Ad hoc network discovery menu

A method to provide a network discovery menu to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network discovery menu to enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• identifying the first and second ad hoc networks, by the arriving wireless device;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• forming and displaying by the arriving wireless device a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• and
• selectively joining the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to a user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A method to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• identifying the first ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• identifying the second ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• forming by the arriving wireless device a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• sorting and displaying by the arriving wireless device said first and second characteristics in said network discovery menu according to predefined types of characteristics of interest to a user;
• and
• selectively joining the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to the user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A method to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• identifying the first ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• measuring a first received signal quality from the first ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• identifying the second ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• measuring a second received signal quality from the second ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• forming by the arriving wireless device a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• sorting and displaying by the arriving wireless device said first and second characteristics in said network discovery menu according to the respective first and second received signal qualities;
• and
• selectively joining the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to the user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• sending with an arriving wireless device, inquiry signals to other wireless devices;
• receiving with the arriving wireless device, an address of the first ad hoc network information provider device in the first ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the the first ad hoc network information provider device in the first ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said first ad hoc network;
• receiving with the arriving wireless device, an address of the second ad hoc network information provider device in the second ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the second ad hoc network information provider device in the second ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said second ad hoc network;
• ranking with the arriving wireless device, information from said service records according to said signal quality values;
• and
• forming with the arriving wireless device, a network discovery menu including information from said service records, ranked according to said signal quality values.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network, information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• receiving with an arriving wireless device, beacon signals from the first ad hoc network, including an address of the first ad hoc network information provider;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the first ad hoc network information provider device;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, a received signal quality value of devices in said first ad hoc network;
• receiving with the arriving wireless device, beacon signals from the second ad hoc network, including an address of the second ad hoc network information provider;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the second ad hoc network information provider device;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, a received signal quality value of devices in said second ad hoc network;
• ranking with the arriving wireless device, information from said service records according to said signal quality values;
• and
• forming with the arriving wireless device, a network discovery menu including information from said service records, ranked according to said signal quality values.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• providing in an arriving wireless device, a default address for the first ad hoc network information provider wireless device in the first ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the first ad hoc network information provider device, using said default address;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, a received signal quality value of devices in said first ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the second ad hoc network information provider device;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, a received signal quality value of devices in said second ad hoc network;
• ranking with the arriving wireless device, information from said service records according to said signal quality values;
• and
• forming with the arriving wireless device, a network discovery menu including information from said service records, ranked according to said signal quality values.

A system to provide a network discovery menu to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network discovery menu enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, maintaining a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, maintaining a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• an arriving wireless device including a processor, a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor, a radio, and a user interface;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider to receive first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider to receive second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to form and display a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• and
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to selectively join the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to a user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A system to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, maintaining a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, maintaining a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• an arriving wireless device including a processor, a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor, a radio, and a user interface;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider to receive first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider to receive second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to form a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to sort and display said first and second characteristics in said network discovery menu according to predefined types of characteristics of interest to a user;
• and
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to selectively join the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to a user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A system to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, maintaining a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, maintaining a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• an arriving wireless device including a processor, a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor, a radio, and a user interface;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider to receive first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to establish a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider to receive second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to determine received signal quality values of devices in said first and second ad hoc networks;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to form a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to rank the first and second characteristics in the network discovery menu according to said signal quality values;
• and
• said arriving wireless device being programmed to selectively join the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to a user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A computer program product to provide a network discovery menu to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network discovery menu to enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• program code in said computer readable medium for maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices:
• in the second ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for searching for other wireless devices by the arriving wireless device;
• program code in said computer readable medium for receiving by the arriving device identification information from a wireless device in the first ad hoc network, identifying the first ad hoc network information provider;
• program code in said computer readable medium for establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for receiving by the arriving device identification information from a wireless device in the second ad hoc network, identifying the second ad hoc network information provider;
• program code in said computer readable medium for establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for forming and displaying by the arriving wireless device a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• and
• program code in said computer readable medium for selectively joining the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to a user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A computer program product to provide a network discovery menu to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network discovery menu to enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• program code in said computer readable medium for maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for identifying the first ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• program code in said computer readable medium for establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for identifying the second ad hoc network, by the arriving wireless device;
• program code in said computer readable medium for establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• program code in said computer readable medium for forming by the arriving wireless device a network discovery menu including a first characteristic of the first ad hoc network derived from the first service information and a second characteristic of the second ad hoc network derived from the second service information;
• program code in said computer readable medium for sorting and displaying by the arriving wireless device said first and second characteristics in said network discovery menu according to predefined types of characteristics of interest to a user;
• and
• program code in said computer readable medium for selectively joining the arriving wireless device to either the first ad hoc network or the second ad hoc network in response to the user's respective selection of either the first characteristic or the second characteristic displayed on the network discovery menu.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• searching with an arriving wireless device, for other wireless devices;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the the first ad hoc network information provider device in the first ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said first ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the second ad hoc network information provider device in the second ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said second ad hoc network;
• ranking with the arriving wireless device, information from said service records according to said signal quality values;
• and
• forming with the arriving wireless device, a network discovery menu including information from said service records, ranked according to said signal quality values.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• searching for other wireless devices with an arriving wireless device;
• attempting by the arriving wireless device to access a service record from a found device to determine if the found device has information about an ad hoc network information provider device;
• if the service record indicates that the found device has information about the first ad hoc network information provider device, then establishing a connection between the arriving device and the first ad hoc network information provider and receiving first service information associated with the first list, describing available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• if the service record indicates that the found device has information about the second ad hoc network information provider device, then establishing a connection between the arriving device and the second ad hoc network information provider and receiving second service information associated with the second list, describing available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• and
• if the service record indicates that the found device has no information about an ad hoc network information provider device, then listing by the arriving wireless device the found device in a network discovery menu.

A method to provide an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, with a network discovery menu to enable the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• searching for other wireless devices with an arriving wireless device;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the first ad hoc network information provider device in the first ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said first ad hoc network;
• accessing with the arriving wireless device, service records from the second ad hoc network information provider device in the second ad hoc network;
• determining with the arriving wireless device, received signal quality value of devices in said second ad hoc network;
• ranking with the arriving wireless device, information from said service records according to said signal quality values;
• forming with the arriving wireless device, a network discovery menu including information from said service records, ranked according to said signal quality values;
• attempting to access with the arriving wireless device, a service record from a found device to determine if the found device has information about an ad hoc network information provider device;
• receiving with the arriving wireless device, an indication from the found device that it has no information about an ad hoc network information provider device;
• and
• listing the found device in said network discovery menu.

A method to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• answering by the first ad hoc network information provider inquiry signals from an arriving wireless device, including an address of the first ad hoc network information provider;
• receiving by the first ad hoc network information provider a request from the arriving wireless device for said first service information associated with the first list;
• sending said first service information from the first ad hoc network information provider to the arriving wireless device to enable the arriving wireless device to form a network discovery menu including said first service information;
• answering by the second ad hoc network information provider inquiry signals from the arriving wireless device, including an address of the second ad hoc network information provider;
• receiving by the second ad hoc network information provider a request from the arriving wireless device for said second service information associated with the second list;
• and
• sending said second service information from the second ad hoc network information provider to the arriving wireless device to enable the arriving wireless device to add to the network discovery menu said second service information.

A method to provide network information to an arriving wireless device which is proximate to a plurality other wireless devices in a plurality of ad hoc networks, the network information enabling the arriving device to selectively join one of the ad hoc networks, comprising:

• maintaining in a first ad hoc network information provider device in a first ad hoc network, a first list of available services of wireless devices in the first ad hoc network and updating the first list based on information received from the wireless devices in the first ad hoc network;
• maintaining in a second ad hoc network information provider device in a second ad hoc network, a second list of available services of wireless devices in the second ad hoc network and updating the second list based on information received from the wireless devices in the second ad hoc network;
• sending a beacon signal from the first ad hoc network, including an address of the first ad hoc network information provider;
• receiving a request from an arriving wireless device for first service information associated with the first list;
• sending said first service information from the first ad hoc network information provider to the arriving wireless device to enable the arriving wireless device to form a network discovery menu including the first service information;
• sending a beacon signal from the second ad hoc network, including an address of the second ad hoc network information provider;
• receiving a request from an arriving wireless device for second service information associated with the second list;
• and
• sending said second service information from the second ad hoc network information provider to the arriving wireless device to enable the arriving wireless device to add the second service information to the network discovery menu.