Apparatus and methods for establishing client-host associations within a wireless network

摘要

In embodiments, a one-to-one association is established between a client and a host in a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network or a wireless personal communication network. The client may be a display device. The host may be a cellular telephone. Active association corresponds to the host exclusively using a shared resource of the client. When the association is solid, requests from other hosts to establish an active association are denied. When the association is fragile, such requests are granted. In the case of a semi-solid association, a request from another host to establish an active association causes the client to generate a query to the host currently owning the active association. If the host currently owning the association grants a release, a new active association is established between the requesting host and the client. Otherwise, the request from the other host is denied.

主权项

1. 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.