Patent ID: 6842460
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method to provide an arriving wireless device, which is proximate to a plurality of 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 by the arriving wireless device; 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; 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; 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; 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.