as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication o) Pub. No.: US 2007/0264991 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Nov. 15, 2007
`
`Jones et al.
`
`US 20070264991A1
`
`(54) SERVICES NEAR ME: DISCOVERING AND
`CONNECTING TO AVAILABLE WIRELESS
`SERVICES UTILIZING PROXIMITY
`DISCOVERY
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO4M 3/00
`(52) U.S. C0.
`cecssecsssscssssssssssessstssessesssstsssennsssnnsee 455/420
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David Jones, Seattle, WA (US);
`Thomas W. Kuehnel, Seattle, WA (US)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Correspondence Address:
`WOLF GREENFIELD (Microsoft Corporation)
`C/O WOLF, GREENFIELD & SACKS, P.C.
`600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
`
`BOSTON, MA 02210-2206 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/434,393
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May15, 2006
`
`Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to
`establishing a connection between devices, including wire-
`less-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively
`coupled to wireless access points or other wireless commu-
`nication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing
`a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The
`services that may be discovered may be, for example, print
`services, camera services, PDA services or any other suit-
`able services. Services may be discovered using 802.11,
`Bluetooth, UWB orany other suitable wireless technology.
`A graphical user interface is provided that enables a user to
`select a desired service.
`
`100
`
`
`
`Google Exhibit 1038
`Google v. SecCommTech
`Google v. SecCommTech
`
` Google Exhibit 1038
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15,2007 Sheet 1 of 11
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`US 2007/0264991 Al
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`US 2007/0264991 Al
`
`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`SERVICES NEAR ME: DISCOVERING AND
`CONNECTING TO AVAILABLE WIRELESS
`SERVICES UTILIZING PROXIMITY DISCOVERY
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`such as
`[0001] Wireless communication technologies
`802.11x, Ultrawideband (UWB), and Bluetooth enable
`devices to communicate wirelessly over a relatively short
`range, e.g., less than 100 meters. To discover other wireless
`devices, a device broadcasts wireless messages and listens
`for wireless messages from other devices. If another device
`is discovered, a wireless connection may be established
`between the devices. Once a connection is established,
`devices may exchange various types of information. For
`example, devices may exchange information related to pro-
`viding a service (e.g., printing, headset connectivity, PDA
`synchronization, etc.) provided by one of the devices.
`
`[0002] A variety of services may be provided by commu-
`nicating wirelessly between devices. As one example, a
`laptop computer may communicate wirelessly with a printer
`to print documents. Once a wireless connection is estab-
`lished between the computer and the printer, the computer
`may discoverthe print services provided by the printer. The
`computer may then take advantage of printing services
`offered by the printer via the wireless connection.
`
`[0003] Previously developed IP-based methods of discov-
`ering services require a connection to be established with a
`device before services provided by a device can be discov-
`ered. For example, network discovery protocols such as
`SSDP(Simple Service Discovery Protocol), WS-Discovery
`(Web Services Discovery), and SLP (Service Location Pro-
`tocol) require network layer connectivity (Layer 3 of the
`OSI model) to be established prior to the discovery of
`services on the network. Once connected, services provided
`by a device send broadcast or multicast messages over the IP
`network to advertise their services. Previously developed
`IP-based methods of service discovery did not provide a way
`of determining whether the device that provides the service
`was in the proximity of the device that required the service.
`Bluetooth as a technology has some ability to perform
`wireless service discovery limited to specific profiles.
`
`[0004] Previous computing platforms provided different
`tools for users to establish connections to different types of
`devices. For example, if a laptop user wishes to connect to
`a wireless access pointfor Internet service, the user may use
`a dedicated control panel to connect to the desired access
`point. If the user wishes to communicate with a Bluetooth
`device, a dedicated Bluetooth wizard may be required to set
`up the connection. If the user wishes to connect
`to a
`Bluetooth-enabled printer, a printer setup wizard may be
`required.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`in which a
`in a wireless context
`be particularly useful
`wireless signal may only be transmitted effectively over a
`relatively short distance, since service discovery may there-
`fore be limited to only those devices within suitable prox-
`imity of the user. For example, a computer user entering an
`unfamiliar building may wish to determine whether she can
`print a document using a nearby printer. The user may not
`wish, however, to establish a connection with a local wire-
`less network or individual device only to find out whether a
`suitable printer is located nearby.
`
`In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the
`[0006]
`user may send a wireless request from her computer effec-
`tively asking local devices whethera suitableprint serviceis
`offered. In response, a printer or other device acting on
`behalf of the printer may send a response to the computer
`indicating the type of print service(s) that are available.
`Based on this information, the user’s computer may estab-
`lish a connection with the network and/ora particular device
`(such as a printer) to obtain the desired services. In another
`implementation of service discovery, the user’s computer
`may passively listen to service messages advertised by
`nearby devices. Once the user’s computer receives an appro-
`priate service message, the user may establish a connection
`with the device to obtain the desired service. Thus, discovery
`of services is provided prior to establishing a connection
`with the device that provides the service.
`
`In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
`[0007]
`the user’s device, e.g., computer, may display a graphical
`user interface that enables the user to view the services
`available in the area, also called the “services near me.” The
`graphical user interface (GUT) can displaya list of available
`services of a variety of different types. For example,the list
`of available services can include services available on
`
`Bluetooth devices, wireless printers, wireless access points,
`and/or any other suitable types of devices. Thus, the user can
`view a comprehensive list of services provided nearby
`regardless of the types of services provided or the wireless
`standard by which the devices communicate. To connect to
`the desired service, the user may simply select the desired
`service and click a “Connect” button. The Applicants have
`appreciated that a computer user may not be particularly
`interested in understanding the details of a connection, but
`may simply wishto easily find and use the desired service.
`Providing a unified framework for discovering services can
`simplify finding and accessing the desired service.
`
`[0008] One embodiment of the invention relates to a
`method of accessing a service. The methodincludesreceiv-
`ing, via a first type of wireless protocol, a first wireless
`message that includes information related to a first service.
`The method also includes receiving, via a second type of
`wireless protocol, a second wireless message that includes
`information related to a second service. The information
`related to thefirst service and the information related to the
`second service are simultaneously displayed with a single
`user interface. User input is received indicating a service
`selected using the user interface, and the service is accessed
`
`In prior systems, services provided by a device
`[0005]
`could be discovered after establishing a connection with the
`device. The Applicants have appreciated that it may be
`[0009] Another embodiment of the invention relates to a
`desirable to discover a service provided by a device prior to
`computer-readable medium having computer-executable
`establishing a connection with the device. Enabling a uni-
`instructions for performing steps of a method of accessing,
`form way of discovering services prior to establishing a
`
`connection may facilitate finding a desired service in an byafirst device, a service provided by a second device. The
`802.11x, Ultrawideband (UWB), Bluetooth, WiMax, GPRS,
`seconddeviceis in the proximityof first device. The method
`or other suitable wireless environment. Such discovery may
`includes receiving a wireless message that includes infor-
`
`

`

`US 2007/0264991 Al
`
`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`mation related to the service provided by the second device.
`Information related to the service is displayed, prior to
`establishing a connection between the first device and the
`second devicethat is suitable for providing the service. User
`input
`is
`received indicating that
`the service has been
`selected. A connection is established between the first device
`
`[0022] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window thatindicates to a user that the connection
`was successful.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`and the second device in response to receiving the user
`input.
`
`[0023] As discussed above, prior wireless network
`arrangements typically required a user to establish a con-
`nection with a device and/or with the network to determine
`[0010] A further embodimentof the invention relates to a
`whether a desired service is offered. For example, a guest
`graphical user interface (GUI)that displays contentto a user
`maybring a laptop computer to a meeting in an unfamiliar
`of a first device and enables the user to select a desired
`office building. If he wishes to print a document, he mayfirst
`service. The GUI allows the user to establish a wireless
`haveto establish a connection betweenhis laptop andalocal
`connection with a device that provides the desired service.
`network within the office building. After a connection is
`The GUIincludesa first portion that displays first content
`established, the laptop computer may determineif a printer
`related to a first service, based on information received
`is connected to the network. There may be manyprinters
`wirelessly from a second device in a proximity of the first
`available on the network, some of which are nearby and
`device. The GUIalso includes a secondportion that displays
`some of which may be far away, such as on a different floor
`second content related to a second service, based on infor-
`of the building.
`In some cases,
`it may be difficult
`to
`mation received wirelessly from a third device in a prox-
`determine which printers are nearby. Furthermore, it may be
`imity of the first device. The third device and the second
`undesirable to provide guests with access to the local
`devices are different types of devices that provide different
`networkfor security reasons. For example, connecting to the
`types of services. The first portion and the secondportion are
`local network may allow the guest access to confidential
`information stored on the network.
`displayed simultaneously.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`[0011] The accompanying drawingsare not intended to be
`drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly
`identical componentthatis illustrated in various figures is
`represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not
`every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the
`drawings:
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 is diagram illustrating an example of a
`computing environment in which services may be discov-
`ered, according to some embodiments of the invention;
`
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
`method of accessing a service, according to one embodiment
`of the invention;
`
`[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window for displaying to a user the progress made
`in finding services;
`
`[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window that displays information about multiple
`services that may be accessed wirelessly;
`
`[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window in whichthe services displayed have been
`filtered so that only print services are displayed;
`
`
`
`[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window in which an advertisement is displayed;
`
`[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window in which a service has been selected;
`
`[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a window that
`displays an advertisement and the progress made in estab-
`lishing a connection;
`
`[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface window in which a user may provide security
`information prior to establishing a wireless connection;
`
`[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a graphical user
`interface windowthat displays to a user the progress made
`in installing a driver related to the service; and
`
`[0024] As another example, several wireless devices, e.g.,
`printers capable of communicating wirelessly, may be
`present in the proximity of the wireless-enabled device. In
`previous systems, a device that desires a particular service
`from another device would first have to connect to a device
`and then determine the services that it provides. It may be
`time consuming to connect to several devices until a device
`is found that provides the desired service.
`
`Asa further example, users of portable video game
`[0025]
`devices may wish to find other users in their proximity that
`are playing the same game. The users may wish to play
`together over a wireless connection. However, in crowded
`areas such as airports and coffee shops there may be many
`wireless devices in the area, and it may be difficult
`to
`determine which devices have the capability of playing the
`same game, without trying to connect to multiple devices.
`
`In accordance with aspects of the invention, dis-
`[0026]
`covery of services prior to establishing a connection with a
`device may enable a user of a wireless-enabled device (e.g.,
`a laptop computer, PDA or telephone) to find a device that
`provides a desired service in the proximity of the wireless-
`enabled device. For example, in one aspect of the invention,
`a service provided by a local device may be discovered by
`sending and receiving radio messagesprior to establishing a
`connection with the device. The servicesthat are discovered
`are likely to be nearby because they are within the radio
`range of the wireless-enabled device seeking the service(s).
`For example, if a person brings a laptop to a meeting in an
`unfamiliar office building, the laptop may exchange wireless
`messages with devices nearby. His laptop screen may dis-
`play a list of devices that provide services nearby, e.g.,
`nearby wireless printers, and the types of services they
`provide. He may then select an appropriate device with
`which a wireless connection will be established. As a result,
`obtaining the desired service may be facilitated.
`
`In one implementation, a wireless-enabled device
`[0027]
`may send radio messages to discover services provided by
`other devices and mayactively seek out a particular service.
`In another implementation, the device may passively dis-
`
`

`

`US 2007/0264991 Al
`
`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`cover services by listening to advertised service messages
`provided by other local devices. Either an active implemen-
`tation, passive implementation, or a combination of the two
`may be used to discover services. Any suitable implemen-
`tation may be used to discover services, as the invention is
`not limited in this respect. Embodiments of the invention
`may be used with any suitable wireless technology, such as
`IEEE standard 802.11, Bluetooth, UWB, Worldwide
`Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), and cellu-
`lar protocols, e.g., general packet radio service (GPRS).
`
`the wireless-
`In accordance with the invention,
`[0028]
`enabled device, e.g., the person’s laptop, may run a graphi-
`cal user interface (GUI) that displays for the user the
`services available wirelessly nearby. When the GUIis run,
`it may automatically determine which services are nearby
`using the active implementation, passive implementation, a
`combination thereof, or another suitable technique. A list of
`services that are available nearby are then displayed for the
`user. The user may examine the list of services, and select
`from the list a desired service. Once the desired service has
`been selected, a wireless connection may be established
`between the person’s laptop and the device that provides the
`selected service.
`
`coupled to access point 110. Devices in the computing
`environment 100 may communicate wirelessly using any
`suitable wireless standard such as 802.11x, Bluetooth or
`Ultrawideband (UWB).
`
`[0032] Wireless-enabled device 102 may be a laptop com-
`puter or any other device configured to send and receive
`wireless communications, such as a PDA,a cell phone, or
`any other suitable device. Wireless-enabled device 102 may
`be configured to interface with a human user, i.e., using a
`screen, keyboard, touchpad and/or any other suitable inter-
`face.
`
`[0033] A user of wireless-enabled device 102 may desire
`a particular service. For example,
`the user may wish to
`establish a wireless connection between wireless-enabled
`device 102 and a printer for printing documents. The user
`may command wireless-enabled device 102 to find a par-
`ticular service, e.g., a print service.
`
`FIG.2 illustrates an example of a method 200 of
`[0034]
`accessing a service that may be used by device 102 in the
`environment shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment of the
`invention, wireless-enabled device 102 maypassively listen
`to determine which services that are available. Devices that
`
`provide one or more service(s) may send an advertisement
`[0029] The Applicants have appreciated that prior com-
`message to advertise the service(s) they can provide to
`puting systemsdid not enable a userto viewalist of services
`device 102 and/or other devices in range. The advertisement
`across wired and wireless networks that the user can access,
`message maybe a radio messagethat advertises a particular
`prior to establishing a connection with the devices that
`service, €.g.,
`a printing service, provided by the device,e.g.,
`provide the services. In one aspect of the invention, a GUI
`printer 104. In one aspect of the invention, the advertisement
`is provided that can display a list of services available
`message may be broadcast as part of an 802.11x or UWB
`wirelessly in the proximity of a wireless-enabled device,
`beacon message. This broadcast may be included in OSI
`priorto establishing a connection with the devices. Display-
`Layer 2 communicationsprior to establishing Layer 3 con-
`ing services prior to establishing a connection mayfacilitate
`nectivity between the devices. The advertisement message
`accessing a desired service because a user can view a
`maybe encoded with information about the service provided
`comprehensive list of services available in the area, and only
`by the device. For example, the advertisement message may
`needs to establish a connection with the device that provides
`include an information element (IE), which is a data struc-
`the desired service.
`ture for wirelessly sending service-related information. One
`or more advertisement messages may be sent (without
`prompting by a request message) that include information
`related to one or moreservices provided by the device. The
`advertisement messages may be broadcast repeatedly. As
`one example, the advertisement message may be broadcast
`periodically.
`
`[0030] The Applicants have further appreciated that prior
`computing systems did not provide an integrated framework
`for accessing services. As discussed above, different control
`panels and wizards were needed depending on the type of
`service and the type of wireless connection the user wished
`to establish. To access the desired service, the user may have
`to figure out which wizard and/or control panel is needed for
`the particular service the user is trying to access. In one
`aspect of the invention, a GUI provides an integrated frame-
`work for accessing services regardless of the type of service
`that is desired or the wireless protocol that will be used.
`Thus, any suitable service can be accessed using a single
`GUI, without the need for a user to navigate and understand
`multiple different wizards. Providing an integrated service
`discovery framework in a single GUI can facilitate finding
`and accessing desired services.
`
`[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
`computing environment 100 in which devices may commu-
`nicate regarding service discovery according to some
`embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an example
`of a wireless-enabled device 102, e.g., a laptop computer,
`and examples of other devices with which device 102 may
`communicate wirelessly,
`including: printer 104, personal
`digital assistant (PDA) 106, camera 108 and access point
`110. FIG. 1 also illustrates an example of a speaker system
`112 and wired network 114 that are communicatively
`
`[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, devices that send the
`advertisement messages maybepresent in the proximity 116
`of wireless-enabled device 102. The proximity 116 of wire-
`less-enabled device 102 may be defined by the radio range
`of wireless-enabled device 102 and/or a range of devices
`receiving the request message. As one example, the prox-
`imity 116 of wireless-enabled device 102 may include the
`space within approximately 100 meters of wireless-enabled
`device 102. The radio range may begreater than or less than
`100 meters depending on various factors including the
`technology used, the strength of the transmitter, the amount
`of noise present on the channel, the physical environmentin
`which wireless-enabled device 102 operates, etc. However,
`the proximity 116 of wireless enabled device 102 need not
`necessarily be defined by the radio range, but may be
`determined based on other factors.
`
`In step S202, wireless-enabled device 102 may
`[0036]
`receive a wireless message that that includes service infor-
`mation related to a first service. For example, wireless-
`enabled device 102 may receive a wireless message from
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`area of the GUI associated with the service, or by providing
`digital camera 108 that advertises a photo service. For
`any other suitable input. As one example, the user may select
`example, digital camera 108 may be accessed to upload
`digital photos or video to wireless-enabled device 102. The
`a print service from the list, and may initiate a connection
`
`wireless message maybereceivedviaafirst type of wireless with printer 104 to access the print service.
`protocol used by digital camera 108 and wireless-enabled
`device 102. For example,
`the wireless message may be
`received via UWB using service discovery techniques in
`accordance with the invention, prior to establishing a UWB
`connection between digital camera 108 and wireless-en-
`abled device 102. However, the wireless message received
`in step S202 may be from any suitable device and may be
`received via any suitable protocol, as the invention is not
`limited in this respect.
`
`In step S210, wireless enabled device 102 may
`[0040]
`establish a connection with printer 104,
`in response to
`receiving the user input. In some circumstances, a device
`such as printer 104 may require authentication for a con-
`nection to be established. If authentication is required, the
`user of wireless-enabled device may be prompted to enter a
`password, pin or other identification number such as an
`identification number derived from biometric information,
`e.g., a fingerprint, or retinal scan. Authentication may be
`provided using any suitable security protocol, such as IPsec.
`Authentication may alternately be based on payment or
`billing information, e.g., so that services are only provided
`once a payment agreement has been reached.If the authen-
`tication is successful, a connection may then be established.
`
`[0041] Once a connection has been established between a
`wireless-enabled device and a device that provides a service,
`the devices may communicate further with respect to pro-
`viding the requested service. For example, wireless-enabled
`device 102 may communicate wirelessly with printer 104 to
`print documents.
`
`[0042] As applied to 802.11x, UWBorany other suitable
`wireless standard,
`the term “establishing a connection”
`means that a first device sends a connection request to a
`second device and the second device responds to agree on
`the connection parameters and accept the connection. The
`connection that is established may be suitable for providing
`a service. In an 802.11 context, service discovery messages
`may be sent and received via Layer 2 802.11 beacon and
`probe messages. However, Layer 2 messages may not pro-
`vide the capability for wirelessly providing a large amount
`of information describing the service, e.g., a print service.
`Services may be advertised using Layer 3 or higher layer
`messages, in which a connection has been establishedthat is
`suitable for providing the service. In an JEEE 802.11 con-
`text, service discovery may be provided using wirelessly
`broadcast beacon messages. Oncea first device receives a
`beacon message that includes information related to a ser-
`vice provided by a second device, the first device may send
`an association request to the second device. The association
`request may contain information about the parameters of the
`connection that is to be established. Once the second device
`
`it may respond with an
`receives the association request,
`association response message that indicates agreement on
`the connection parameters and acceptanceof the connection.
`The connection may be considered as established once the
`first device receives the association response message. In a
`Bluetooth context, service discovery may be provided using
`inquiry and inquiry response messages. However, a connec-
`tion may not be considered as established until page and
`page response messages have been exchanged. Once these
`messages have been exchanged, the devices may be syn-
`chronized with one another because a particular frequency
`hopping pattern has been agreed upon. As another example,
`the two devices may have agreed on times for transmitting
`and/or receiving data. These are examples of situations in
`which a connection has been established that is suitable for
`
`providing a service. However, it should be appreciated that
`any suitable wireless technologies may be used, and any
`communication scheme,timing pattern, frequency pattern or
`
`In step S204, wireless-enabled device 102 may
`[0037]
`receive a wireless message from another device in the
`network. The wireless message may include service infor-
`mation related to a different service. For example,
`the
`service information may include information about a print
`service provided by printer 104. The wireless message may
`be received via a different type of wireless protocol than the
`wireless protocol used by digital camera 108 and wireless-
`enabled device 102. For example, the wireless message from
`printer 104 may be received via an IEEE 802.11 beacon
`message using service discovery techniques in accordance
`with the invention, prior to establishing an JEEE 802.11
`connection betweenprinter 104 and wireless-enabled device
`102. However, the wireless message received in step S204
`may be from any suitable device and may be received via
`any suitable protocol, as the inventionis not limited in this
`respect. In some embodiments of the invention, step S204
`need not be performed. For example, step $204 maynot be
`performed if there is only one wireless device in the prox-
`imity of wireless-enabled device 102, orif all of the devices
`in the proximity of wireless-enabled device 102 use the
`same wireless protocol.
`
`In step S206, wireless-enabled device 102 may
`[0038]
`display the information related to one or more services. The
`information related to the services may be displayedprior to
`establishing a connection with the devices, and information
`related to multiple different services can be displayed simul-
`taneously in a single graphical user interface window. For
`example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen associated
`with wireless-enabled device 102 may display information
`about the digital camera service and the print service. As
`another example, the GUI may be displayed on a digital
`camera screen, a PDA screen, or any other suitable human
`perceptible medium. Any suitable medium maybe used, as
`the invention is not limited as to the medium that is used for
`
`displaying information. In one embodimentof the invention,
`the information about the services may be displayed asa list.
`A user may use any suitable controls to scroll through the
`list, and possibly select from the list a desired service.
`
`In step S208, wireless-enabled device 102 may
`[0039]
`receive user input related to a service selected by the user.
`The user input may be received in any suitable way, for
`example, via a mouse, keyboard, touchpad, stylus, or any
`other suitable input device. In response to receiving the
`user’s input indicating that a service has been selected, the
`GUI mayhighlight the selected service to visually indicate
`to the user that the service has been selected. If desired, the
`user may initiate a connection with the device that provides
`the service. For example, the user may initiate the connec-
`tion by clicking a “Connect” button, double-clicking on the
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`one service has been discovered. Graphical user interface
`window 400 displays a list 410 of services in the proximity
`of wireless-enabled device 102. In this example, list 410
`includes information about a printing service. The informa-
`tion about the printing service is displayed in the upper
`portion of list 410. The information about
`the printing
`service includes an icon 401, service name 402, service
`status indicator 403, and signal strength indicator