless communi
`cation link. Any wireless proximity-limited communication
`technology may be used. In addition to the NFC protocols
`listed above, wireless proximity-limited communication
`links may be established using other short range communi
`cation media, including for example radiofrequency identifi
`cation (RFID) tags and the IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
`protocol. Also, other short range wireless protocols and stan
`dards may be developed and may be used in the various
`embodiments in the same manner as NFC protocol devices.
`Further, longer range wireless technologies and protocols
`may be used with modifications or additions that limit their
`effective range for purposes of identifying electronic devices
`one to another. For example, WiFi, Bluetooth R (which com
`municates using the 2.4 GHz frequency band), UWB (Ultra
`Wideband), IEEE 802.15.4, and Zigbee R wireless commu
`nication protocols and standards may also be used in combi
`25
`nation with range-limiting features. For example, the power
`of transmitters may be limited for authentication communi
`cations, such that two devices must be relatively close
`together (e.g., within a few feet of each other) in order to send
`and receive the communications. As another example, round
`trip communication delay limits may be imposed Such that
`authentication communications can only occur if the round
`trip of such signals is less than a threshold set to reject signals
`sent from more than a dozen feet or so, which may be a short
`as two to three feet separation.
`For simplicity of reference, the various embodiments and
`the claims refer to "close range communications' and “near
`field communications in order to encompass any and all
`wireless proximity-limited communication technologies.
`References herein to "close range communication links'
`(CRCL) and “near field communications” are not intended to
`limit the scope of the description or the claims in any way
`other than the communications technology will not exchange
`credential information beyond about three meters (about
`twelve feet). In a preferred embodiment, the communication
`range is limited to less than about one meter (about three feet),
`in a further preferred embodiment, the communication range
`is limited to less than about one foot, and in some embodi
`ments the communication range is limited to approximately
`0-20 cm (up to 8 in.). In order to reflect this distinction,
`descriptions of embodiments using links with communica
`tion ranges of approximately 0-20 cm (up to 8 in.) are refer to
`“NFC protocol” links. Therefore, references to “near field
`communication protocol and “NFC protocol communica
`tions are intended to be limited to communications transceiv
`ers and technologies with ranges provided by the various
`NFC protocols and standards listed above, but may also
`include RFID transceivers and technologies with a similarly
`limited communication range.
`With the increased adoption of radio frequency identifica
`tion (RFID) contactless Smart-cards to Support abroad range
`of applications, such as access, payment, and ticketing, and
`the commercial availability of NFC-enabled devices such as
`cell phones, the convergence of NFC with RFID is gaining
`interest.
`65
`With close range communications technologies, like NFC
`protocol devices, it is possible to connect any two devices to
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`each other to exchange information or access content and
`services-easily and securely. Solution vendors argue that the
`intuitive operation of NFC protocol systems makes the tech
`nology particularly easy for consumers to use (just touch and
`go'), while the inherent security resulting from its very short
`communication range makes such systems ideal for mobile
`payment and financial transaction applications. Familiar
`applications of NFC protocol technology are electronic pass
`keys used in building security systems, mass transit fare card
`systems, and Smart credit cards which need only to be brought
`close to a point of sale reader to complete a transaction.
`As mobile devices and consumer electronic devices are
`targeting converging telecommunication markets and multi
`cast group systems become more prevalent, the need mecha
`nisms for establishing secure multicast groups in a user
`friendly manner is becoming increasingly important. This
`includes simple multicast groups of devices sharing a com
`mon physical link and devices on disparate links.
`Wireless proximity-limited communications technologies
`are limited to Such short ranges that users must touch or nearly
`touch two devices together to establish the communication
`link. This physical action thus provides an intuitive mecha
`nism for establishing a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless commu
`nication link; if users want two devices to communicate, they
`merely touch them together. In the various embodiments, this
`touch-to-communicate mechanism is leveraged to provide an
`intuitive means for users to authenticate mobile devices to one
`another to create a multicast group or to join an established
`multicast group. Once the two (or more) mobile devices
`establish a close range communication P2P link, long range
`wireless or wired network communications can be estab
`lished, such as by using the close range communication link
`to negotiate network protocol parameters. Multicast group
`credentials and encryption keys may also be exchanged via
`the close range communication P2P link. Since very close
`physical proximity is required to establish and maintain the
`close range communication P2P link, mutual trust can be
`presumed by the respective mobile devices. This obviates the
`need for involved security and authentication protocols to
`form or add members to a multicast group. The limited range
`of close range communication P2P links (e.g., NFC protocol
`P2P links) makes them generally invulnerable to eavesdrop
`ping and avoids issues of unwanted devices attempting to join
`multicast groups via long range wireless links. Thus, the
`various embodiments enable users to initiate secure multicast
`group participation merely by bringing two or more mobile
`devices into close proximity.
`The various embodiments may be employed in a variety of
`wired and wireless networks, including for example a wire
`less network employing cellular data communication links.
`By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a
`multicast group communication network 10 including a cel
`lular network in which some mobile cellular devices have the
`additional ability to function as readers of short-range wire
`less communications, such as NFC protocol and Radio Fre
`quency Identification (RFID) communications. The network
`10 may include a terminal 12 (typically the network will
`include a plurality of terminals, although for the sake of
`clarity only one terminal is shown), which is configured with
`a network antenna and transceiver fortransmitting and receiv
`ing cellular signals 2 from/to a cellular base site or base
`station (BS) 16. In this example network 10, the base station
`16 is a part of a cellular network that includes elements
`required to operate the network, Such as a mobile Switching
`center (MSC) 18. In operation, the MSC 18 is capable of
`routing calls and messages to and from the terminal 12 via the
`base station 16 when the terminal 12 is making and receiving
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`calls. The MSC 18 also provides a connection to telephone
`landline trunks (not shown) when the terminal 12 is involved
`in a call. Further, the MSC can, but need not, be coupled to a
`server gateway 22 coupled to the Internet 24.
`The MSC 18 can also be coupled to a network 19 by a wired
`network connection 1. Such as a local area network (LAN), a
`metropolitan area network (MAN), and/or a wide area net
`work (WAN). The MSC 18 can be coupled to the network 19
`directly by a wired network connection 1, or if the system
`includes a gateway 22 (as shown), the MSC can be coupled to
`the network 19 via the gateway 22 which has a wired network
`connection 1 to the network 19. In a typical embodiment, the
`MSC 18 is coupled to the gateway 22, and the gateway 22 is
`coupled to the Internet 24. In turn, electronic devices such as
`a laptop computer 30 (as shown) or any other processing
`elements (e.g., personal computers, server computers or the
`like) can be coupled to the terminal 10 via the Internet 24 by
`way of their own Internet connection 9. In a further embodi
`ment, one or more processing elements associated with an
`origin server 26 may be coupled to this network 10 by way of
`the Internet 24.
`In addition to cellular network communications 2, the ter
`minal 12 may be equipped to communicate with other
`devices, such as mobile devices 28, 29, 30 via a local wireless
`network 3 and a close-range communication link 4. For
`example, in the FIG. 1 embodiment, the terminal 12 is con
`figured to communicate with a first mobile device 28, a sec
`ond mobile device 29 and a laptop computer 30, each
`equipped with an internal close-range communications trans
`ceiver (e.g., for example an NFCIP-2 transceiver). The termi
`nal 12 is also configured to communicate with these devices
`28, 29, 30 via another wireless communication link, such as a
`local area wireless link 3. For example, the terminal 12 may
`include an NFCIP-2 NFC transceiver and an IEEE 802.11g
`wireless data network transceiver. Similarly, the mobile
`devices 28, 29 and the laptop computer 30 may be configured
`with compatible NFC and local area (or wide area) wireless
`transceivers.
`The close range communication transceivers in the termi
`40
`nal 12 and the other network devices 28, 29.30 may be any of
`a number of different known transceivers (including for
`example RFID tags) capable of transmitting and/or receiving
`data in accordance with any of a number of different close
`range communications techniques, such as defined in the
`international standards listed above. For example, the close
`range communication transceiver may be a NFCIP-1 or
`NFCIP-2 transceiver, an RFID transceiver or RFID tag, or use
`Bluetooth R) (i.e., communication in the 2.4 GHz frequency
`band), infrared, IrDA (Infrared Data Association). UWB (Ul
`tra Wideband) or another wireless communication link.
`The terminal 12 and network devices 28, 29, 30 also
`include a second data communication link that can be used for
`transmitting data associated with a multicast group. For
`example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the second data communi
`cation link may be a local area wireless link3. Such as accord
`ing to the IEEE 802.11g standard. This second data commu
`nication link need not be wireless, and can be a wired local
`area network (not shown). Such as a ring token network oran
`Ethernet network.
`60
`In addition to cellular telephones 28, 29 and laptop com
`puters 30, the network 10 may also or alternatively include
`any of a number of different electronic devices, including
`other mobile terminals, wireless accessories (e.g., mass Stor
`age devices, networked printers, monitors, etc.), portable
`digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, desk top computers and
`other types of electronic systems.
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`FIG. 1 illustrates devices that may be members of a multi
`cast group. For example, a multicast group may be estab
`lished among the terminal 12, mobile devices 28, 29 and a lap
`top computer 30. An example of such a multicast group may
`be a home entertainment system that uses the terminal 12 as a
`hub for administering the multicast group. In this example,
`the multicast group is able to share data within the group via
`multicast messages transmitted by a wireless data link3. Such
`multicast group transmissions may be peer-to-peer links,
`such as illustrated between mobile device 28 and mobile
`device 29, or indirect network communications via the termi
`nal 12, such as illustrated between the mobile devices 28, 29
`and the laptop computer 30. Such a multicast group may also
`communicate with external websites and data sources. Such
`as by the terminal 12 communicating via a cellular data com
`munication link 2 with a base station 16 coupled to the Inter
`net 24 as illustrated. Similarly, one or more of the mobile
`devices 28, 29 may also be able to communicate directly with
`the base station 16. Such as by a cellular data communication
`link 2.
`The architecture illustrated in FIG. 1 also supports multi
`cast groups that include distant elements, such as a server 26
`coupled to the Internet 24. For example, a multicast group
`may be administered by an origin server 26 via the Internet
`24. Messages intended for the multicast group may be trans
`mitted from the origin server 26 via the Internet 24 to a base
`station 16 and then to the terminal 12 as illustrated. From
`terminal 12, the multicast group messages may be rebroad
`cast via local wireless communication links 3 to the other
`group members 28, 29, 30. Messages from any member of the
`multicast group may then be routed to the origin server 26 in
`a reverse manner. Similarly, the multicast group may include
`computing devices that are beyond the range of the terminal
`12. Such as a computer coupled to the Internet 24. Messages
`to and among multicast group members may be directed to
`each member device using IP addresses using addressing
`schemes that are well known in the Internet arts.
`While the protocols and methods for communicating to,
`from and within a multicast group are well known, the various
`embodiments provide new mechanisms forestablishing an ad
`hoc multicast group or for joining new members to an existing
`multicast group. By adding close range communication trans
`ceivers, such as NFC protocol transceivers, to the terminal 12
`and group elements 28, 29, 30, the proximity limitation of
`close range communications links is leveraged to make two
`unrelated devices, such as a terminal 12 and a mobile device
`28, aware of each other. Thus, to add a first mobile device 28
`to a multicast group including the terminal 12 the first mobile
`device is brought in very close proximity to the terminal 12.
`Using one of the known close range communication tech
`niques, the first mobile device 28 and the terminal 12 establish
`a close range communication data link 4 and exchange a
`multicast-based services advertisement over the close range
`communication data link 4. As part of exchanging a multicast
`services advertisement, the address of the first mobile device
`28 is provided to the terminal 12 for use by the multicast
`group, and the multicast group address is communicated from
`the terminal 12 to the first mobile device 28. Additional infor
`mation Such as user notification and/or multicast group par
`ticipation confirmation may also be addressed at this point.
`As a part of the multicast services advertisement data the
`first mobile device 28 and the terminal 12 can exchange
`information to configure a specific multicast group commu
`nication link. For example, the terminal 12 may inform the
`first mobile device 28 of the network (such as wireless or
`wired network) over which the multicast group is communi
`cating. As another example, the terminal 12 may inform the
`
`Ex.1013
`APPLE INC. / Page 12 of 20
`
`

`

`US 8,687,536 B2
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`5
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`10
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`7
`first mobile device 28 of security or encryption information
`needed for the first mobile device 28 to access a wireless
`network (i.e., establish wireless communication links 3). In
`this manner, the creation of a new multicast group or joining
`of an existing group can be negotiated and communicated
`between the first mobile device 28 and the terminal 12 as part
`of the services advertisement processing using the close
`range communication link 4. Once the multicast group is
`established or the first mobile device 28 is added to the group,
`link-specific signaling data can be transmitted on the multi
`cast-capable link 1, 2, 3.
`In an embodiment the first mobile device 28 and the termi
`nal 12 have data connectivity via disparate physical links, e.g.
`an 802.11g wireless link 3 and a CDMA cellular data com
`munication link 2 in addition to the close range communica
`15
`tion link 4. In this embodiment, the multicast group can be
`established using the 802.11g wireless link 3, the CDMA
`cellular data communication link 2, or both. In a further
`embodiment, one or more of the group devices (e.g., the
`laptop computer 30) may include a wired network link 1 that
`can be used for multicast group communications.
`A multicast proxy may be collocated with any one of the
`terminal 12 or other group member devices 28, 29, 30, or
`present in the network as a separate entity, including in an
`origin server 26 accessed via the Internet 24. The services
`advertisement data exchanged via a close range communica
`tion link 4 can be used to configure the multicast proxy in
`addition to the creation of a multicast group or addition of a
`device to an established multicast group. Each device 12, 28.
`29, 30 can use its multicast-capable link (e.g., wired, wireless
`and/or cellular links 1, 2 or 3) to send out the configuration
`signaling to other members of the multicast group, and hence
`create the multicast group or join groups of devices over
`single or disparate links. Thus, once a multicast group has
`been established, any member of the group having close range
`communications (e.g., NFC protocol) capability can join
`another device to the group by being placed in close proxim
`ity to the new device sufficient to establish a close range
`communication link4. Since the networking authentication is
`established by bringing two devices in close proximity and
`the network and multicast group addresses and set up infor
`mation is communicated via the close range communication
`link 4, the establishment of a multicast group or joining an
`established multicast group can be completely transparent to
`the user.
`45
`The network 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 enables a variety of
`connections between mobile devices 28, 29 and other com
`puting devices on the network, Such as a laptop 30. For
`example, the multicast group can communicate by means of
`cellular communications networks 2, by local wireless net
`works 3, by wired network connections 1 accessed via cellu
`lar communication links 2 to the base station 16 via the MSC
`18 and network 19, and via the Internet 24 by an Internet
`connection 9. This flexibility in network connections is illus
`trated with respect to laptop 30 with dashed communications
`symbols. Once a multicast group has been authenticated by
`close range communications procedures described herein, the
`group devices may communicate to each other directly
`through peer-to-peer links or indirectly via networks 1,2,3,9.
`24.
`While FIG. 1 shows a terminal 12 to be an immobile
`terminal, this multicast group hub may itself be a mobile
`device. Such as a cellular telephone. For example, mobile
`device 29 may serve as the hub of a multicast group including
`itself, the mobile device 28 and the laptop 30, with network
`communications including a cellular data network link 2 and
`a local area wireless link 3. In this example, once multicast
`
`55
`
`8
`group membership is confirmed by bringing the mobile
`device 28 in close proximity to the mobile device 29 to estab
`lish the close range communication link 4, communications
`to, from and among the multicast group may proceed accord
`ing to well-known multicast group communication methods
`and protocols.
`Each device that may be joined to a multicast group may be
`configured with application Software to automatically nego
`tiate the creation of a multicast group when any two devices
`are brought in close proximity. Similarly, the devices may be
`configured with application Software to automatically join
`one device to an established multicast group of which the
`other device is a member when the two devices are brought
`into close proximity. Such applications using