IP Library Granted Patent US 10,681,757
Granted Patent B2
US 10,681,757 · App. 15/953,811 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer communications in a wireless local area network including the negotiation and establishment of a peer-to-peer connection between peers based on capability information

Inventors: Michael Peter Montemurro (Toronto, CA); Brian Edward Anthony McColgan (Toronto, CA); Stephen McCann (Southampton, GB)
Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
H04W76/14H04L61/1541H04L67/104H04L67/1061H04L67/1068H04L69/24H04W72/0406H04W8/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,681,757
App. No.
15/953,811
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and device for peer-to-peer communications is provided. The method includes communication of the capabilities of a device to another device or network component. A peer to peer communication is established based on at least one of the capabilities of the device. The method may also include utilizing a control point or access point in conveying the capabilities of the device to another device.

Claims (26)

1. A method for peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

communicating, from a first peer wireless station (STA1), first peer capability information to a second peer wireless station (STA2) using a capability discovery protocol request, wherein the first peer capability information describes the STA1's capability information for a P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2;

receiving second peer capability information from the STA2 using a capability discovery protocol response, wherein the second peer capability information describes the STA2's capability information for the P2P connection, wherein the second peer capability information includes a counter-proposal of the first peer capability information sent by the STA1 based on a capability of the STA2 for P2P communication; and

establishing, by the STA1, the P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2 based on the second peer capability information;

wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information comprises data indicative of a capability of the STA1 for Direct Link Setup (DLS); and

wherein at least one of the first peer or second peer capability information includes information defined in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first peer and the second peer capability information is stored on at least one of: a non-removable memory, a removable memory, or a removable module.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information comprises at least one of a netmask, an indication of direct link setup, or a static internet protocol “IP” address if a dynamic host configuration protocol “DHCP” based IP address is not available.

4. A first peer wireless station (STA1) for peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the STA1 comprising:

a memory; and

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to:

communicate, first peer capability information to a second peer wireless station (STA2) using a capability discovery protocol request, wherein the first peer capability information describes the STA1's capability information for a P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2;

receive a second peer capability information from the STA2 using a capability discovery protocol response, wherein the second peer capability information describes the STA2's capability information for the P2P connection, wherein the second peer capability information includes a counter-proposal of the first peer capability information sent by the STA1 based on a capability of the STA2 for P2P communication; and

establish the P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2 based on the second peer capability information;

wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information comprises data indicative of a capability of the STA1 for Direct Link Setup (DLS); and

wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information includes information defined in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema.

5. The STA1 of claim 4 , wherein the first peer capability information is stored on at least one of: a non-removable memory, a removable memory, or a removable module.

6. The STA1 of claim 4 , wherein the peer capability information comprises at least one of a netmask, an indication of direct link setup, or a static internet protocol “IP” address if a dynamic host configuration protocol “DHCP” based IP address is not available.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause a first peer wireless station (STA1) for peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to perform operations comprising:

transmitting first peer capability information to a second peer wireless station (STA2) using a capability discovery protocol request, wherein the first peer capability information describes the STA1's capability information for a P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2;

receiving a second peer capability information from the STA2 using a capability discovery protocol response, wherein the second peer capability information describes the STA2's capability information for the P2P connection, wherein the second peer capability information includes a counter-proposal of the first peer capability information sent by the STA1 based on a capability of the STA2 for P2P communication; and

establishing, by the STA1, the P2P connection between the STA1 and the STA2 based on the second peer capability information;

wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information comprises data indicative of a capability of the STA1 for Direct Link Setup (DLS); and

wherein at least one of the first peer or the second peer capability information includes information defined in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first peer capability information is stored on at least one of: a non-removable memory, a removable memory, or a removable module.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first peer capability information comprises at least one of a netmask, an indication of direct link setup, or a static internet protocol “IP” address if a dynamic host configuration protocol “DHCP” based IP address is not available.

Assignments (10)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDED PATENT NUMBER TO REMOVE PATENT NO. 8,873,407 AT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 64066 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 20, 2023. Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074921/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064066/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 18, 2018
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047871/0955 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2018
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION UK LIMITED
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047210/0095 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2018
From: MCCANN, STEPHEN
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047210/0047 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2018
From: MONTEMURRO, MICHAEL; MCCOLGAN, BRIAN EDWARD
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047209/0746 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12868550 · Aug 25, 2010
Provisional Application 61248328 · Oct 2, 2009
Related Publication 20180235021A1 · Aug 16, 2018