Patent ID: 7333464
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for automating service discovery and set-up of a wireless network, the method comprising: performing, at a first computing device, neighbor and service discovery by searching for a special beacon transmitted from one or more second computing devices, the special beacon comprising at least a host name that identifies each of the one or more second computing devices from which the special beacon is broadcasted; performing, at the first computing device, member selection to select one or more of the second computing devices from each of which the special beacon is received and identified; and transmitting, from the first computing device, a network set-up and service request for initiating a connection with the one or more selected second computing devices to establish a wireless network, the network set-up and service request identifying and inviting each of the one or more selected second computing devices to become a member of the wireless network and asking each of the invited second computing devices to invoke a service as specified in the request after the network has been set-up, wherein the network set-up and service request and the special beacon conform to an IEEE 802.11 standard.