Service-based discovery in networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities may implement service-based discovery in a network, such as a 3GPP or 3GPP2 network. A Discovery Server may be used to query and find services offered by the network or by entities that interface with the network. Situational context information or policy information, or both, may be communicated to the discovery server so that the Discovery Server can provide context-aware and policy-based discovery services. The Discovery Server may be used to control which of the entities that interface with the network can discover one another. The Discovery Server may support queries based on, for example, the type of MTC entity, the type of services hosted on the entity, the availability times of the entity, types of protocols supported, levels of Quality of Service (QoS) supported, and MTC-IWF services.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method to provide service-based discovery, the method comprising:
 receiving context information relating to an M2M device, wherein the M2M device is available via an access network;   receiving policy information relating to at least one of the M2M device or the access network;   receiving a query for a service;   determining that the M2M device is capable of providing the service and the access network is available to provide access to the M2M device; and   sending a response to the query indicating that the M2M device is capable of providing the service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the context information comprises a device-specific characteristic, the device-specific characteristic comprising at least one of a service type, a location, or an availability of a device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the context information originates from at least one of the M2M device, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the access network, or an application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy information comprises at least one of a permission condition, a congestion status, or a charging schedule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy information originates from the access network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the query includes at least one condition specified in a discovery record. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the M2M device is capable of providing the service and the access network is available to provide access to the M2M device is based at least in part on the context information and the policy information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the response indicates a condition associated with the service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of a time or a price associated with the service. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a discovery server receives the context information, the policy information, and the query. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service comprises a 3GPP Machine Type Communication (MTC) service. 
     
     
         12 . A discovery server comprising:
 a processor configured at least in part to:   receive context information relating to an M2M device, wherein the M2M device is available via an access network;   receive policy information relating to at least one of the M2M device or the access network;   receive a query for a service;   determine that the M2M device is capable of providing the service and the access network is available to provide access to the M2M device; and   send a response to the query indicating that the M2M device is capable of providing the service.   
     
     
         13 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the context information comprises a device-specific characteristic, the device-specific characteristic comprising at least one of a service type, a location, or an availability of a device. 
     
     
         14 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the context information originates from at least one of the M2M device, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the access network, or an application. 
     
     
         15 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the policy information comprises at least one of a permission condition, a congestion status, or a charging schedule associated with the M2M device. 
     
     
         16 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the policy information originates from the access network. 
     
     
         17 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the query specifies a query condition comprising at least one of the context information, the policy information, or information specified in a discovery record. 
     
     
         18 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein determining whether the M2M device is capable of providing the service and the access network is available to provide access to the M2M device is based at least in part on the context information and the policy information. 
     
     
         19 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the response indicates a condition associated with the service. 
     
     
         20 . The discovery server of  claim 19 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of a time or a price associated with the service. 
     
     
         21 . The discovery server of  claim 12 , wherein the service comprises a 3GPP Machine Type Communication (MTC) service.