Proximity based wireless network

• US 20070087682A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: DaCosta, Behram
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A wireless communication method consistent with certain embodiments involves, at a first portable wireless device (PWD), receiving a beacon indicating that the first PWD has entered a wireless network'"'"'s communication range; the first PWD responding to the beacon with a request for authorization on wireless network; receiving authorization for the first PWD to communicate using the wireless network; sending a request for the first PWD to be associated with the wireless network; the first PWD receiving confirmation of association with the wireless network; the first PWD broadcasting a first announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the first PWD; receiving at least one reply announcement broadcast from a second PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the second PWD; and at the first PWD providing a first shared public folder with contents that can be accessed by the second PWD. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method, comprising:

at a first portable wireless device (PWD), receiving a beacon indicating that the first PWD has entered a wireless network'"'"'s communication range;

the first PWD responding to the beacon with a request for authorization on wireless network;

receiving authorization for the first PWD to communicate using the wireless network;

sending a request for the first PWD to be associated with the wireless network;

the first PWD receiving confirmation of association with the wireless network;

the first PWD broadcasting a first announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the first PWD;

receiving at least one reply announcement broadcast from a second PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the second PWD; and

at the first PWD providing a first shared public folder with contents that can be accessed by the second PWD.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at the second PWD providing a second shared public folder with contents that can be accessed by the first PWD.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second shared public folder has an attribute designating that content of the folder is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first shared public folder contains a file that has an attribute designating that content of the file is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second shared public folders comprise Read Only folders.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first shared public folder comprise a Read Only folder.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beacon is transmitted by either a network access point or a PWD acting as a coordinator station.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first announcement further comprises a listing of the contents of the first shared public folder.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first announcement further comprises at least a portion of the contents of the first shared public folder.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first shared public folder has an attribute designating that content of the folder is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first shared public folder contains a file that has an attribute designating that content of the file is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shared public folder contains a file that requires acquisition of digital rights before the file is shared.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 1.

14. A portable wireless device (PWD), comprising:

a wireless transceiver comprising a transmitter means and a receiver means;

a programmed processor coupled to the transmitter means and the receiver means, that processes signals received by the receiver means and sends signals to the transmitter means for transmission;

a shared public folder containing files that are to be shared with other PWDs;

the receiver means for receiving a beacon signal indicating that the PWD has entered a wireless network'"'"'s communication range;

the transmitter means for responding to the beacon signal with a request for authorization on the wireless network;

the receiver means further receiving authorization for the PWD to communicate using the wireless network;

the transmitter means further sending a request for the PWD to be associated with the wireless network;

the receiver means further receiving confirmation of PWD'"'"'s association with the wireless network;

the transmitter means further broadcasting an announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the PWD;

the receiver means further receiving at least one reply announcement broadcast from another PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the other PWD; and

means for providing contents of the shared public folder for access by the other PWD.

15. The PWD according to claim 14, wherein the shared public folder comprises a Read Only folder.

16. The PWD according to claim 14, wherein the announcement further comprises a listing of the contents of the shared public folder.

17. The PWD according to claim 14, wherein the announcement further comprises at least a portion of the contents of the shared public folder.

18. The PWD according to claim 14, wherein the shared public folder has an attribute designating that content of the folder is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

19. The PWD according to claim 14, wherein the shared public folder contains a file that has an attribute designating that content of the file is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

20. A portable wireless device (PWD), comprising:

a wireless transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver;

a programmed processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, that processes signals received by the receiver and sends signals to the transmitter for transmission;

program means running on the programmed processor for implementing a protocol for accessing a wireless network with communication range of the PWD, wherein said protocol is implemented using communication provided by the transceiver;

a shared public folder containing files that are to be shared with another PWD; and

means for providing contents of the shared public folder for access by the other PWD.

21. The PWD of claim 20, wherein the receiver receives a beacon signal indicating that the PWD has entered a wireless network'"'"'s communication range, and wherein the transmitter responds to the beacon signal with a request for authorization on the wireless network as a part of said protocol.

22. The PWD of claim 20 wherein the transmitter sends a request for the PWD to be associated with the wireless network, and the receiver receives confirmation of PWD'"'"'s association with the wireless network.

23. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the transmitter broadcasts an announcement over the wireless network, the announcement comprising at least an identifier that notifies other PWDs associated with the wireless network of the identity of the PWD, and the receiver receives at least one reply announcement broadcast from another PWD associated with the wireless network that identifies the other PWD.

24. The PWD according to claim 23, wherein the announcement further comprises a listing of the contents of the shared public folder.

25. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the shared public folder comprises a Read Only folder.

26. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the announcement further comprises at least a portion of the contents of the shared public folder.

27. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the shared folder has an attribute designating that content of the folder is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

28. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the shared public folder contains a file that has an attribute designating that content of the file is to be shared on the basis of either share always, share never, or share with approval.

29. The PWD according to claim 20, wherein the shared public folder contains a file that requires acquisition of digital rights before the file is shared.