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

• US 20060010202A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colligo Networks, Inc. (Olbia Software Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colligo Networks, Inc. (Olbia Software Inc.)
• Inventors: Spaay, Henk, Sawadsky, Nicholas J., George, Mathieu P., Blackstock, Michael A., Watkins, Andrew D.
• Application Number:
  US11/211,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1053 with pre-configuration of logical or physical connections with a determined number of other peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery

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.

Claims

1. A method for identifying participants of a collaborative network from all members of a computing network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining a unique session identifier for the participants of the collaborative network;

b) transmitting, by an inquiring participant, a message having the session identifier to all members of the computing network;

c) responding by participants having the session identifier to the transmitted message sent by the inquiring participant; and

d) establishing communication between the participants that responded to the message and the inquiring participant such that the collaborative network is formed including the inquiring participant.

2-19. -19. (canceled)