METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING NETWORK CONNECTIONS USING AN INTER-MEDIATING DEVICE

• US 20110153845A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sling Media LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sling Media Incorporated (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Dham, Vikram, Rao, Padmanabha R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate communication between a first device and a second device on a network. A first wireless communication session is established between the first device and a remote control or other intermediating device. A network address used by the first device to communicate on the network is received from the first device via the first wireless communication session. A second wireless communication session is established between the intermediating device and a second device, and the first address is provided to the second device via the second wireless communication session.

Claims

1. A method executable by an intermediating device to facilitate communication between a first device and a second device on a network, the method comprising:

establishing a first wireless communication session between the first device and the intermediating device;

receiving a message from the first device at the intermediating device, wherein the message has a payload specifying a first address, wherein the first address is a network address used by the first device to communicate on the network;

establishing a second wireless communication session separate from the first wireless communication session between the intermediating device and a second device; and

providing the first address from the intermediating device to the second device via the second wireless communication session.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second wireless communication sessions are separate from the network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first address allows the second device to contact the first device via the network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a second address from the second device via the second wireless communication session.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising providing the second address to the first device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second address is provided to the first device via the first wireless communication session.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first address comprises an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the first device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first address further comprises a port number associated with the first device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication session is established in response to a user input.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the intermediating device is a remote control.

11. A method executable by an intermediating device to facilitate communication between a client and a server on a network, the method comprising:

establishing a first wireless communication session between the intermediating device and the server via a wireless medium that is separate from the network;

receiving a first address from the server at the intermediating device via the first wireless communication session, wherein the first address is a network address used by the server to communicate on the network;

establishing a second wireless communication session between the intermediating device and the client via the wireless medium that is separate from the network; and

providing the first address from the intermediating device to the client via the second wireless communication session to thereby allow the client to communicate with the server via the network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless medium that is separate from the network comprises an ad hoc wireless communication.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless medium that is separate from the network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 connection.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless medium that is separate from the network comprises an IEEE 802.15.1 connection

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless medium that is separate from the network comprises an IEEE 802.11 connection

16. An apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency interface; and

a processor configured to establish a first wireless communication session with a first device via the radio frequency interface, to receive a message from the first device that comprises a payload specifying a network address used by the first device to communicate on the network, to establish a second wireless communication session with a second device via the radio frequency interface, and to provide the network address to the second device via the second wireless communication session.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a second network address via the second wireless communication session and to provide the second network address to the first device, wherein the second network address is used by the second device to communicate on the network.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first and second wireless communication sessions are established using a channel that is separate from the network.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the network address comprises an internet protocol (IP) address and a port number used by the first device to communicate on the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a user input device, and wherein the processor is further configured to establish the first wireless communication session in response to an input received at the user input device.