Techniques for discovering services provided in a wireless network

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for discovering services provided in a wireless network, comprising enabling devices equipped with radio interfaces to advertise the services it provides and discover services offered by other nearby devices without establishing a network connection with the devices.

1 . A system comprising:
 a wireless communication client device capable of discovering service information of at least one wireless communication server prior to establishing a layer-two network connection with the at least one wireless communication server.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication client is capable of transmitting a query indicating a service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication client is to transmit a beacon including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication client is to receive a probe request from the wireless communication server, and wherein the probe request includes the service information. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication client is to transmit a probe request including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication client is to receive a probe response from the wireless communication server, and wherein the probe response includes the service information. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication client is to receive from the wireless communication server a response to the query, and wherein the response includes the service information. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication client device is to provide a user of the wireless communication client device with an indication of the at least one discovered wireless communication server, wherein the wireless communication client is to enable the user to select a selected server from the at least one discovered wireless communication server, and wherein the wireless communication client is to trigger a network connection with the selected server. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the service information includes an address of the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication client is capable of discovering the service information based on at least one layer-two communication received from the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the layer-two communication includes a layer-two management frame. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe request. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe response. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the service information includes service type information identifying a type of service provided by the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a wireless communication server capable of transmitting service information to a wireless communication client prior to establishing a layer-two network connection with the wireless communication client, wherein the service information includes information of one or more services offered by the server.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication server is capable of receiving a query from the wireless communication client, the query indicating a service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication server is to receive a beacon from the wireless communication client, the beacon including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communication server is to transmit a probe request to the wireless communication client, and wherein the probe request includes the service information. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication server is to receive a probe request from the wireless communication client, the probe request including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication server is to transmit a probe response to the wireless communication client, and wherein the probe response includes the service information. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication server is to transmit a response to the query to the wireless communication client, and wherein the response includes the service information. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the service information includes an address of the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless communication server is to transmit the service information as part of at least one layer-two communication. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the layer-two communication includes a layer-two management frame. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe request. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe response. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the service information includes service type information identifying a type of service provided by the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 providing a wireless communication client with service information of at least one wireless communication server prior to establishing a layer-two network connection between the wireless communication client and the wireless communication server.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  including transmitting from the wireless communication client a query indicating a service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein transmitting the query includes transmitting a beacon including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  including receiving at the wireless communication client a probe request from the wireless communication server, wherein the probe request includes the service information. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein transmitting the query includes transmitting a probe request including a query information-element indicating the service required by the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  including receiving at the wireless communication client a probe response from the wireless communication server, wherein the probe response includes the service information. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  including receiving at the wireless communication client a response to the query, wherein the response includes the service information. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  including:
 providing a user of the wireless communication client with an indication of the at least one discovered wireless communication server;   
       enabling the user to select a selected server from the at least one discovered wireless communication server; and 
       triggering a network connection with the selected server. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the service information includes an address of the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28  including discovering the service information based on at least one layer-two communication received from the wireless communication server. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the layer-two communication includes a layer-two management frame. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe request. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the layer-two management frame includes a probe response. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the service information includes service type information identifying a type of service provided by the wireless communication server.