Cross layer service discovery for wireless networks

A memory storing a program of computer-readable instructions executable by a processor to perform actions comprising:

• receiving, by a reporting apparatus, a first service discovery message indicating that an offering apparatus has made a service available only to peer entities joined to a wireless network;
• and
• in response to receiving the first message, transmitting, by the reporting apparatus, in a second service discovery message that is available to non-peer entities not joined to the wireless network, information about the services available from the offering apparatus and at least one of:
• location information about the offering apparatus;
• and
• link metric information about a path through the wireless network to the offering apparatus;
• wherein the second discovery message includes an information element carrying the location information and the link metric information includes the number of hops from the reporting apparatus to the offering apparatus;
• wherein the information about the services in the message comprises information selected from a set {device type, service type and device identifier}, where device type and device identifier are for the offering apparatus and service type is for the available service;
• and
• wherein the message comprises:
• the location information about the offering apparatus;
• the link metric information about the path through the wireless network to the offering apparatus;
• and
• information about the reporting apparatus, the information selected from the set {device type and device identifier} for the reporting apparatus and
• for the case where the apparatus also makes an additional service available to entities joined to the wireless network, the message further comprises service type for the additional service offered by the offering apparatus.

A reporting apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to receive a first service discovery message indicating that an offering apparatus has made a service available only to peer entities joined to a wireless network;
• and
• a management entity configured to, in response to receiving the first service discovery message, transmitting in a second service discovery message that is available to non-peer entities not joined to the wireless network, information about the services available from the offering apparatus and at least one of:
• location information about the offering apparatus;
• and
• link metric information about a path through the wireless network to the offering apparatus;
• wherein the second discovery message includes an information element carrying the location information and the link metric information includes the number of hops from the reporting apparatus to the offering apparatus;
• wherein the information about the services in the message comprises information selected from a set {device type, service type and device identifier}, where device type and device identifier are for the offering apparatus and service type is for the available service;
• and
• wherein the message comprises:
• the location information about the offering apparatus;
• the link metric information about the path through the wireless network to the offering apparatus;
• and
• information about the reporting apparatus, the information selected from the set {device type and device identifier} for the reporting apparatus and,
• for the case where the apparatus also makes an additional service available to entities joined to the wireless network, the message further comprises service type for the additional service offered by the offering apparatus.