Using a service discovery request to find available devices

An apparatus for forming a network connection, comprising:

• a processing subsystem;
• and
• a networking subsystem coupled to the processing subsystem;
• wherein the processing subsystem is configured to receive a request to form a network connection with at least one other electronic device to access a service on the other electronic device;
• wherein in response to receiving the request, the processing subsystem is configured to cause the networking subsystem to search for available electronic devices that provide the service;
• and
• wherein prior to finding a second electronic device that provides the service, based on a request received from the second electronic device to access a related service provided by the first electronic device on a network connection formed by the second electronic device between the second electronic device and the first electronic device, the processing subsystem is configured to use the network connection formed by the second electronic device to communicate with the second electronic device.

A networking subsystem in an electronic device, comprising

• a controller;
• and
• a radio coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
• cause the radio to perform a search operation to find one or more other available electronic devices that provide a service;
• upon receiving a request from an unknown other electronic device to access the service for which the controller is searching, determine an identification of the other electronic device from the request;
• and
• use the determined identification to communicate with the other electronic device on a network connection that the other electronic device formed with the electronic device.

An electronic device, comprising:

• a networking subsystem;
• wherein while performing a search for other electronic devices that provide a service, the networking subsystem is configured to monitor for incoming requests from other electronic devices that request access to the service;
• and
• wherein in response to receiving a request from another device to access the service, the networking subsystem is configured to use information about the other device determined from the request to communicate with the other device on a network connection previously established by the other device.