Auto-discovery based item(s) sharing, including sender pushing and recipient approval

• US 8,407,362 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaisford, Calvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUVAN, LEYNNA THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/057,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/27, 705/58, 705/76, 709201-203, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus involve the voluntary transfer or sharing of item(s), such as files or other data, based upon the automatic discovery of recipients, including sender pushing of the items and recipient approval. During use, computing devices advertise their availability for potential receipt of the items and recipients are automatically discovered. The sender attaches the items to a selected recipient, and a size, description, etc. of the items is calculated. Upon a connection between the sending and recipient computing devices, the sending device pushes to the recipient an identifier of the sender and the size, description, etc., so the recipient can determine whether they want to accept transfer. If so, the items are transferred, including display of the progress. If not, the sender is notified of the refusal. Other features contemplate attaching techniques, visual information display, authentication of parties, computer program products, and systems, to name a few.

Claims

1. A method of transferring items from a first computing device to a second computing device, comprising:

by the first computing device, automatically discovering a plurality of computing devices on a network, wherein the network comprises the first computing device and the second computing device;

at the first computing device, based on the discovery of the plurality of computing devices on the network, identifying a recipient for an item, wherein the recipient is currently using the second computing device;

at the first computing device, associating the item to the recipient, wherein associating the item to the recipient indicates an intent to transfer the item to the recipient;

after associating;

at the first computing device, determining the size of the item and a description of the item;

establishing a connection between the first and second computing devices;

by the first computing device and without sending the item, sending the size of the item, the description of the item, and information about a sender of the item to the second computing device, wherein the sender of the item is the current user of the first computing device;

at the first computing device, receiving an indication that the recipient wants to accept transfer of the item from the first computing device; and

by the first computing device, sending the item to the second computing device in response to receiving the indication, wherein the item is not sent to the second computing device until after the indication is received.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, by the first computing device, a picture, an email address and a name of the recipient based on the discovery of the plurality of computing devices on the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein associating the item comprises dragging and dropping an image corresponding to the item onto at least one selected from a group consisting of the picture, the email address and the name of the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the first computing device an indication from the recipient that the recipient is potentially available to receive the item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the item from the first computing device to the second computing device, comprises displaying progress of the transfer of the item.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method for transferring items from a first computing device to a second computing device, the method comprising:

automatically discovering a plurality of computing devices on a network, wherein the network comprises the first computing device and the second computing device;

based on the discovery of the plurality of computing devices on the network, identifying a recipient for an item, wherein the recipient is currently using the second computing device;

associating the item to the recipient, wherein associating the item to the recipient indicates an intent to transfer the item to the recipient;

after associating;

determining the size of the item and a description of the item;

establishing a connection between the first and second computing devices;

without sending the item, sending the size of the item, the description of the item, and information about a sender of the item to the second computing device, wherein the sender of the item is the current user of the first computing device;

receiving an indication that the recipient wants to accept transfer of the item from the first computing device to the second computing device; and

sending the item to the second computing device in response to receiving the indication, wherein the item is not sent to the second computing device until after the indication is received.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, on the first computing device, a picture, an email address and a name of the recipient based on the discovery of the plurality of computing devices on the network.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein associating the item comprises dragging and dropping an image corresponding to the item onto at least one selected from a group consisting of the picture, the email address and the name of the recipient.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving by the first computing device an indication from the recipient that the recipient is potentially available to receive the item.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein sending the item from the first computing device to the second computing device, comprises displaying progress of the transfer of the item on the first computing device.