US 8,014,825 B2 · Network participant status evaluation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for obtaining and providing status information for network devices. In one implementation, a wireless device includes: an antenna; a wireless communication interface connected to said antenna and supporting wireless communication across a wireless connection provided by said antenna; a memory supporting storing data; and a controller connected to said wireless interface and to said memory, supporting an application service and a network evaluation service; wherein said application service provides execution and management of one or more application programs accessible by said controller using application data stored in said memory, said network evaluation service provides evaluation of status information of other devices available for wireless communication through said wireless interface and provides status information of the wireless device to another device upon request, and status information provided by said network evaluation service includes information indicating at least one application program for which application data is stored in said memory.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A wireless device, comprising:

an antenna;
a wireless communication interface connected to said antenna and supporting wireless communication across a wireless connection provided by said antenna;
a memory for storing data;
and
a controller connected to said wireless interface and to said memory, supporting an application service and a network evaluation service;
wherein said wireless device:
sends out a beacon signal identifying the wireless device and provides connection information;
polls an area for other responsive wireless devices;
determines whether to build a new list or update an existing list of the responsive devices;
receives a signal from a second wireless device that identifies the second wireless device and provides connection information;
wherein the signal specifies status information;
sends a status query to each device on the list of responsive devices requesting a specified combination of the status information;
receives at least one status response comprising a specific combination of status information as a function of a requested combination of status information from at least the second wireless device;
and
builds a status report based on said received at least one status response.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network participant status evaluation

Life of this patent

Network participant status evaluation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6