Bridging between AD HOC local networks and internet-based peer-to-peer networks

• US 20070274327A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: 2011 Intellectual Property Asset Trust (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaarela, Kari, Tervo, Timo P., Koistinen, Kirmo
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems

Abstract

Bridging between ad hoc local networks and Internet based peer-to-peer networks involves coupling a bridge device to a local network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices. The bridge device is coupled to a public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol. In one arrangement, metadata related to media accessible from a media server of the local network is determined via the bridge device, and the metadata is transformed via the bridge device to enable peer-to-peer devices of the public network to discover the media via the bridge device using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol. In another arrangement, metadata related to media accessible from the public network is determined via the peer-to-peer networking protocol, and the metadata is transformed via the bridge device to enable a device of the local network to discover the media via the bridge device using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

coupling a bridge device to a local network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices;

coupling the bridge device to a public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

determining via the bridge device metadata related to media accessible from a media server of the local network; and

transforming the metadata via the bridge device to enable peer-to-peer devices of the public network to discover the media via the bridge device using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating downloading of the media as a file to the peer-to-peer devices of the public network via the bridge device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising streaming the media to the peer-to-peer devices of the public network via the bridge device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein streaming the media to the peer-to-peer devices of the public network via the bridge device comprises establishing a Session Initiation Protocol session between the bridge device and at least one of the peer to peer devices of the public network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the bridge device to the local network using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to the local network using Universal Plug and Play.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein coupling the bridge device to the local network using Universal Plug and Play comprises coupling the bridge device to act as a Universal Plug and Play control point.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein coupling the bridge device to the public network using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to a Gnutella network.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein coupling the bridge device to the public network using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to a SIP-based communications network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining via the bridge device metadata related to media accessible from the public network via the peer-to-peer networking protocol;

and

transforming the metadata via the bridge device to enable the peer-to-peer devices of the local network to discover the media via the bridge device using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol.

10. A method, comprising:

coupling a bridge device to a home network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices;

coupling the bridge device to a public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

determining via the bridge device metadata related to media accessible from the public network via the peer-to-peer networking protocol; and

transforming the metadata via the bridge device to enable a device of the local network to discover the media via the bridge device using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising facilitating downloading of the media as a file to the device of the local network via the bridge device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising streaming the media to the device of the local network via the bridge device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein streaming the media to the device of the local network via the bridge device comprises establishing a Session Initiation Protocol session between the bridge device and a peer to peer device of the public network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the local network comprises a Universal Plug and Play network, and wherein coupling the bridge device to the local network using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to the local network using Universal Plug and Play.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the bridge device to the local network comprises coupling the bridge device to act as a Universal Plug and Play control point.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the bridge device to the public network using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to a Gnutella network.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the bridge device to the public network using the Interriet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises coupling the bridge device to a SIP-based communications network.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces capable of communicating via a local network and a public network;

a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions that cause the processor to,

connect to the local network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices;

connect to the public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

determine metadata related to media accessible from a media server of the local network; and

transform the metadata to enable peer-to-peer devices of the public network to discover the media via the apparatus using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to facilitate downloading the media as a file from the local network to the peer-to-peer devices of the public network via the one or more network interfaces.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to facilitate streaming of the media to the peer-to-peer devices of the public network via the one or more network interfaces.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions cause the processor to connect to the local network using Universal Plug and Play.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory further causes the processor to act as a Universal Plug and Play control point.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises at least one of a Gnutella-based protocol and a SIP-based communications protocol.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine metadata related to media accessible from the public network via the peer-to-peer networking protocol; and

transform the metadata to enable the peer-to-peer devices of the local network to discover the media using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces capable of communicating via a local network and a public network;

a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions that cause the processor to,

connect to the local network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices;

connect to the public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

determine metadata related to media accessible from the public network via the peer-to-peer networking protocol; and

transform the metadata via bridge device to enable a device of the local network to discover the media via the bridge device using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to facilitate downloading the media as a file from the local network to the devices of the local network via the one or more network interfaces.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to facilitate streaming of the media to the devices of the local network via the one or more network interfaces.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the instructions cause the processor to connect to the local network using Universal Plug and Play.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the memory further causes the processor to act as a Universal Plug and Play control point.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol comprises at least one of a Gnutella-based protocol and a SIP-based communications protocol.

31. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a bridge device capable of being coupled to a first network and a second network, the instruction causing the bridge device to perform steps comprising:

connect to the first and second networks, wherein one of the first and second network comprises a local network utilizing an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol, and the other of the first and second networks comprises a public network having peer-to-peer devices coupled via an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

determining metadata related to media accessible from devices of the first network; and

transform the metadata to enable devices of the second network to discover the media via the bridge device.

32. A system comprising:

a first network and a second network, wherein one of the first and second network comprises a local network utilizing an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol, and the other of the first and second networks comprises a public network having peer-to-peer devices coupled via an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol;

a bridging device coupled to the first network and the second network, the bridging device comprising,

means for discovering media accessible from devices of the first network;

means for determining metadata related to the media; and

means for transforming the data between formats conforming to the protocols of the first network to formats conforming to the protocols of the second network to enable devices of the second network to discover the media via the bridging device.