Assisted Device Discovery

A device comprising:

• a first communication interface configured to communicate in a first communication mode with a first communication range;
• a second communication interface configured to communicate in a second communication mode with a second communication range lesser than the first communication range;
• and
• system logic in communication with the first and second communication interfaces, the system logic operable to:
• send a beacon message through the first communication interface and according in the first communication mode, the beacon message indicating a capability of the device to communicate according to the second communication mode;
• receive, through the first communication interface, a response to the beacon message from a different device positioned outside the second range;
• establish an extended second range with the different device to communicate with in the second communication mode;
• and
• communicate with the different device through the second communication interface and in the second communication mode.

A product comprising:

• a machine readable medium;
• and
• logic stored on the medium that when executed causes a system to:
• discover, through a communication sent according to a first communication protocol, an electronic device capable of communicating according to a second communication protocol;
• determine whether the electronic device is positioned within an extended communication range for communicating according to the second communication protocol, the extended range greater than a device discovery range of the second communication protocol;
• and
• when the electronic device is positioned within an extended communication range for communicating according to the second communication protocol:
• communicate with the electronic device according to the second communication protocol;
• and
• when the electronic device is not positioned within an extended communication range for communicating according to the second communication protocol:
• forego a further attempt to communicate with the electronic device according to the second communication protocol.