AUTOMATIC ATTACHMENT AND DETACHMENT FOR HUB AND PERIPHERAL DEVICES
A network ( 100 ) includes a hub device ( 110 ) and at least one unattached peripheral device ( 120 ). The hub device comprises circuitry and a transceiver in communication with the circuitry. In operation, the hub device is configured to cause the transceiver to i) send a message to indicate the availability of the hub device for attachment to a first peripheral device, ii) receive, from the first peripheral device, a message indicating the availability of the first peripheral device for communication with the hub device, iii) send, to the first peripheral device, a signal including a first peripheral device identifier, iv) receive, from the first peripheral device, a response, v) send a hub response to the first peripheral device, and vi) receive, from the first peripheral device, a second peripheral response including the first peripheral device identifier.
1 - 50 . (canceled)
51 . A device, comprising:
circuitry; and
a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to:
periodically send a broadcast message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device, the broadcast message including a unique device address of the device;
receive, from the another device, a pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing first information sent by the device, the pre-attachment message including a first one of a plurality of addresses for unique identification in association with the another device;
send, to the another device, a response that is sent in response to the pre-attachment message, the response including the first one of the addresses for unique identification in association with the another device; and
communicate, with the another device, a data signal utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the device and including at least the device and the another device, that is the subject of the attachment as result of the pre-attachment message.
52 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is included in a header of related communications.
53 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses is included in a header of related communications.
54 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is included in its entirety in a header of related communications.
55 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses is included in its entirety in a header of related communications.
56 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is included in a header for designating the another device as a receiver thereof.
57 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses is included in a header for designating the another device as a receiver thereof.
58 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications.
59 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
60 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
61 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications, wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
62 . The device of claim 51 , wherein the device is operable such that at one of the addresses is dictated by the another device.
63 . A device, comprising:
circuitry; and
a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to:
send a broadcast message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device;
receive, from the another device, an attachment-related message that is sent utilizing first information sent by the device, the attachment-related message including a first one of a plurality of addresses for identification in association with the another device;
send, to the another device, a first message that is sent after the first attachment-related message, the first message including the first one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device; and
communicate, with the another device, a data message utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the device and including at least the device and the another device, that is a result of the attachment-related message.
64 . The device of claim 63 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications.
65 . The device of claim 63 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
66 . The device of claim 63 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
67 . The device of claim 63 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications, wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.
68 . The device of claim 63 , wherein the device is operable such that at one of the addresses is dictated by the another device.
69 . A device, comprising:
circuitry; and
a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to:
receive a particular message from another device to indicate the availability of the another device for attachment;
send, to the another device, a pre-attachment message utilizing first information sent by the another device, the pre-attachment message including a first one of a plurality of addresses for unique identification in association with the device;
receive, from the another device, a first message that is sent after the first pre-attachment message, the first message including the first one of the addresses for unique identification in association with the device; and
send, to the another device, a data signal utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the another device and including at least the device and the another device, that is the subject of the attachment as result of the pre-attachment message.
70 . The device of claim 69 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications.
71 . The device of claim 69 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
72 . The device of claim 69 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
73 . The device of claim 69 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications, wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
74 . The device of claim 69 , wherein the device is operable such that at one of the addresses is dictated by the device.
75 . A device for use on a network, comprising:
circuitry; and
a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to:
receive a first signal from another device to indicate the availability of the another device for attachment, the first signal including a unique device address of the another device;
send, to the another device, a second signal utilizing first information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of addresses for unique identification in association with the device;
receive, from the another device, a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal, the third signal including the first one of the addresses for unique identification in association with the device; and
receive, from the another device, data utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device, for data transfer in connection with a group owned by the another device and including at least the device and the another device.
76 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications.
77 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
78 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
79 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are device addresses of different classes which are included, in their entirety, in a header of respective communications, wherein the device is further operable such that at least the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with the initial attachment, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.
80 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the device is operable such that at one of the addresses is dictated by the device.