System and Method of Secure File Sharing Using P2P

• US 20140129652A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xtreme Labs Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Boris Kai-Tik, Baril, Allan
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method is provided for sharing a file between a sender mobile device and a recipient mobile device. Nearby mobile devices to the sender mobile device are detected through a detection application. A recipient mobile device is selected from among the nearby mobile devices. A message is sent to the recipient mobile device including a link representing a file to be shared with the recipient mobile device. This link is actuatable on the recipient mobile device to request permission from a permission server. Upon permission being granted, the file is permitted to be downloaded to the recipient mobile device from a file server. The sender mobile device receives a confirmation once the recipient mobile device has received the file. P2P networks are preferably used for the detection and initial messaging. A method of accessing a shared file is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a file between a sender mobile device and a recipient mobile device, the method comprising:

discovering nearby mobile devices to the sender mobile device through a detection application;

selecting a recipient mobile device from among the nearby mobile devices;

sending a message to the recipient mobile device including a link representing a file to be shared with the recipient mobile device, the link being actuatable on the recipient mobile device to request permission from a permission server, the recipient mobile device having a permission status with respect to the file, and upon that permission being granted, permitting the file to be downloaded to the recipient mobile device from a file server; and

receiving a confirmation on the sender mobile device once the recipient mobile device has received the file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the discovering step uses a P2P network selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, NFC, and WiFi.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein nearby mobile devices are displayed on a list or menu on the detection application, and the nearby mobile devices can be selected from the list or menu.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a link to the file to be shared on the sender mobile device prior to sending the message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the file is not stored on the sender mobile device when the link is generated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission status of the recipient mobile device is not known to the sender mobile device prior to sending the message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message can be sent to multiple selected nearby mobile devices substantially simultaneously.

8. A method of accessing on a recipient mobile device a file that has been shared by a sender mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving from a sender mobile device in proximity to the recipient mobile device a link representing a file to be shared with the recipient mobile device;

upon the link being actuated, the recipient mobile device automatically submitting a request to a permission server in communication with the recipient mobile device, the request including a first privilege parameter; and

upon determination that the permission server has accepted the request based on the first privilege parameter, the recipient mobile device automatically receiving a download of the file from a file server in communication with the recipient mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising downloading an application for receiving shared files prior to the receiving step.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising setting the recipient mobile device to a discoverable mode prior to the receiving step.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, upon permission being denied, the recipient mobile device displays an error condition.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first privilege parameter includes a unique identifier of the recipient mobile device or its user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of:

MAC address, IP address, and email address.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the file download includes a second privilege parameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second privilege parameter is a password or other credential to access the file.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second privilege parameter is a pre-set limit on access or use or editability of the file by the recipient mobile device or its user.