Method and system for ad hoc networking of computer users

• US 7,120,667 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyle, Craig D, Mitev, Mitko G, Kline, David R, Derocher, Michael D
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US10/021,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/226, 709/227, 709/229, 713/150, 715/771, 370/338
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A computer that establishes an ad hoc network, and a method performed by the computer are disclosed. The computer comprises an input device such as a keyboard or a graphical pointing device having a selector that generates a signal which indicates that a user has selected an ad hoc networking function. In one embodiment the computer includes a processor, coupled to the input device, which receives the signal and causes the computer to participate in an ad hoc network. The computer can also include a network interface, coupled to the processor, for communicating directly with at least one other computer within wireless communications range of the first computer.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a first selector that generates a signal that controls placement of a symbol on a computer display, said computer display being coupled to a computer that receives said signal from said first selector;

a second selector that causes said computer to display information that pertains to becoming a member of an ad hoc network, wherein

the second selector is located on the surface of the input device,

wherein depressing the second selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network; and

an encryption key generated by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein said input device is a computer keyboard and wherein said second selector is a button located on said computer keyboard.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein said symbol is an alphanumeric character generated by said first selector.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein said computer keyboard communicates with said computer by way of a wireless interface.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein said input device is a graphical input device and wherein said second selector is a button located on said graphical input device.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein said symbol is one of an arrow and an I-beam pointer.

7. The input device of claim 5, wherein said graphical input device communicates with said computer by way of a wireless interface.

8. In a computer, a method for initiating an ad hoc network, comprising:

receiving a command to initiate said ad hoc network, said command originating from an input selector located on the surface of an input device, and wherein depressing the input selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network;

presenting a list of usemames that correspond to other users within wireless communications range of said computer;

transmitting content to at least some of said other users within said wireless communications range; and

generating an encryption key by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said input device is a keyboard connected to said computer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said input device is a graphical input device that controls the placement of an arrow on a display associated with said computer.

11. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising decoupling said computer from a wireless communications infrastructure.

12. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising receiving an indication that a user of said computer desires to allow a certain one of said usernames to join said ad hoc network, said indication being conveyed to said computer by said input device.

13. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising receiving authentication information from at least one of said users within wireless communications range of said computer.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said presenting action includes presenting a document that includes said list of said usemames, and wherein selecting at least one username of said list of usernames causes said computer to transmit a meeting invitation to said at least one usemame.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said document is one of the group consisting of a distribution list, a report, an electronic mail message, and a spread sheet.

16. A computer that establishes an ad hoc network, comprising:

a keyboard having a selector that generates a signal which indicates that a user has selected an ad hoc networking function, wherein the second selector is located on the surface of the input device, and wherein depressing the second selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network;

a processor, coupled to said keyboard, which receives said signal and initiates an ad hoc network function;

a network interface, coupled to said processor, for communicating directly with at least one other computer within wireless communications range of said first computer; and

an encryption key generated by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein said selector is a button that is depressed by said user when said user selects said ad hoc function.

18. The computer of claim 16, wherein said network interface transmits and receives information in accordance with an 802.11 protocol.

19. The computer of claim 18, wherein said processor additionally directs said network interface to decouple from a communications infrastructure in response to receiving said signal.

20. The computer of claim 16, wherein said network interface transmits and receives information in accordance with a Bluetooth protocol.

21. The computer of claim 16, wherein said network interface additionally receives at least one identifier that corresponds to said at least one other computer within wireless communications range said computer that establishes said ad hoc network.

22. A method of receiving content in an ad hoc network, comprising:

selecting, by a user, an ad hoc network function, said selection being made by way of an ad hoc selector on a surface of a keyboard coupled to a computer, wherein depressing the ad hoc selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network;

said computer configuring itself to connect with said ad hoc network;

said computer receiving content present on said ad hoc network; and

generating an encryption key by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said computer configures itself according to settings used to conduct a previous ad hoc meeting.

24. The method of claim 22, additionally comprising said computer presenting a list of previous ad hoc network session names to said user, said presenting occurring prior to said configuring.

25. The method of claim 24, additionally comprising said computer receiving a session name selected by a user from said list of previous ad hoc session names.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said ad hoc network operates over a local area network using a wireline interface.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said ad hoc network operates over a wide area network.

28. A method for communicating by way of an ad hoc network, comprising:

a first computer receiving an input from an ad hoc network selector positioned on a surface of a keyboard connected to said first computer, wherein depressing the ad hoc network selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network;

a second computer receiving an indication that said first computer has initiated an ad hoc network;

said second computer receiving an input from an ad hoc selector positioned on a keyboard connected to said second computer; and

an encryption key generated by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

29. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising said second computer transmitting a username to said first computer.

30. The method of claim 29, additionally comprising said second computer transmitting authentication information to said first computer.

31. The method of claim 30, additionally comprising said first computer verifying the authenticity of said authentication information.

32. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising said second computer receiving content from said first computer.

33. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising at least one of said first and said second computers decoupling from a communications infrastructure.

34. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising said second computer illuminating said ad hoc selector, said illuminating occurring in response to said second computer receiving said indication from said first computer.

35. The method of claim 28, additionally comprising said second computer causing an icon on a display associated with said second computer to blink in response to said second computer receiving said indication.

36. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving a command to initiate an ad hoc network, said command originating from an input conveyed to said computer by a selector located on a keyboard in response to a selection made by a user of said computer, wherein depressing the selector causes said computer to display a selection screen for selecting an ad hoc network;

configuring said computer to initiate an ad hoc network;

transmitting content to at least one other user within wireless communications range of said computer; and

generating an encryption key by an initial user of the ad hoc network, wherein encrypted content and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content is transmitted to at least one other user within wireless communications range of the initial user, wherein the content is encrypted in accordance with a security level determined by the initial user.

37. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of presenting a username to said user of said computer, said username corresponding to said at least one other user.

38. The computer-readable media of claim 37, wherein selecting said usename causes said computer to transmit a meeting invitation to a computer that associated with said username.

39. The computer-readable media of claim 38, wherein said username is presented by way of a document presented to said user of said computer.

40. The computer-readable media of claim 39, wherein said document is one of the group consisting of a distribution list, a report, an electronic mail message, and a spread sheet.

41. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of receiving an indication that said user of said computer has accepted said at least one other user to become a member of said ad hoc network.

42. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of receiving information that authenticates said at least one other user.

43. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of transmitting an encryption key to said at least one other user.

44. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of transmitting encrypted information to said at least one other user.

45. The computer-readable media of claim 36, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of presenting a virtual meeting place on the display of said computer.

46. The computer-readable media of claim 45, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the additional action of locating said at least one other user to said virtual meeting place and transmitting an invitation to said at least one other user located in said virtual meeting place.