Method for discovering and discriminating devices on local collaborative networks to facilitate collaboration among users

Abstract

A method for identifying participants of a collaborative network is disclosed. The participants communicate over a larger electronic network wherein not all members may be participating in the collaborative session. The method begins by determining a unique session identifier for only the participants of the collaborative network. Next, a message having the session identifier is sent to all members of the network by an inquiring participant of the collaborative network. Only participants that have the session identifier respond to the inquiring participant. Finally, communication is established between the participants that responded to the message and the inquiring participant. In this regard, a collaborative network is formed including the inquiring participant.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to identifying members of a collaborative network and more particularly to a method of identifying members in a peer-to-peer network without the use of a central server. [0002] In a peer-to-peer network or system, users would like to collaborate using their computing devices in a public or private collaboration session without the use of a server. Collaboration may involve the transfer of files, sending messages, or other forms of data between two or more computing devices of the network. During collaboration, the computing devices share a physical network with other devices who the users may wish to selectively include or exclude from their sessions. [0003] Typically, a network has a central designated server that can identify users and the current network addresses or device identifiers of their devices which are currently logged-in as well as the session identifiers which are used to distinguish specific c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Without a central server, it is extremely difficult to maintain an accurate accounting of the participants in the collaborative session.

Accordingly, the computing device of the user will not be able to quickly and easily contact all members of the collaborative session because they are not identifiable to the user.

However, the '896 patent does not disclose how to identify and locate other peers when collaboration between peers is necessary.

Furthermore, the connection protocol described by the '896 patent is extremely bandwidth intensive such that it would not be suitable for the identification of collaborative devices on a peer-to-peer network.

However, the '183 patent does not disclose how peers can be quickly and easily identified on the network.

Images