SERVICE ADVERTISEMENTS IN WIRELESS LOCAL NETWORKS

The present invention concerns an apparatus for exchanging service information with other devices. The present apparatus comprises a transceiver, a processing unit, a memory for storing information about its local services and/or services provided by other devices, and a protocol resource manager. This protocol resource manager (a) triggers the transceiver to send service information, comprising information about itself and/or other known devices to other devices, (b) chooses a timeout value T A, (c) ensures that the apparatus listens for up to a maximum time T A for service information received by said transceiver, (d) if T A timed out without having received such service information by said transceiver, triggers said transceiver to repeat step a, (e) if such service information was received by said transceiver prior to T A timing out, checks whether said service information received comprises information about itself; and (f) if yes, then chooses another timeout value T A, and continuing with step c, (g) if no, then continues with step a.