Transmission of carry-on objects using a wireless ad-hoc networking environment

• US 7,110,372 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Schramm, Oliver, Kovacs, Ernö
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, RHONDA L
• Application Number:
  US10/000,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A carry on service which allows a mobile device adapted for wireless communication over a permanent communication network carries information objects on behalf of other devices. Carry on information objects are transferred from a carry on user device over a wireless ad-hoc network to a carry on provider device. There, they are stored until they can be forwarded to a carry on gateway device of the permanent communication network. This device forwards the carry on information objects to an appropriate service. The service provider checks the received information objects and executes the contained service requests.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting an information object from a first user device to a destination, said method comprising:

determining whether said first user device is connected to said permanent communication network means or is disconnected therefrom,

including lifetime information into said information object before transmitting said information object from said first user device, said lifetime information indicating an expiring date of said information object;

transmitting said information object from said first user device directly over said permanent communication network means in case of connection of said first user device to said permanent communication network means,

transmitting said information object from said first user device over ad-hoc network means to a second user device of said permanent communication network means in case of disconnection of said first user device from said permanent communication network means, said second user device acting as a temporary intermediate carrier of said information object, and

forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier over said permanent communication network means.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said information object from said first user device via a plurality of at least two successive intermediate carriers to said destination, said information object being transmitted from said first user device to a first one of said intermediate carriers and between each pair of two successive ones of said intermediate carriers over said ad-hoc network means, said information object being forwarded from a last one of said intermediate carriers over said permanent communication network means.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first user device is a mobile device adapted for wireless communication over said permanent communication network means.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second user device is a mobile device adapted for wireless communication over said permanent communication network means.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically transmitting said information object from said first user device to said intermediate carrier.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said information object from said first user device to said intermediate carrier only upon request of a user of said first user device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically discovering an available intermediate carrier by said first user device and transmitting said information object from said first user device to said discovered intermediate carrier.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a particular intermediate carrier through a user of said first user device and transmitting said information object from said first user device to said selected intermediate carrier.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

digitally signing said information object before transmitting said information object from said first user device.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting said information object before transmitting said information object from said first user device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

including into said information object sender information indicating said first user device as a sender of said information object, and forwarding said sender information included into said information object to said destination.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

rewarding said intermediate carrier for receiving and forwarding said information object.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

including priority information into said information object before transmitting said information object from said first user device, said priority information indicating a level of priority of said information object.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

annulling said information object if it has not reached said destination by said expiring date.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically accepting and storing said information object by said intermediate carrier.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accepting and storing said information object by said intermediate carrier only upon agreement of a user of said intermediate carrier.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

denying said information object by said intermediate carrier when an available memory space of said intermediate carrier is too small.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

removing at least one old information object stored in said intermediate carrier when an available memory space of said intermediate carrier at the time of arrival of a new information object is too small.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

selecting at least one of said old information objects dependant on an age of said old information objects and removing said selected old information object in ease of a plurality of old information objects being stored in said intermediate carrier at the time of arrival of said new information object.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

selecting at least one of said old information objects dependant on a level of priority of said old information objects and removing said selected old information object in case of a plurality of old information objects being stored in said intermediate carrier at the time of arrival of said new information object.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said intermediate carrier is connected to said permanent communication network means or is disconnected therefrom, and

forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier over said permanent communication network means in case of connection of said intermediate carrier to said permanent communication network means.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

waiting for re-connection of said intermediate carrier to said permanent communication network means and then forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier over said permanent communication network means in case of disconnection of said intermediate carrier from said permanent communication network means.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier over said ad-hoc network means to another intermediate carrier in case of disconnection of said intermediate carrier from said permanent communication network means, optionally after a predetermined period of waiting for re-connection of said intermediate carrier to said permanent communication network means has elapsed.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein an information object is transmitted from a source to a third user device of said permanent communication network means, and further comprising,

determining whether said third user device is connected to said permanent communication network means or is disconnected therefrom,

transmitting said information object over said permanent communication network means directly to said third user device in case of connection of said third user device to said permanent communication network means,

transmitting said information object over said permanent communication network means to a fourth user device of said permanent communication network means in case of disconnection of said third user device from said permanent communication network means, said fourth user device acting as a temporary intermediate carrier of said information object, and

forwarding said information object from said intermediate carrier over wireless ad-hoc network means to said third user device.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said third user device is a mobile device adapted for wireless communication over said permanent communication network means.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said fourth user device is a mobile device adapted for wireless communication over said permanent communication network means.

28. A computer program product for carrying out the method according to claim 1 when executed by a processor of a user device adapted for communication oer permanent communication network means.

29. A user device adapted for communication over permanent communication network means, said user device being adapted to be operated by the method according to claim 1.