Method, apparatus and system for hosting a group of terminals

• US 20050037708A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Torvinen, Marko
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system allowing terminal hosted group activities is provided, whereby proximity and non-proximity connections between a hosting mobile terminal and participating terminals enables group hosting activity. The hosting mobile terminal guides information flow between itself, the participating terminals, and optionally, with network servers that may assist the hosting mobile terminal. The hosting mobile terminal provides group management, profiling, downloading, presence, gaming, payment/charging, and authentication functions either in terminal only mode, or alternatively in conjunction with server assistance.

Claims

1. A method of conducting group hosting functions using a mobile terminal, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and a plurality of participating terminals;

receiving messages from the plurality of participating terminals that relate to a common activity between the plurality of participating terminals; and

providing services to the plurality of participating terminals in response to the messages, wherein the mobile terminal facilitates the services provided.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection includes a proximity connection.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the proximity connection is facilitated with a Bluetooth communication stack.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a starting page containing markup content to the plurality of participating terminals.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the starting page is hosted by the mobile terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the starting page contains links to other markup content.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the other markup content is hosted by the mobile terminal.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the other markup content is hosted by an assistance server.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mobile terminal facilitates browsing of the starting page and the other content by the participating terminals.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the services are provided by a combination of the mobile terminal and an assistance server.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the services are provided by the mobile terminal.

12. A group hosting system, comprising:

a group of mobile terminals wirelessly coupled to provide communication relative to an activity common to the group of mobile terminals; and

a host terminal arranged to receive the communication from the group of mobile terminals, wherein services are provided to the group of mobile terminals by the host terminal to facilitate the activity.

13. The group hosting system according to claim 12, further comprising an assistance server wirelessly coupled to the host terminal to support the services provided by the host terminal.

14. The group hosting system according to claim 12, wherein the communication between the group of mobile terminals and the host terminals includes a proximity connection enabled by a Bluetooth communication stack.

15. The group hosting system according to claim 14, wherein the communication includes content that is downloaded directly from the host terminal to the group of mobile terminals.

16. The group hosting system according to claim 15, wherein the content is adapted by the host terminal prior to downloading.

17. The group hosting system according to claim 13, wherein the host terminal mediates browsing conducted between the group of mobile terminals and the assistance server.

18. The group hosting system according to claim 13, wherein the host terminal interoperates with the assistance server to maintain presence information associated with the group of mobile terminals.

19. The group hosting system according to claim 13, wherein the host terminal interoperates with the assistance server to download content requested by the group of mobile terminals from the assistance server.

20. The group hosting system according to claim 19, wherein the host terminal adapts the content using capability parameters received from the assistance server.

21. A mobile terminal wirelessly coupled to a network which includes a group of mobile terminals operating in accordance with a group activity, the mobile terminal comprising:

a memory capable of storing at least one of a protocol module and a hosting module;

a processor coupled to the memory and configured by the protocol module to enable message exchange with the group of mobile terminals; and

a transceiver configured to facilitate the message exchange with the group of mobile terminals, wherein the hosting module facilitates group related services to the group of mobile terminals.

22. The mobile terminal according to claim 21, wherein the transceiver facilitates content download from the mobile terminal to the group of mobile terminals.

23. The mobile terminal according to claim 22, wherein the content is adapted prior to download according to capability parameters associated with the group of mobile terminals.

24. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a mobile terminal for providing group host services to a group of mobile terminals by performing steps comprising:

establishing a wireless connection to the group of mobile terminals;

maintaining a list of mobile terminals receiving the group host services; and

interacting with the group of mobile terminals, wherein the interaction relates to a common activity shared by the group of mobile terminals.

25. An assistance server coupled to a mobile group hosting terminal, the assistance server comprising:

means for establishing a wireless connection to the mobile group hosting terminal;

means for receiving support requests from the mobile group hosting terminal; and

means for providing assistance to the mobile group hosting terminal in response to the support requests.

26. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by an assistance server by performing steps comprising:

establishing a wireless connection to the mobile group hosting terminal;

receiving support requests from the mobile group hosting terminal; and

providing assistance to the mobile group hosting terminal in response to the support requests.