Information Exchange Among Members of a Group of Communication Device Users
First Claim
1. A communication system for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of resources stored on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprisinggroup management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices;
- search engine for transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, the search engine configured to route a search query from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, search stored resources in all telecommunication devices in the group, and return results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, thereby allowing searching of stored resources on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network for storing resources.
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Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of stored resources is provided. The invention includes a group management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices representing a logical network of devices. The invention also includes a search engine for transmission and reception of communications between the devices in a group, the search engine configured to route a search query from an originating device along the association links to all devices in the group, search stored resources in all devices in the group, and return results of the search query to the originating device, thereby allowing searching of stored resources on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network for storing resources.
171 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A communication system for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of resources stored on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprising
group management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; search engine for transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, the search engine configured to route a search query from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, search stored resources in all telecommunication devices in the group, and return results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, thereby allowing searching of stored resources on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network for storing resources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electronic commerce system for controlling transmission and reception of communications for commerce transactions between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to provide for the purchase and sale of articles of commerce listed on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprising
group management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; commerce engine for transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, the commerce engine configured to route a search query for an article of commerce from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, search articles of commerce listed on the plurality of telecommunication devices, return results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, transact a sale of the article of commerce, thereby allowing commerce transactions for articles of commerce listed on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. An electronic auction system for controlling transmission and reception of communications for auction transactions between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to provide for auctioning of articles of commerce listed on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprising
group management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; auction engine for transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, the auction engine configured to route a search query for an article of commerce from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, search articles of commerce listed on the plurality of telecommunication devices, return results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, transact an auction of the article of commerce, thereby allowing auction transactions for articles of commerce listed on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A social networking system for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of resources stored on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprising
group management module for creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; search engine for transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, the search engine configured to route a search query for resources from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, search resources on the plurality of telecommunication devices, and return results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, thereby allowing social networking and searching of resources of all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network.
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59. A method for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of resources stored on the plurality of telecommunication devices, comprising
creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; controlling the transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, comprising routing a search query from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, searching stored resources in all telecommunication devices in the group, and returning results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, thereby allowing searching of stored resources on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network for storing resources.
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60. A computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for controlling transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group to allow searching of resources stored on the plurality of telecommunication devices, said computer program performing the steps of:
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creating and maintaining association links for each of the plurality of telecommunication devices, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices; controlling the transmission and reception of communications between a plurality of telecommunication devices in a group, comprising routing a search query from an originating telecommunication device along said association links to all telecommunication devices in the group, searching stored resources in all telecommunication devices in the group, and returning results of the search query to the originating telecommunication device, thereby allowing searching of stored resources on all the plurality of telecommunication devices without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network for storing resources.
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61. A method of directly searching content stored on a plurality of telecommunication devices in a pre-established group, comprising
for all telecommunication devices in the group, establishing at least one communication path sufficient to route communications between all devices in the group, wherein the pre-established group is configured by creating association links between telecommunication devices and the path follows the links; - and
controlling transmission and reception of communications between all devices in the group so that a search query from an originating telecommunication device is routed to all telecommunication devices in the group and replies to said query are returned to the originating telecommunication device, thereby enabling searching of stored content on all telecommunication devices in the group without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network.
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62. A method for creating and maintaining a linked group of telecommunication devices to allow searching of resources stored on all of the telecommunication devices in the group, comprising:
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establishing one or more telecommunication devices with management functionalities; assigning a unique group ID to identify the group; creating association links between telecommunication devices by transmitting an invitation from a telecommunication device as invitor to one or more additional telecommunication devices as invitees, wherein the first invitation is sent by one of the telecommunication devices with management functionalities; and maintaining the association link between invitor and each invitee by storing invitor identifying information on each invitee device and storing invitee identifying information on invitor device, wherein the association links of all the telecommunication devices in the linked group represent a logical network of telecommunication devices such that one or more paths for transmission and reception of communications are established throughout the association links. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. A method of directly searching content stored on a plurality of telecommunication devices in a pre-established group, comprising
receiving a search query from an originating telecommunication device; -
if the search query was not already processed, processing the search query by verifying authorization to search, and if authorized, searching content on the telecommunication device and replying if content on the telecommunications device matches the search query; and if the search query was not already processed, propagating the search query to a subset of devices in the group through pre-established links between group members until the search query is propagated to all telecommunication devices in the group, thereby enabling searching of stored content on all telecommunication devices in the group without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network.
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65. A method of using asynchronous store-and-forward messages for transmitting application specific tasks to be implemented by one or more applications stored on a plurality of telecommunication devices in a pre-established group, comprising:
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for all telecommunication devices in the group, establishing at least one communication path sufficient to route communications between all devices in the group, wherein the pre-established group is configured by creating association links between telecommunication devices and the path follows the links; and controlling transmission and reception of communications between all devices in the group so that an application specific task sent from an originating telecommunication device is routed to all telecommunication devices in the group, the application specific task containing code necessary to implement application specific tasks directed to applications on the telecommunication devices in the group receiving the task, thereby enabling application specific tasks to be implemented on all telecommunication devices in the group without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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68. A method of locating remote resource data available on one or more telecommunication devices through an online search site, comprising
composing meta data summarizing remote resource data; -
associating meta data with one or more telecommunication devices in a group having the remote resource data stored thereon; storing meta data on an online search site available for searching by visitors to the online search site; and providing contact information for one or more telecommunication devices in a group having the remote resource data associated with the meta data to visitors of the online site, thereby allowing visitors to locate remote resource data available on one or more telecommunication devices without storing the remote resource data on the online search site.
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69. A method of using a plurality of telecommunication devices in a pre-established group as a router to route asynchronous store-and-forward messages between members of the group, comprising:
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for all telecommunication devices in the group, establishing at least one communication path sufficient to route communications between all devices in the group, wherein the pre-established group is configured by creating association links between telecommunication devices and the path follows the links; and controlling transmission and reception of communications between all devices in the group so that messages from an originating telecommunication device are routed to all telecommunication devices in the group without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network.
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70. A method of using asynchronous store-and-forward messaging to create a virtual network of telecommunication devices in a group, comprising
for all telecommunication devices in the group, establishing at least one communication path sufficient to route asynchronous store-and-forward message communications between all devices in the group, wherein the pre-established group is configured by creating association links between telecommunication devices and the path follows the links; - and
controlling transmission and reception of asynchronous store-and-forward message communications between all devices in the group so that message communications from an originating telecommunication device are routed to all telecommunication devices in the group without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network, said message communications configured to provide one or more functionalities of searching, sending results, propagating queries, group management, and conducting commerce between all devices in the group.
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71. A method for propagating a search query among telecommunication device users in a pre-established group to discover at least one user who may provide assistance in solving a problem, comprising:
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for all telecommunication devices in the group, establishing at least one communication path sufficient to route communications between all devices in the group, wherein the pre-established group is configured by creating association links between telecommunication devices and the path follows the links; and controlling transmission and reception of communications between all devices in the group so that a search query from an originating telecommunication device is routed to all telecommunication devices in the group and replies to said query are returned to the originating telecommunication device, thereby enabling searching of stored content on all telecommunication devices in the group to discover at least one user who may provide assistance in solving a problem without relying on a centralized server or physical network or wireless network.
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Specification