Integration of service registration and discovery in networks

A method of registering a device and service capabilities of said device with a service discovery agent, said method performed in concert with a device registration process between said device and a network entity, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at said network entity a register message comprising identification information for said device and service capability information for said device;
• registering said device at said network entity;
• and
• sending a service registration message for said device to said service discovery agent, said service registration message comprising said service capability information.

A method for performing service discovery, comprising:

• receiving at a network entity a query message from a requester requesting identification of an entity registered with said network entity having requested service capabilities;
• sending a service discovery message to a service discovery agent;
• receiving a service discovery response from said service discovery agent identifying a device as substantially matching said requested service capabilities and describing available service capabilities for said device;
• and
• sending a service message to said requester identifying said device and describing said available service capabilities for said device.

A method for performing service discovery, comprising:

• receiving at a service discovery agent a query message from a network entity, said query message comprising information describing a service requested for communicating with said device;
• matching service capability information of said device with said service description information;
• and
• sending a service message to said network entity describing service capabilities for said device.

A method of determining a device registered with a network entity having requested service capabilities for communications with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

• creating a query message comprising information describing said service capabilities requested for communicating with said undetermined device registered with said network entity;
• sending said query message to said network entity;
• and
• receiving a service message describing said device registered with said network entity and service capabilities for said device.

A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing steps for registering a device and service capabilities of said device with a service discovery agent in concert with a device registration process between said device and a network entity, said steps comprising:

• receiving at said network entity a register message comprising identification information for said device and service capability information for said device;
• registering said device at said network entity;
• and
• sending a service registration message for said device to said service discovery agent, said service registration message comprising said service capability information.

A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing steps for performing service discovery, said steps comprising:

• receiving at a network entity a query message from a requester requesting identification of an entity registered with said network entity having requested service capabilities;
• sending a service discovery message to a service discovery agent;
• receiving a service discovery response from said service discovery agent identifying a device as substantially matching said requested service capabilities and describing available service capabilities for said device;
• and
• sending a service message to said requester describing said available service capabilities for said device.

A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing steps for determining a device registered with a network entity having requested service capabilities for communications with said device, said steps comprising:

• creating a query message comprising information describing said service capabilities requested for communicating with said undetermined device registered with said network entity;
• sending said query message to said network entity;
• and
• receiving a service message describing said device registered with said network entity and service capabilities for said device.

A terminal comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for registering a device and service capabilities of said device with a service discovery agent in concert with a device registration process between said device and a network entity;
• and
• a processor for performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising:
• creating a register message comprising identification information for said device and service capability information for said device;
• sending said register message to said network entity for registering said device with said network entity;
• and
• receiving a registration confirmation message from said network entity confirming registration with said service discovery agent.

A network entity comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for registering a device and service capabilities of said device with a service discovery agent in concert with a device registration process between said device and a network entity;
• and
• a processor performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising:
• receiving at said network entity a register message comprising identification information for said device and service capability information for said device;
• registering said device at said network entity;
• and
• sending a service registration message for said device to said service discovery agent, said service registration message comprising said service capability information.

A network entity comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for determining a device registered with a service discovery agent having requested capabilities;
• and
• a processor performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising:
• receiving a query message from a requester requesting identification of an entity registered with a network entity having requested service capabilities;
• sending a service discovery message to said service discovery agent;
• receiving a service discovery response from said service discovery agent identifying said device as substantially matching said requested service capabilities and describing available service capabilities for said device;
• and
• sending a service message to said requester identifying said device and describing said available service capabilities for said device.

A terminal comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for determining a device registered with a network entity having requested service capabilities for communications with said device;
• and
• a processor for performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising:
• creating a query message comprising information describing said service capabilities requested for communicating with said undetermined device registered with said network entity;
• sending said query message to said network entity;
• and
• receiving a service message describing said device registered with said network entity and service capabilities for said device.

A service discovery agent comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for registering a device and service capabilities of said device in concert with a device registration process between said device and a network entity;
• and
• a processor performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising
• receiving at said service discovery agent a register message from a network entity at which said device is registered, said register message comprising identification information for said device and service capability information for said device;
• and
• storing identification information and service capability information.

A service discovery agent comprising:

• a memory containing instructions for determining a device registered with a service discovery agent having requested service capabilities;
• and
• a processor performing steps according to said instructions stored in said memory, said steps comprising:
• receiving a query message from a network entity, said query message comprising information describing a service requested for communicating with a device;
• determining said device based on said service description information;
• and
• sending a service message to said network entity describing available service capabilities for said device.