System and method for bypassing an access point in a local area network for P2P data transfers
First Claim
1. A method for transferring a file from a first user device within a wireless local area network to a second user device within the wireless local area network comprising:
- providing a primary local wireless interface for the first user device, the primary local wireless interface having a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer;
providing a secondary local wireless interface for the first user device, the secondary local wireless interface having a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer;
providing a control system associated with the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces, the control system comprising;
a first network agent operatively associated with the primary local wireless interface, the first network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the primary local wireless interface;
a second network agent operatively associated with the secondary local wireless interface, the second network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the secondary local wireless interface; and
a cross-layer agent obtaining information regarding the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces from the first and second network agents, and determining whether to transfer the file to the second user device via a direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via an access point based on at least a portion of the information regarding the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces;
initiating a file transfer of the file from the first user device to the second user device;
determining whether to transfer the file to the second user device via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via the access point associated with the wireless local area network where the primary local wireless interface communicates with the access point and the secondary local wireless interface communicates with the second user device using the direct point-to-point wireless communication link; and
if the file is to be transferred via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link;
establishing the direct point-to-point wireless communication link with the second user device; and
transferring the file to the second user device via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for bypassing an access point in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) for direct point-to-point data transfers are provided. A user device in the wireless LAN is equipped with a primary local wireless interface establishing a wireless communication link with an access point of the wireless LAN, a secondary local wireless interface used for direct point-to-point (P2P) file transfers, and a P2P file transfer application. When the P2P application desires to transfer a data file to another user device within the wireless LAN, the user device determines whether the other user device is within a coverage area of the secondary local wireless interface and whether the file transfer meets one or more alternate transfer criterion. If so, the data file is transferred to the other user device via a direct P2P wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point of the wireless LAN.
123 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for transferring a file from a first user device within a wireless local area network to a second user device within the wireless local area network comprising:
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providing a primary local wireless interface for the first user device, the primary local wireless interface having a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer; providing a secondary local wireless interface for the first user device, the secondary local wireless interface having a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer; providing a control system associated with the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces, the control system comprising; a first network agent operatively associated with the primary local wireless interface, the first network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the primary local wireless interface; a second network agent operatively associated with the secondary local wireless interface, the second network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the secondary local wireless interface; and a cross-layer agent obtaining information regarding the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces from the first and second network agents, and determining whether to transfer the file to the second user device via a direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via an access point based on at least a portion of the information regarding the primary and secondary local wireless interfaces; initiating a file transfer of the file from the first user device to the second user device; determining whether to transfer the file to the second user device via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via the access point associated with the wireless local area network where the primary local wireless interface communicates with the access point and the secondary local wireless interface communicates with the second user device using the direct point-to-point wireless communication link; and if the file is to be transferred via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link; establishing the direct point-to-point wireless communication link with the second user device; and transferring the file to the second user device via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19)
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11. A user system comprising:
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a) a first local wireless interface adapted to establish a first wireless communication link with an access point of a wireless local area network, the first local wireless interface including a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer; b) a second local wireless interface, the second local wireless interface including a physical layer, a data link layer, a network layer, and a transport layer; and c) a control system associated with the first and second local wireless interfaces the control system comprising; a first network agent operatively associated with the first local wireless interface, the first network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the first local wireless interface; a second network agent operatively associated with the second local wireless interface, the second network agent monitoring at least one of the physical layer, the data link layer, the network layer, and the transport layer of the second local wireless interface; and a cross-layer agent obtaining information regarding the first and second local wireless interfaces from the first and second network agents, and determining whether to transfer the file to a second user system via a direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via the access point based on at least a portion of the information regarding the first and second local wireless interfaces, wherein the control system; i) initiates a file transfer of a file to the second user system; ii) determines whether to transfer the file to the second user system via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link or via the access point associated with the wireless local area network; and iii) if the file is to be transferred via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link; A) establishes the direct point-to-point wireless communication link with the second user system using the second local wireless interface; and B) transfers the file to the second user system via the direct point-to-point wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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Specification