Device-to-device network membership confirmation
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an interface circuit configured to communicate with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic device via dynamic connections that are based at least in part on pre-established and maintained associations in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device, wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are maintained for longer time than the dynamic connections,wherein a pre-established and maintained association and a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network;
wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are in response to invitations from the user without advertising in the device-to-device network, the device-to-device network partially overlaps one or more other device-to-device networks of users of the one or more other instances of the electronic device, and a given one of the one or more other device-to-device networks is controlled by a given one of the users; and
wherein the interface circuit is configured to communicate with the given instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique and the other network; and
a control circuit, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to;
confirm that a second instance of the electronic device in the group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in the device-to-device network; and
when the association is confirmed, communicate, via the interface circuit, a message for the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by one of the pre-established and maintained associations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device communicates with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained (i.e., long-lived) associations in the device-to-device network. Moreover, a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication within the group. During operation, the electronic device: confirms that a second instance of the electronic device in the group (which is associated with a second user in the device-to-device network) is associated with a provider of the electronic device; and when the association is confirmed, communicates a message to the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by one of the associations.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An electronic device, comprising:
-
an interface circuit configured to communicate with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic device via dynamic connections that are based at least in part on pre-established and maintained associations in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device, wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are maintained for longer time than the dynamic connections, wherein a pre-established and maintained association and a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network; wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are in response to invitations from the user without advertising in the device-to-device network, the device-to-device network partially overlaps one or more other device-to-device networks of users of the one or more other instances of the electronic device, and a given one of the one or more other device-to-device networks is controlled by a given one of the users; and wherein the interface circuit is configured to communicate with the given instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique and the other network; and a control circuit, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to; confirm that a second instance of the electronic device in the group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in the device-to-device network; and when the association is confirmed, communicate, via the interface circuit, a message for the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by one of the pre-established and maintained associations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein, when executed by the electronic device, the program instructions cause the electronic device to communicate a message, by performing operations comprising:
-
confirming that a second instance of the electronic device in a group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in a device-to-device network, and wherein the group comprises one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device; and communicating, when the association is confirmed, the message for the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by a pre-established and maintained association between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device; wherein the pre-established and maintained association is maintained for longer time than the dynamic connection; and wherein the communicating involves at least a dynamic connection that is based at least in part on the pre-established and maintained association and the pre-established and maintained association and the dynamic connection are set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network; wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are in response to invitations from the user without advertising in the device-to-device network, the device-to-device network partially overlaps one or more other device-to-device networks of users of the one or more other instances of the electronic device, and a given one of the one or more other device-to-device networks is controlled by a given one of the users; and wherein the communication between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device via the other network involves at least a non-wireless communication technique. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for communicating a message, wherein the method comprises:
-
by an electronic device; confirming that a second instance of the electronic device in a group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in a device-to-device network, and wherein the group comprises one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device; and communicating, when the association is confirmed, the message for the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by a pre-established and maintained association between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device; wherein the pre-established and maintained association is maintained for longer time than the dynamic connection; and wherein the communicating involves at least a dynamic connection that is based at least in part on the association and the pre-established and maintained association and the dynamic connection are set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network; wherein the pre-established and maintained associations are in response to invitations from the user without advertising in the device-to-device network, the device-to-device network partially overlaps one or more other device-to-device networks of users of the one or more other instances of the electronic device, and a given one of the one or more other device-to-device networks is controlled by a given one of the users; and wherein the communication between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device via the other network involves at least a non-wireless communication technique. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification