MOBILE MULTI-NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
First Claim
1. A mobile handheld wireless computerized communications device, comprising:
- A peer-to-peer network server;
at least one wireless transceiver;
at least one microphone and at least one sound output device, configured to enable the device to function as a telephone or cellular phone;
a video camera;
a visible or infrared light emitting source;
at least one processor and device operating software;
and a video display screen; and
wherein said device operating software is configured to direct said processor, said at least one wireless transceiver, and said peer-to-peer network server to seek out similar devices, establish wireless peer-to-peer communications sessions with said similar devices, and form a network of said similar devices.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a Smartphone or other mobile handheld wireless computerized communications device outside of a normal cellular network. The method can be useful for either reducing cellular phone costs, or alternatively when the cellular phone infrastructure is degraded or absent. In such situations, the Smartphone operates in an alternative peer-to-peer wireless network mode, supplemented by optical network links as needed. The method can utilize standard Smartphone functionality such as Bluetooth or WiFi transceivers, light sources, and video cameras, and may be implemented in the form of a standard Smartphone App. The invention may establish a Gnutella-like peer-to-peer networking protocol between nearby Smartphones, and can extend the length of the peer-to-peer network connections by way of longer distance optical links. In alternative embodiments, various Smartphone peripherals can be added to extend the functionality of the peer-to-peer network still further.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A mobile handheld wireless computerized communications device, comprising:
-
A peer-to-peer network server; at least one wireless transceiver; at least one microphone and at least one sound output device, configured to enable the device to function as a telephone or cellular phone; a video camera; a visible or infrared light emitting source; at least one processor and device operating software; and a video display screen; and wherein said device operating software is configured to direct said processor, said at least one wireless transceiver, and said peer-to-peer network server to seek out similar devices, establish wireless peer-to-peer communications sessions with said similar devices, and form a network of said similar devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of providing peer to peer functionality for a plurality of handheld mobile wireless communications devices, each said device comprising at least one wireless transceiver, at least one video camera, at least one light source, at least one microphone and at least one sound output device, at least one processor, at least one video display screen, and device operating software, said method comprising:
-
implementing peer-to-peer network server functionality on said devices; establishing wireless peer-to-peer communications with other said devices that are within wireless communication range of each other; and forming a network of peer-to-peer connected devices. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of providing peer to peer functionality for a plurality of mobile handheld wireless computerized communications devices, each said device comprising at least one wireless transceiver, at least one video camera, at least one light source, at least one microphone and at least one sound output device, at least one processor, at least one video display screen, and device operating software, said method comprising:
-
implementing peer-to-peer network server functionality on said devices; establishing wireless peer-to-peer communications with other said devices that are within wireless communication range of each other; and forming a network of peer-to-peer connected devices; further using said at least one video camera and said at least one light source to establish a peer-to-peer network with said devices that are not within wireless communication range of each other, but which are within optical communication range of each other, thereby extending the size of said network of peer-to-peer connected devices; wherein said light source is either one or more light emitting diodes built-in to said at least one device, or said light source is the backlight for said at least one video display screen; wherein said light source transmits peer-to-peer network data according to a Morse code, ASCII, RS232, IrDA, or other digital encoding scheme; and further using said video camera and said at least one processor to distinguish said light source from background visual signals, detect the transmission of said peer-to-peer network data, and receive the transmission of said peer-to-peer network data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification