Multiplexed Client Server (MCS) Communications and Systems

• US 20100009758A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dispersive Holdings Incorporated (Dispersive Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dispersive Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: TWITCHELL, Robert W. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/17 Interaction among intermediate nodes, e.g. hop by hop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/06 Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of transferring a file between first and second end-user devices via network communications includes: communicating by the first end-user device network contact information of the first end-user device; communicating by the second end-user device network contact information of the second end-user device; establishing an open network connection between the first end-user device and the second-end user device based on the communicated network contact information of each of the end-user devices; and transferring the file from the first end-user device to the second end-user via the open network connection between the first end-user device and the second-end user device. A single encryption key may be used between the application and network layers on each end-user device, each of which may include virtualized routing capabilities.

Claims

1-169. -169. (canceled)

170. A method of transferring a file between first and second end-user devices via network communications, comprising the steps of:

(a) first,

(i) communicating by the first end-user device, to a server, network contact information of the first end-user device, and

(ii) communicating by the second end-user device, to the server, network contact information of the second end-user device; and

(b) thereafter, transferring the file from the first end-user device to the second end-user device by,

(i) communicating, by the first end-user device, a request to the server to engage in a file transfer with the second end-user device by the first end-user device,

(ii) communicating, by the server, the file transfer request received from the first end-user device,

(iii) communicating, by the second end-user device, acceptance to the server of the request to engage in a file transfer with the first end-user device,

(iv) communicating connection information, by the server, to the first and second end-user devices for enabling an open network connection between the first and second end-user devices, and

(v) initiating, by the first and second end-user devices, through the open network connection, the file transfer based on the connection information received from the server.

171. The method of claim 170, wherein each of the first and second end-user devices includes virtualized routing capabilities for direct network communications between the first and second end-user devices.

172. The method of claim 170, further comprising the steps of,

(a) spawning a virtual machine on the first end-user device that virtualizes network capabilities of the first end-user device;

(b) determining, by the first end-user device, based on the connection information received from the server, a network pathway and protocol by which to communicate a request from the first end-user device for an open network connection from the second end-user device; and

(c) using the determined routing protocol, communicating the request over the identified network pathway using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned virtual machine of the first end-user device.

173. The method of claim 172, further comprising the steps of,

(a) spawning a virtual machine on the second end-user device that virtualizes network capabilities of the second end-user device;

(b) determining, by the second end-user device, based on the connection information received from the server, a network pathway and protocol by which to communicate a grant of the request from the first end-user device for an open network connection from the second end-user device; and

(c) using the determined routing protocol, communicating the grant of the request over the identified network pathway using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned virtual machine of the second end-user device.

174. The method of claim 173, further comprising the step of communicating data of the file from the first end-user device to the second end-user device, through the open network connection, using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned virtual machines of the first and second end-user devices.

175. The method of claim 174, further comprising the step of establishing another open network connection between the first end-user device and the second end-user device using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned virtual machines of the first and second end-user devices upon determination that an unexpected termination of the first open network connection has occurred.

176. The method of claim 170, further comprising establishing, by the first and second end-user devices, an additional open network connection between the first and second end-user devices, and sending through the additional open network connection another file from the second end-user device to the first end-user device while transferring the first said file from the first end-user device to the second end-user device through the first open network connection.

177. The method of claim 176, wherein the first said open network connection is over a first network and wherein the additional open network connection is over a second network that is a different from the first network.

178. The method of claim 170, further comprising establishing, by the first and second end-user devices, an additional open network connection between the first and second end-user devices, and sending through the additional open network connection another file from the second end-user device to the first end-user device while transferring the first said file from the first end-user device to the second end-user device through the first open network connection.

179. The method of claim 178, wherein the first said open network connection is over a first network, and wherein the additional open network connection is over a second network that is a different from the first network.

180. The method of claim 170, further comprising establishing, by the first and second end-user devices, a plurality of additional open network connections between the first and second end-user devices, and while transferring the file through the first said open network connection, sending duplicate data packets of the file transfer through the additional open network connections for increasing quality of service.

181. The method of claim 180, wherein the first said open network connection is over a first network, and wherein the additional open network connections are over one or more networks different from the first network.

182. The method of claim 170, wherein the first end-user device includes computer executable instructions stored in a computer-readable medium that, when executed on the first end-user device, provide a graphical user interface on a display of the first end-user device by which a user may “

drag and drop”

a file to be transferred in accordance with the claimed method.

183. The method of claim 170, further comprising requesting, by the first end user device, an open network connection from the second end-user device when the first end-user device includes a firewall that blocks a request by the second end-user device for an open network connection from the first end-user device but the second end-user device does not include a firewall that blocks a request by the first end-user device for an open network connection from the second end-user device.

184-283. -283. (canceled)

284. A method of providing a conference call between a plurality of end-user devices, comprising the steps of:

(a) communicating connection information from a control server to each of the end-user devices for enabling an open network connection between each of the end-user devices with each other;

(b) establishing, by each end-user device, a respective open network connection with each of the other end-user devices participating in the conference call;

(c) communicating, by each end-user device, status of each of the open network connections that are established with such end-user device;

(d) communicating, by each end-user device, via each of the open network connections that are established with such end-user device, content of the conference call which content is acquired at such end-user device;

(e) combining, by each end-user device, content that is received via each of the open network connections that are established with such end-user device and presenting the combined content to a user by such end-user device; and

(f) terminating, by the end-user devices, each of the open network connections that are established following completion of the conference call and communicating such termination to the control server.

285. The method of claim 284, wherein the content of the conference call that is presented to users consists of audio.

286. The method of claim 284, wherein the content of the conference call that is presented to users comprises audio and video.

287-428. -428. (canceled)

429. A system in which a massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) is provided wherein players participate using network-connected end-user devices, comprising:

(a) a control server;

(b) end-user devices each configured for network communications with the control server, the control server maintaining current network contact information of the end-user devices in association with respective unique identifiers of the end-user devices; and

(c) a first subset of the end-user devices, each end-user device of the subset configured for network communications with each of the other end-user devices of the subset;

(c) wherein the control server and the end-user devices include respective software that collectively enable playing of the MMORPG through,

(i) communication, by the control server, of network connection information to each end-user device of the first subset for enabling an open network connection between each end-user device of the first subset with each other end-user device of the first subset,

(ii) establishment, by each of the end-user devices of the first subset, of a respective open network connection with each of the other end-user devices of the first subset;

(iii) communication, by each end-user device of the first subset, of status of each of the open network connections that are established with the other end-user devices of the first subset;

(iv) communication, by each end-user device of the first subset, via each of the open network connections that are established with the other end-user devices of the first subset, of MMORPG data such that each end-user device functions, at least in part, as a gaming server to each of the other end-user devices of the subset;

(v) communication, by a gaming server with each end-user device of the first subset of MMORPG data;

(vi) processing, by each end-user device of the first subset, the received MMORPG data from the game-hosting server and the received MMORPG data from each of the other end-user devices of the first subset; and

(vii) providing the MMORPG gaming experience, by each end-user device of the first subset, based on the processed MMORPG data received by the end-user device from the game-hosting server and the processed MMORPG data received by the end-user device from the other end-user devices of the first subset.

430. The system of claim 429, wherein the MMORPG data communicated by each end-user device of the first subset comprises data pertaining to an avatar of the player associated with such end-user device, whereby such end-user device functions as a server to the other end-user devices of the first subset with respect to the avatar of the player associated with such end-user device.

431. The system of claim 429, wherein the MMORPG data received by each end-user device from the game-hosting server comprises data pertaining to the MMORPG environment in which an avatar of the player associated with such end-user device is currently associated, whereby the game-hosting server functions as a server to the end-user devices of the first subset with respect to MMORPG environments.

431-489. -489. (canceled)