Patent ID: 8811294

Claim:
A method for providing use of a shared resource of a client over a wireless network, the method comprising: establishing a passive association between the client and a first host of communications over the wireless network, the passive association not allowing use of the shared resource by the first host, wherein the shared resource is a resource residing at or available through the client; receiving at the client a request from the first host to establish an active association between the first host and the client for communications over the wireless network, the active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the first host; in response to the request from the first host, determining at the client whether an active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by a second host exists; if the step of determining whether an active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the second host exists results in a determination that there is no active association with the second host, establishing the active association between the first host and the client for communications over the wireless network and allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the first host; if the step of determining whether an active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the second host exists results in a determination that there is an active association with the second host, determining a category of the active association allowing exclusive use of the shared resource by the second host, the category is one of solid, semi-solid, and fragile; and determining whether to establish the active association between the first host and the client for communications over the wireless network based on the determined category of the active association.