Method for operating a gateway in a hierarchical heterogeneous network by comparing offer messages and search messages received at the gateway regarding a service to determine if the messages relate to the same service and forwarding search messages that do not relate

A method for operating a gateway in a hierarchical heterogeneous network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the gateway, at a first interface of the gateway that interfaces to a first subnetwork, a message for offering a service, the message for offering the service coming in from the first subnetwork, the message for offering a service including an indication of an offered service, the first subnetwork being at a network level that is lower in a hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway;
• storing, by the gateway, in the first interface or in a management unit assigned to the first interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of the message for offering a service, and/or (ii) identifies the offered service;
• receiving, by the gateway, at a second interface of the gateway that interfaces to a second subnetwork, a message for searching for a service, the message for searching a service coming in from the second subnetwork, the message for searching for a service including an indication of a sought service, the second subnetwork being different than the first subnetwork, the second subnetwork being at a network level that is lower in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway;
• storing, in the second interface or in a management unit assigned to the second interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of a message coming in from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for searching for a service, and/or (ii)-identifies the sought service;
• comparing, by the gateway, the offered service with the sought service;
• determining, by the gateway based on the comparing, that the offered service and the sought service do not relate to the same service;
• and
• based on the determining that the offered service and the sought service do not relate to the same service, forwarding, by the gateway, the message for searching for a service to a third subnetwork via a third interface, the third subnetwork being at a network level that is higher in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway.

A gateway device including hardware, the gateway device being configured for operating in a hierarchical heterogeneous network, the gateway device including a first interface for connecting to a first subnetwork, the first subnetwork being at a network level in a hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway device, and including a second interface for connected to a second subnetwork, the second subnetwork being at network level in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway device, the first subnetwork being different than the second subnetwork, the gateway device configured to:

• receive, at the first interface, a message for offering a service, the message for offering the service coming in from the first subnetwork, the message for offering a service including an indication of an offered service;
• store, in the first interface or in a management unit assigned to the first interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of the message for offering a service, and/or (ii) identifies the offered service;
• receive, at the second interface, a message for searching for a service, the message for searching a service coming in from the second subnetwork, the message for searching for a service including an indication of a sought service;
• store, in the second interface or in a management unit assigned to the second interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of a message coming in from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for searching for a service, and/or (ii)-identifies the sought service;
• compare the offered service with the sought service;
• determine, based on the comparing, whether or not the offered service and the sought service do not relate to the same service;
• based on the determination, when the offered service and the sought service relate to the same service, send a message relating to the availability of the service to the second subnetwork via the second interface;
• and
• based on the determination, when the offered service and the sought service do not relate to the same service, forward the message for searching for a service to a third subnetwork via a third interface of the gateway device, the third subnetwork being at a network level that is higher in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored program code for operating a gateway in a hierarchical heterogeneous network, the program code, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform:

• receiving, by the gateway, at a first interface of the gateway that interfaces to a first subnetwork, a message for offering a service, the message for offering the service coming in from the first subnetwork, the message for offering a service including an indication of an offered service, the first subnetwork being at a network level that is lower in a hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway;
• storing, by the gateway, in the first interface or in a management unit assigned to the first interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of the message for offering a service, and/or (ii) identifies the offered service;
• receiving, by the gateway, at a second interface of the gateway that interfaces to a second subnetwork, a message for searching for a service, the message for searching a service coming in from the second subnetwork, the message for searching for a service including an indication of a sought service, the second subnetwork being different than the first subnetwork, the second subnetwork being at a network level that is lower in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway;
• storing, in the second interface or in a management unit assigned to the second interface, an indication which (i) indicates receipt of a message coming in from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for searching for a service, and/or (ii)-identifies the sought service;
• comparing, by the gateway, the offered service with the sought service;
• determining, by the gateway based on the comparing, whether or not the offered service and the sought service relate to the same service;
• based on the determining, when the offered service and the sought service relate to the same service, sending, by the gateway, a message relating to the availability of the service to the second subnetwork via the second interface;
• and
• based on the determining, when the offered service and the sought service do not relate to the same service, forwarding, by the gateway, the message for searching for a service to a third subnetwork via a third interface, the third subnetwork being at a network level that is higher in the hierarchy of the hierarchical heterogeneous network than the gateway.