Peer-to-peer mobile data transfer method and device

• US 20050220041A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A technique is provided for a direct data transfer session, including for multimedia content, between mobile devices without the need for using a separate multimedia server to store multimedia content. Direct data transfer sessions between mobile devices are established by transmitting necessary address information through page-based messaging services that utilize the underlying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve the identification and location of the mobile devices.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a direct data transfer session between mobile devices that support a data packet-based communications service over a digital mobile network system, the method comprising:

opening a listening port on an initiating mobile device to receive communications through the data packet-based communications service;

transmitting an invitation message containing the address and the listening port of the initiating mobile device to a target mobile device through a page-mode messaging service, wherein the target mobile device is located by providing to the page-mode messaging service a unique identification number that is used by the digital mobile network system to locate the target mobile device;

receiving a response from the target mobile device at the listening port on the initiating wireless device through the data packet-based communications service; and

establishing a virtual connection through the data packet-based communications service for the direct data transfer session between the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

opening a second listening port on the initiating mobile device to receive invitation messages through the page-mode messaging service;

receiving, at the second listening port and through the page-mode messaging service, a message from another mobile device inviting the initiating mobile device to establish a data transfer session, wherein such message contains the address and listening port of the other mobile device; and

transmitting a response to the address and listing port of the other mobile device through the data packet-based communications service, wherein the response acknowledges the ability to establish a virtual reliable connection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data packet-based communications service is GPRS and the digital mobile network system is GSM.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device include QWERTY keyboards.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address and the listening port is a TCP port.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the page-mode messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identification number is a telephone number.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identification number is a PIN number.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual reliable connection is a TCP connection.

21. A computer program for establishing a direct data transfer session between mobile devices that support a data packet-based communications service over a digital mobile network system, the computer program comprising program code means for performing all the steps of claim 1 when the program is run on a computer.

22. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the data packet-based communications service is GPRS and the digital mobile network system is GSM.

23. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the initiating mobile device and the target mobile device include QWERTY keyboards.

24. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the address of the initiating mobile device is an IP address and the listening port is a TCP port.

25. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

26. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the page-mode messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.

27. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the unique identification number is a telephone number.

28. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the unique identification number is a PIN number.

29. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the virtual connection is a TCP connection.

11. A mobile device enabled to establish a direct data transfer session with other mobile devices in a digital mobile network system, the mobile device comprising:

programming means to support a data packet-based communications service over the digital mobile network system;

programming means to support a page-mode messaging service over the digital mobile network system;

programming means to open a listening port to receive communication through the data packet-based communications service;

programming means to send an invitation message containing the address and the listening port of the mobile device to a target mobile device through the page-mode messaging service, wherein the target mobile device is located by providing to the page-mode messaging service a unique identification number that is used by the digital mobile network system to locate the target mobile device;

programming means to receive a response through the data packet-based communications service from the target mobile device at the listening port; and

programming means to establish a virtual connection through the data packet-based communications service for data transfer between the mobile device and the target mobile device.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 further comprising:

programming means to open a second listening port to receive invitation messages through the page-mode messaging service;

programming means to receive, at the second listening port and through the page-mode messaging service, a message from another mobile device inviting the mobile device to establish direct data transfer session, wherein such message contains the address and listening port of the other mobile device; and

programming means to transmit a response to the address and listing port of the other mobile device through the data packet-based communications service, wherein the response acknowledges the ability to establish a virtual reliable connection.

13. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the data packet-based communications service is GPRS and the digital mobile network system is GSM.

14. The mobile device of claim 11 further comprising a QWERTY keyboard.

15. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the address of the mobile device is an IP address and the listening port is TCP port.

16. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the page-mode messaging service is SMS.

17. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the page-mode messaging service is a PIN-to-PIN messaging service.

18. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the unique identification number is a telephone number.

19. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the unique identification number is a PIN number.

20. The mobile device of claim 11 wherein the virtual connection is a TCP connection.