Patent Publication Number: US-2003236890-A1

Title: Wireless communication device and method for sharing device resources

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention pertains to electronic communications, and in particular, to wireless devices and communications between wireless devices.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Many people, including business professionals, carry one or more wireless communication devices. Each device may serve a different purpose. For example, a person may carry a wireless telephone for making telephone calls, a personal digital assistant (PDA) for storing documents, viewing email, and keeping a calendar, a portable or laptop computer for word processing, a MP3 player for listing to audio, or a web-tablet for web communications. People carrying these wireless and portable devices also come in-proximity to each other, such as during a meeting, in the office area, at a convention, or within a restaurant or cafeteria. These people may wish to share information on their devices with others but compatibility issues between the various devices make this a difficult prospect. Furthermore, a person may wish to utilize processing resources available on another device because while many of these portable wireless devices lack significant processing capability, other devices may have available or unused processing ability.  
       [0003] One reason that many wireless devices are incompatible with each other is because different wireless devices may be configured for communications in accordance with a particular wireless network physical layer. For example, a wireless device may only have a Bluetooth transceiver for communications in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. Another wireless device may only have an IEEE 802.11 transceiver for communications in accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Another wireless device may only have an infrared transceiver for communications over an infrared serial data link in accordance with the IrDA standard.  
       [0004] Another reason that many wireless devices are incompatible with each other is because different wireless devices, even when configured for communications in accordance with compatible wireless network physical layers, may not be able to communicate with each other or share resources because they operate in accordance with different network application layer protocols. For example, even though two wireless devices may communicate using the IEEE 802.11b standard, the devices may utilize different network application layer protocols such as JINI or universal plug and play (UPnP). 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0005] The appended claims point out different embodiments of the invention with particularity. However, the detailed description presents a more complete understanding of the present invention when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures and:  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating wireless device resource sharing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a wireless device resource sharer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating direct resource sharing between wireless devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a resource sharing procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0010]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a network forming procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0011] The following description and the drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the invention sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to practice it. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Examples merely typify possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the sequence of operations may vary. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or substituted for those of others. The scope of the invention encompasses the full ambit of the claims and all available equivalents.  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating wireless device resource sharing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to resource sharing between wireless devices using a wireless device resource sharer. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to direct resource sharing between wireless devices. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to intelligent wireless network physical layer selection by wireless devices. Wireless devices that implement different wireless network physical layers may communicate and share resources. Wireless devices that implement different network application layer protocols may also communicate and share resources.  
     [0013] A wireless device resource sharer (WDRS), such as WDRS  100 , may proxy incompatible communications between wireless devices. A wireless network may be formed allowing both compatible and incompatible wireless devices to communicate therebetween. In one embodiment, the WDRS allows incompatible wireless devices to appear as compatible devices. In this way, the WDRS may be “invisible” to such devices allowing the wireless devices to be part of a network of “compatible” devices. The WDRS may include physical interfaces to communicate with compatible and incompatible wireless devices in accordance with various wireless network physical layers. The WDRS may also include a proxy server to proxy incompatible network application layer protocols between wireless devices. The WDRS may also share storage and processing resources with wireless devices. A policy manager within a wireless device regulates resource sharing with other devices. In one embodiment, a connectivity decision-making (CDM) element may evaluate connectivity-related inputs for use in making connectivity decisions. The connectivity-related inputs may include power consumption of a particular wireless network physical layer when reduced power consumption is identified as desirable. The connectivity-related inputs may include connection speed of the particular wireless network physical layer when high connection speed is identified as desirable. In alternate embodiments, a wireless device may also share resources directly with other wireless devices, and may automatically and intelligently select network connectivity utilizing, for example, the CDM element.  
     [0014] WDRS  100  enables a plurality of in-proximity wireless communication devices (WCDs)  102  to communicate and share resources including services among each other and with WDRS  100 . In one embodiment, WDRS  100  also enables in-proximity WCDs  102  to utilize resources and services of external networks. WCDs  102  may include, for example, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop and portable computers with wireless communication capability, web tablets, wireless telephones, wireless headsets, pagers, instant messaging devices, MP3 players, digital cameras, and other devices that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly. WDRS  100  may be located, for example, in a conference or meeting room or other location where one or more wireless devices may be, present. WDRS  100  may also be located at conferences where a large number of people may congregate and attend meetings. WCDs  102  often are incompatible with each other making direct as well as indirect communicate difficult, if not impossible. Further, WCDs  102  may often lack processing capability that may be desired, for example, during a meeting. WDRS  100  may allow such business professionals to share information and utilize the processing resources and services of WDRS  100  and/or other WCDs  102 .  
     [0015] In one embodiment, WDRS  100  and in-proximity WCDs  102  may operate similar to an ad-hoc network. WDRS  100  may identify WCDs  102  that are in-proximity to or nearby WDRS  100  and establish communication links  104  in accordance with a particular wireless network physical layer suitable for a particular WCD  102 . WDRS  100  may also implement a service discovery protocol (SDP) to identify in-proximity WCD resources and share such information with in-proximity WCDs  102 . In response to resource requests from in-proximity WCDs  102 , WDRS  100 , among other things, may authenticate the in-proximity WCDs  102  requesting the resource, may proxy incompatible network application layer protocols between in-proximity WCDs  102 , perform the resource-sharing request itself or invoke the resources of another of in-proximity WCDs  102  to perform the resource-sharing request. In addition to resource sharing, WDRS  100  may also provide services to in-proximity WCDs  102 . In one embodiment, WCDs  102  may share resources directly over links  105 .  
     [0016] One example of the resources that WDRS  100  may share among in-proximity WCDs  102  includes processing resources  112 . Because WCDs  102  may have limited processing capability, in-proximity WCDs  102  may wish to off-load processing to a processing resource of WDRS  100 . For example, one of in-proximity WCDs  102  may send speech packets to WDRS  100  for performing speech recognition and converting the speech packets to text. The speech packets may come from real-time audio from a conversation taking place during a meeting. Accordingly, persons attending the meeting may receive a real-time “transcription” of what was spoken at the meeting from WDRS  100 .  
     [0017] In another example, one of in-proximity WCDs  102 , such as a PDA, may send data representing hand written notes during a meeting. The PDA may not have handwriting recognition software able to handle such processing. WDRS  100  may perform handwriting recognition and transmit the notes to one or more of in-proximity WCDs  102  of persons attending the meeting. Accordingly, the persons attending a meeting may receive real-time notes of one or more of the other persons attending the meeting. Other examples of processing that may be performed on behalf of one of WCDs  102  include video compression and decompression, natural language processing and multimedia playback.  
     [0018] Another example of resources that WDRS  100  may share includes storage resources  114 . WDRS  100  may include storage elements such as a hard-drive, a CD-ROM and a memory for storing data in response to requests by one of in-proximity WCDs  102 . The data, for example, may be tagged for retrieval by a particular one or more of wireless devices  102 . Documents, for example, may be archived in WDRS  100 . In one embodiment, WDRS  100  may provide for a persistent storage allowing it to serve, for example, as an archival storage unit for meeting participants in a conference room. In this embodiment, meeting information may be tagged with identifiers to allow access by certain persons, such as meeting attendees.  
     [0019] In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may share content storage  116 . In this example, content such as company news and other information may be available to in-proximity WCDs  102 . WDRS  100  may also provide software updates  118  to in-proximity WCDs  102 . For example, a corporation may wish to automatically upgrade employees&#39; PDA or laptop computer software when the employee is in a conference room where WDRS  100  is located. In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may receive content and/or software updates from one of WCDs  102 .  
     [0020] In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may include attendance tracker  120  for providing attendance-tracking services. For example, during a meeting WDRS  100  may automatically identify parties attending a meeting through a person&#39;s in-proximity WCD  102 . WDRS  100  may be configured to automatically store meeting attendance information along with other meeting information, and may provide the meeting attendance information to the meeting attendees and others, for example, through in-proximity WCDs  102 .  
     [0021] WDRS  100  may also offer time and date synchronization services  122  to in-proximity WCDs  102 . Time and date synchronization services  122  may update the time and/or date of an in-proximity WCD  102 . For example, a person attending a meeting arriving from another time zone may wish to have their in-proximity WCD updated to the local time and date. Persons attending a meeting, for example, may also wish to have the time on their in-proximity WCD synchronized with the time of other meeting attendees.  
     [0022] In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may also utilize and share graphics resources  124  among in-proximity WCDs  102 . For example, WDRS  100  may display information received from one or more of in-proximity WCDs  102  on a display such as overhead projector, computer display or monitor. In one embodiment, WDRS  100  may multiplex information received from more than one WCDs  102  for displaying. WDRS  100  may also share printing resources and may couple with a common printer to allow in-proximity WCDs  102  to print using the common printer.  
     [0023] In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may also provide application service provider (ASP) offerings  126  and may allow WCDs  102  to operate, for example, in a client-server mode. For example, an application may be hosted on WDRS  100 . This may be particularly useful when in-proximity WCDs  102  do not have the processing capability or software to run the hosted application, when the application is not available on the in-proximity WCD  102 , or when the application requires connectivity to an external server. In one embodiment, WDRS  100  may also provide local area network (LAN) connectivity  128  allowing wireless devices to communicate, for example, with a corporate LAN, an intranet or the Internet. LAN connectivity  128  may include an enterprise LAN connectivity to allow remote management of WDRS  100 . In another embodiment, WDRS  100  may receive content and/or software updates through LAN connectivity  128 . In yet another embodiment, a WCD  102  may have a policy manager, which sets policies for allowing resource sharing with WDRS  100  and other WCDs  102 .  
     [0024] In still yet another embodiment of the present invention, WDRS  100  facilitates resource sharing with wired devices  106 , which may be coupled to WDRS  100  over a wireline connection  108 . In this embodiment, wired devices  106  may directly couple to WDRS  100  and share resources similar to the way in-proximity WCDs  102  share resources.  
     [0025]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a wireless device resource sharer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Wireless device resource sharer  200  may be suitable for use as WDRS  100  (FIG. 1), although other configurations for WDRS  100  are also suitable. WDRS  200  may have a plurality of physical interfaces  202  communicate with wireless communication devices, such as WCDs  102  (FIG. 1) in accordance with wireless network physical layers that implement different standards. Physical interfaces  202  may be comprised of transceivers for providing communications in accordance with various communication standards including physical connectivity protocols that include wireless local area network (WAN) protocols and/or wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols. For example, WDRS  200  may include Bluetooth transceiver  204  to communicate with in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1) in accordance with the Bluetooth standard. WDRS  200  may also include transceivers  206 ,  208  and  210  to communicate with in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1) in accordance with, respectively, the IEEE 802.11a standard, the IEEE 802.11b standard, and the IEEE 802.11g standard. WDRS  200  may also include infrared transceiver  212  to support an infrared serial data link with in-proximity WCDs  102 , which may be in accordance with the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standard. WDRS  200  may also include home-RF transceiver  214  to communicate with in-proximity WCDs  102  in accordance with the Home-RF standard. The Home-RF standard, for example, may be in accordance with a Home-RF Working Group (HRFWG) standard. WDRS  200  may also include other wireless transceivers  216  to communicate in accordance with other wireless network standards or wireless network physical layers.  
     [0026] Many WCDs use different and often incompatible wireless communication standards. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one physical interface  202  may be provided for the various wireless network communication standards used by a WCD  102  (FIG. 1). The various different physical interfaces  202  may allow almost any WCD to communicate with WDRS  200 .  
     [0027] Although physical interfaces  202  are illustrated as separate functional elements, one or more of physical interfaces  202  may be combined. Additionally, although FIG. 2 illustrates only one of each type of physical interface  202 , WDRS  200  may comprise more than one of any of the physical interfaces. In one embodiment, WDRS  200  may be configured to provide communication links with one or more of the physical interfaces in various directions. For example, when WDRS  200  may be designed to operate in the center of a conference room and may be configured to provide communication links with one or more of the physical interfaces over a 360-degree range. For example, WDRS  200  may mount on a wall, or in a comer, and may provide communication links with one or more of the physical interfaces over a 180-degree range in azimuth and 90-degree range in elevation. Each of physical interfaces  202  may be configured with one or more antenna  205  to support such requirements.  
     [0028] In one embodiment, WDRS  200  may include one or more wired physical interfaces  218  for providing wired communications with portable communication devices. For example, wired physical interfaces  218  may include a USB interface, a cable interface, and/or an Ethernet interface. A WCD may be able to communicate over wired physical interface  218  when the WCD supports wired connectivity.  
     [0029] WDRS  200  may also include one or more protocol agents (PA)  220 . Protocol agents  220  may be associated with a particular one of physical interfaces  202 . Protocol agents  220  interface information with physical interfaces  202  and may, for example, format data packets in accordance with the wireless network physical layer of the associated physical interface  202 . Although protocol agents  220  are illustrated as separate functional elements, in one embodiment of the present invention, protocol agents  220  may be software agents running on a processor which may be part of controller  226 . Protocol agents  220  communicate with connectivity protocol proxy  222  to allow the routing of data packets among the protocol agents  220 .  
     [0030] WDRS  200  may also include proxy server  224  to proxy network application layer protocols  228  allowing data to be converted from one network application layer protocol to another. Network application layer protocols, may include, for example, file transfer protocols. For example, one WCD may transfer data in accordance with the Bluetooth network application layer protocol while another WCD  102  may wish receive data in accordance with a universal plug and play (UPnP) or a JINI network application layer protocol. Proxy server  224  may proxy the incompatibility of different network application layer protocols. The proxy between different network application layer protocols may be required even when WCDs  102  are communicating in accordance with the same wireless network physical layer.  
     [0031] WDRS  200  may include storage resources  230  which may be shared by in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1). Storage resources  230  may include, for example, a hard disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, and/or a memory. WDRS  200  may also include processing resources such as hardware accelerators  232  which also may be shared by in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1). Hardware accelerators  202  may be suitable for performing speech and handwriting recognition. Other processing resources may be used to perform image processing and audio processing which may be utilized by in-proximity WCDs such as digital cameras and MP3 players. The processing resources of WDRS  200  may also include general-purpose processors configurable with software for performing processing requests by in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1). Memory  234  may store, for example, programming instructions and data for the operation of WDRS  200 .  
     [0032] In one embodiment, WDRS  200  may include GPS receiver  236  to determine a location of WDRS  200 . The location information may be requested by or provided to in-proximity WCDs  102  (FIG. 1) and may be used by WCDs  102  to update calendar applications, for example.  
     [0033] WDRS  200  may also include graphics elements  238  to interface with graphical display components such as overhead projectors, liquid crystal displays, cathode ray tubes, etc. WDRS  200  may include such display components, or may be coupled to such display components. Graphic elements  238  may allow in-proximity WCDs  102  to share graphic resources, such as a display, during a meeting. WDRS  200  may multiplex information, such as slides, from several meeting participants for displaying on an overhead projector. WDRS may also include print driver  240 , which may interface with a printer allowing WCDs  102  to share printing resources.  
     [0034] In one embodiment, WDRS  200  may include a gateway such as LAN gateway  242  to access a network such as an intranet or the Internet. LAN information and resources may be shared with the WCDs.  
     [0035]FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating direct resource sharing between wireless devices in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Two or more in-proximity WCDs  302  may discover each other and use the resources of each other in accordance with policies established by each of the in-proximity WCDs. In this embodiment, WCD  302  may communicate directly over link  304 . Link  304  may correspond with link  105  (FIG. 1). In this embodiment, it may not be necessary for WCDs to utilize a common element therebetween such as WDRS  100  (FIG. 1). WCD  302  may also be suitable for use as one of WCDs  102  (FIG. 1), but this is not a requirement.  
     [0036] In this embodiment, WCD  302  includes wireless interface  306  which may provide wireless communications in accordance with one or more wireless physical connectivity protocols. For example, wireless interface  306  may communicate using the IEEE 802.11a standard, the IEEE 802.11b standard, the IEEE 802.11g standard, the infrared data association (IrDA) standard, the Bluetooth standard, a Home-RF standard, and/or other wireless network physical layers.  
     [0037] Discovery element  308  is a functional element that allows WCD  302  to discover in-proximity WCDs, and may also allow WCD  302  to discover sub-devices and services available through an in-proximity WCD. Discovery element  308  may implement one or more discovery protocols, including, for example, network application layer protocols such as Bluetooth, UPnP, or JINI. Accordingly, through the use of discovery element  308 , in-proximity WCDs  302  may communicate and share resources using communication techniques, which are often incompatible.  
     [0038] In this embodiment, WCD  302  includes wireless resource sharing (WRS) policy manager  310 . Policy manager  310  may apply WRS policies based on user input and information, which may be stored in policy management database  312 . Policy manager  310  may keep a log of WRS activities and may store the log in database  312 . Policy manager  310  may include a resolution of permissions for WRS of WCD  302 , as well as preferences for communicating with other devices depending on attributes of WCD  302  and those specified by the device owner. For example, a WCD may not wish to share processing resources when battery power is low, but may wish to share resources when batter power is high or when the WCD is operating on AC power. Policy manger  310 , for example, may permit WCD  302  to share information only with certain other WCDs such as WCDs of company employees or WCDs of project personnel.  
     [0039] Policy manager  310  may be implemented as a software module and may provide an interface with discovery element  308  and wireless interface  306 . In one embodiment, policy manager  310  may perform other functions, such as caching and background operations to enhance the performance of resource sharing activities.  
     [0040] WCD  302  may also include WRS application programming interface (API)  314 . API  314  provides an interface with various applications  316 , and may, for example, determine a wireless network physical layer, a network application layer protocol and/or a discovery protocol from a particular application. API  314  may be invoked by a particular one of applications  316  to discover and invoke a resource on another WCD. Applications  316  may include several WRS-enabled applications, which may utilize the resources of another WCD.  
     [0041] Accordingly, resource sharing among WCDs, which communicate using different and possibly incompatible wireless network physical layers, is accomplished. Furthermore, resource sharing among WCDs, which implement incompatible network application layer protocols is easily accomplished even for network application layer protocols that may not generally be suitable for wireless communications, such as UPnP. Furthermore, this embodiment of the present invention allows each WCD  302  to implement a set of policies to regulate WRS. Although WCD  302  is illustrated as having separate functional elements  306  through  316 , WCD  302  may comprise one or more processors configured with software to implement these functional elements.  
     [0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, WCD  302  may intelligently and automatically select a wireless network physical layer for network connectivity. For example, a laptop computer with wireless capability currently using an IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN standard for connectivity may enter a room with a Bluetooth access point. The laptop computer may automatically switch to Bluetooth connectivity, for example, to save power when running on battery. In accordance with this embodiment, WCD  302  may include connectivity decision-making element (CDM)  318  to evaluate inputs to base connectivity decisions on. WCD  302  may include a policy manager, such as policy manager  310 , to manage user selected and user-designated policies for network connectivity. For example, a user may designate that Ethernet connectivity takes highest-priority, or that IEEE 802.11b connectivity is selected over Bluetooth connectivity when power usage is not important. The user may designate that IEEE 802.11b connectivity is selected over Bluetooth connectivity when connection speed is important depending on the application, or when the device is operating on battery power.  
     [0043] Connectivity decision-making element  318  may evaluate other inputs such as battery power level or remaining battery power for network connectivity selection. For example, connectivity decision-making element  318  may choose the more optimum method of network connectivity in terms of power consumption when battery power is low.  
     [0044] Connectivity decision-making element  318  may also make network connectivity decisions based on location. For example, when a wired-link is available, such as when the device is coupled to docking station or phone line, connectivity decision-making element  318  may select the wired-link depending on, for example, application requirements and parameters of the wired-link.  
     [0045] Connectivity decision-making element  318  may also evaluate network status to make connectivity decisions. For example, if a Bluetooth connection fails, connectivity decision-making element  318  may instruct the device to automatically switch to IEEE 802.11b connectivity.  
     [0046] In one embodiment, connectivity decision-making element  318  may evaluate past pattern usage. For example, connectivity decision-making element  318  may generate a database of prior connectivity mechanisms, which may be used in selecting a current connectivity mechanism. For example, if a Bluetooth connection at a particular location provided less than the usual bandwidth or experienced connectivity problems, (e.g., maybe as a result of going out of range) connectivity decision-making element  318  may, for example, switch to IEEE 802.11b connectivity, which may provide a better range. In accordance with this embodiment, a WCD may provide seamless transfer between different network connectivity mechanisms including, seamless connectivity between wired and wireless connectivity mechanisms.  
     [0047]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a resource sharing procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Resource sharing procedure  400  may be performed by a wireless communication device such as WDRS  100  (FIG. 1), or WDRS  200  (FIG. 2) although other devices may also be suitable for performing procedure  400 . In an alternate embodiment, wireless devices, such as WCDs  302  (FIG. 3), may perform all or portions of procedure  400  when, for example, direct resource sharing between devices is implemented. Resource sharing procedure  400  may permit wireless devices with incompatible physical interfaces to communicate and share resources therebetween. Furthermore, resource sharing procedure  400  may permit wireless devices using incompatible network application layer protocols to communicate and share resources therebetween.  
     [0048] Operation  402  receives a resource-sharing request from an in-proximity WCD requesting the sharing of resources of a device such as WDRS  100  (FIG. 1). In one embodiment, a resource-sharing request is received from an in-proximity WCD requesting the sharing of resources of another in-proximity WCD. Operation  404  performs an authentication to verify that the in-proximity WCD has authorization to share the requested resource. For example, the authorization may determine whether or not an in-proximity WCD is permitted access to certain data stored on the WDRS or another in-proximity WCD.  
     [0049] Operation  406  proxies incompatible network application layer protocols for the conversion of information between WCDs implementing different network application layer protocols. Operation  406  may employ a proxy sever, such as proxy server  224  (FIG. 2).  
     [0050] Operation  408  performs the requested resource sharing. Operation  408  may include the use of protocol agents  220  (FIG. 2) to interface with different physical interfaces.  
     [0051] In one embodiment of the present invention, resources available on another in-proximity WCD may be invoked. In this embodiment, instead of performing operation  408 , operations  410  thorough  414  may be performed. Operation  410  identifies in-proximity WCDs having available resources. Operation  412  checks a resource sharing policy manager on the in-proximity WCD with available resources to determine if the WCD wishes to share its resources. When the policy manager on the other WCD permits or approves the particular resource-sharing request, operation  414  may be performed. Operation  414  may invoke the processing resources of the in-proximity WCD. Operation  414  may include proxying network application layer protocols and converting data between wireless network physical interfaces.  
     [0052]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a network forming procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Wireless devices such as WDRS  100  (FIG. 1), or WDRS  200  (FIG. 2) may perform network forming procedure  500 , although other wireless devices are also suitable. In an alternate embodiment, wireless devices, such as WCDs  302  (FIG. 3), may perform all or portions of procedure  500  when, for example, direct resource sharing between devices is implemented. Through the performance of network forming procedure  500 , a wireless network may be formed or established allowing both compatible and incompatible wireless devices to communicate therebetween. In one embodiment, through the operation of procedure  500 , a WDRS allows incompatible wireless devices to appear as compatible devices. In this way, the WDRS may be “invisible” to such devices allowing the wireless devices to be part of a network of “compatible” devices. In implementing procedure  500 , a WDRS may, for example, obtain addresses of wireless devices, and then determine physical layers and/or application layer service protocols of the wireless devices. Although the individual operations of procedure  500  are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently. Further, nothing necessarily requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated.  
     [0053] Operation  502  identifies in-proximity WCDs. WCDs may be identified in a way similar to the way an ad-hoc network identifies devices. In one embodiment, WCDs are identified through a discovery protocol such as Bluetooth for Bluetooth enabled devices, UPnP for UPnP enabled devices, or JINI for JINI enabled devices. Operation  502  may implement any technique for discovering WCDs.  
     [0054] Operation  504  determines the physical layers of an in-proximity WCD. For example, operation  504  may determine whether an in-proximity WCD communicates using the IEEE 802.11a standard, the IEEE 802.11b standard, the IEEE 802.11g standard, the infrared data association (IRDA) standard, the Bluetooth standard, or a Home-RF standard.  
     [0055] Operation  506  identifies a network application layer protocol of an in-proximity WCD. In one embodiment, the network application layer protocol may correspond with the software discovery protocol, which may be determined in operation  502 .  
     [0056] In operation  508 , the wireless network is formed. Through the operation of a WDRS, incompatible in-proximity wireless devices may appear as compatible in-proximity wireless devices and may communicate with each other either directly or what appears directly through the WDRS.  
     [0057] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments reveals the general nature of the invention sufficiently that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt it for various applications without departing from the generic concept, and therefore such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.