Methods, systems, and apparatus for using virtual devices with peer-to-peer groups

• US 20090222517A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kalofonos, Dimitris, Antoniou, Zoe
• Application Number:
  US12/074,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222517A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable

Abstract

Using virtual devices with P2P groups involves sending a discovery record from a virtual device to an Internet-based broker. A registration message from the peer-to-peer group is received by the virtual device in response to the discovery record. The registration message is used to join the virtual device with the peer-to-peer group. The user is authorized via the Internet-based broker and the virtual device is joined with the peer-to-peer group based on the user authorization and the registration message. Services are then provided to the peer-to-peer group via the virtual device in accordance with the discovery record. The virtual device may include a wide-area network service that is modeled to act as a physical device of the peer-to-peer group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a discovery record to an Internet-based broker;

receiving a registration message directed to a virtual device in response to the discovery record;

authorizing a peer-to-peer group of devices to utilize the virtual device via the Internet-based broker;

joining the virtual device with the peer-to-peer group based on the registration message and the authorization; and

providing a service to the peer-to-peer group via the virtual device in accordance with the discovery record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peer-to-peer group comprises one or more devices of a user that are accessed based on decentralized permissions that collectively govern access to the one or more devices, and wherein the virtual device comprises a wide-area network service that is modeled to act as a physical device of the peer-to-peer group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration message is directed to the virtual device in response to the discovery record, wherein the registration message includes security information used in authorizing the peer-to-peer group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the discovery record is modified with routing data that enables Internet access to the virtual device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the modified discovery message is sent to the peer-to-peer group from the Internet-based broker.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the routing data includes an address of a routing server that maintains route mappings for a plurality of virtual devices.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the routing data enables access to the virtual device through a network firewall.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the services provided via the virtual device comprises an Internet service of a third party that is independent of the peer-to-peer group and a provider of the virtual device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the Internet service comprises an advertising service that delivers advertising to the peer-to-peer group.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of Internet services are presented as a single service of the virtual device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing local services of the peer-to-peer group by the virtual device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an invitation request from the peer-to-peer group to the Internet-based broker, wherein the invitation request is targeted to invite a second user to join the peer-to-peer group;

receiving an invitation code in response to the invitation;

sending the invitation code to the second user;

authenticating the second user via the Internet-based broker based on the invitation code;

joining a user device of the second user with the peer-to-peer group based on authentication of the second user.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface capable of Internet communications with a peer-to-peer group of devices;

a processor coupled to the network interface; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that cause the processor to;

send a discovery record to an Internet-based broker;

receive a registration message directed to the virtual device in response to the discovery record;

authorize, via the Internet-based broker, a peer-to-peer group of devices to utilize the virtual device;

join the virtual device with the peer-to-peer group based on the registration message and the authorization; and

provide a service to the peer-to-peer group via the virtual device in accordance with the discovery record.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the peer-to-peer group comprises one or more devices of a user that are accessed based on decentralized permissions that collectively govern access to the one or more devices, and wherein the virtual device comprises a wide-area network service that is modeled to act as a physical device of the peer-to-peer group.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the registration message is directed to the virtual device in response to the discovery record, wherein the registration message includes security information used in authorizing the peer-to-peer group.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the discovery record is modified with routing data that enables Internet access to the virtual device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the routing data enables access to the virtual device through a network firewall.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the services provided via the virtual device comprises one or more Internet services of a third party that is independent of the peer-to-peer group and a provider of the virtual device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the Internet service comprises an advertising service that delivers advertising to the peer-to-peer group.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface capable of communicating with a peer-to-peer group;

a processor coupled to the network interface; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that cause the processor to;

join the apparatus to the peer-to-peer group;

facilitate the addition of a virtual device to the peer-to-peer group, wherein the virtual device comprises an Internet-based service that is modeled to act as a physical device of the peer-to-peer group;

authenticate the apparatus for access to the virtual device via an Internet-based broker that is independent of the virtual device; and

access a service of the virtual device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the peer-to-peer group comprises one or more devices of a user that are accessed based on decentralized permissions that collectively govern access to the plurality of devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

send an invitation request to the Internet-based broker, wherein the invitation request is targeted to invite a second user to join the peer-to-peer group; and

receive an invitation code in response to the invitation, wherein the invitation code is sent to the second user to enable a user device of the second user to join with the peer-to-peer group based on authentication of the second user with the invitation code.

23. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a processor to:

send a discovery record from a virtual device to an Internet-based broker;

receive a registration message directed to the virtual device in response to the discovery record;

authorize a peer-to-peer group to utilize the virtual device via the Internet-based broker;

join the virtual device to the peer-to-peer group based on the registration message and the authorization; and

provide a service to the peer-to-peer group via the virtual device.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for engaging in communications with a peer-to-peer group; and

a virtual device module comprising;

means for sending a discovery record to an Internet-based broker;

means for receiving a registration message directed to the virtual device in response to the discovery record;

means for authorizing, via the Internet-based broker, a peer-to-peer group to utilize the virtual device;

means for joining the virtual device to the peer-to-peer group based on the user authorization; and

means for providing a service to the peer-to-peer group via the virtual device in accordance with the discovery record.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for utilizing local services of the peer-to-peer group by the virtual device.