Architecture and two-layered protocol for real-time location-aware applications

• US 8,725,831 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Barbeau, Sean J., Winters, Philip L., Perez, Rafael, Labrador, Miguel, Georggi, Nevine, Perez, Alfredo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Kibrom T
• Application Number:
  US13/082,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/252, 370/310, 370/315, 370/351, 455/3.01, 455/400, 455/403, 455/7, 455/26, 455/1, 455/73, 709/201, 709/204, 709/213, 709/217, 709/220, 709/223, 709/227, 709/230, 709/238, 709/245, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A two-layer communication protocol that supports efficient real-time location-aware application on multiple mobile devices that must communicate with each other and/or a centralized server. The two-layer protocol includes a method of communicating data between a first mobile device and a second mobile device using a server to facilitate the communication of the data. The two-layer communication protocol also includes a method of communicating data between a first mobile device and a second mobile device using a server to facilitate the connection between the two devices. The communication of data occurs directly between the two mobile devices. Each method uses reliable, connection-oriented protocols to exchange application-level information and control signals while utilizing unreliable, connection-less protocols to communicate real-time location data. Also provided are architectures implementing these methods.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

sending non-location information between a server and the first mobile device using a reliable protocol to initiate a first session between the first mobile device and the server;

sending non-location information between the server and the second mobile device using the reliable protocol to initiate a second session between the second mobile device and the server;

receiving, by the server, location information from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than a predetermined distance;

receiving, by the server, location information from the second mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance;

sending, by the server, the location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance;

receiving, by the server, location information from the second mobile device using an unreliable protocol that is distinct from the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance; and

sending, by the server, the location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using the unreliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending non-location information to initiate a first session of the first mobile device comprises:

sending non-location information including a first session request from the first mobile device to the server using the reliable protocol; and

sending non-location information including a first session response from the server to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol responsive to approval of the first session request by the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending non-location information to initiate a second session of the second mobile device comprises:

sending non-location information including a second session request from the second mobile device to the server using the reliable protocol; and

sending non-location information including a second session response from the server to the second mobile device using the reliable protocol responsive to approval of the second session request by the server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, location information from the first mobile device using the unreliable protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a subscription request, from the first mobile device, identifying the second mobile device using the reliable protocol; and

sending the location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using the unreliable protocol, responsive to a subscription request being granted by the server identifying the second mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including an unsubscribe request, identifying the second mobile device, from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information comprising a destroy session request from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol;

ending the session of the first mobile device responsive to receipt of the destroy session request by the server; and

sending non-location information comprising a destroy session response to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to the session of the first mobile device being ended.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a destroy session request from the second mobile device using the reliable protocol;

ending the session of the second mobile device responsive to receipt of the destroy session request by the server; and

sending non-location information including a destroy session response from the server to the second mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to the session of the second mobile device being ended.

9. A method of communicating data between a server and a first mobile device, comprising:

sending non-location information between the first mobile device and the server using a reliable protocol to initiate a session between the first mobile device and the server;

sending non-location information between the server and a second mobile device using the reliable protocol to initiate a second session between the second mobile device and the server;

receiving, by the server, location information from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than a predetermined distance;

receiving by the server, location information from the second mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance;

sending, by the server, the location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance;

receiving, by the server, location information from the second mobile device using an unreliable protocol that is distinct from the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance; and

sending, by the server, the location information of the second mobile device to the first device using the unreliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending non-location information between the first mobile device and the server using a reliable protocol to initiate a session with the server using a reliable protocol comprises:

sending non-location information including a session request from the first mobile device to the server using the reliable protocol; and

receiving, at the first mobile device, non-location information including a session request response from the server using tire reliable protocol, responsive to the sewer'"'"'s approval of the session request.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending location information from the second mobile device to the server using the unreliable protocol.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending non-location information including a subscription request from the first mobile device to the server using the reliable protocol, the subscription request identifying the second mobile device; and

receiving, at the first mobile device, the location information of the second mobile device from the server using an unreliable protocol, responsive to the server granting the subscription request.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending non-location information including an unsubscribe request from the first mobile device to the server using the reliable protocol, the unsubscribe request identifying the second mobile device.

14. The method of claim 9, farther comprising:

sending non-location information including a destroy session request from the first mobile device to the server; and

receiving, at the first mobile device, non-location information including a destroy session response from the server, responsive to the server ending the session.

15. A method of communicating data between a first r mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

sending non-location information using a reliable protocol between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a first session between the first mobile device and the server;

sending non-location information using the reliable protocol between a second mobile device and the server to initiate a second session between the second mobile device and the server;

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a contact information request for the second mobile device'"'"'s contact information from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol;

sending non-location information from the server to the first mobile device including a contact information response from the second mobile device using a reliable protocol;

transmitting location information from the second mobile device directly to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance; and

transmitting location information from the second mobile device directly to the first mobile device using an unreliable protocol that is distinct from the reliable protocol when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sending non-location information using the reliable protocol between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a first session of the first mobile device comprises:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a first session request from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol; and

sending non-location information from the server, including a first session response to the first mobile device, responsive to approval of the first session request.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein sending non-location information using the reliable protocol between a second mobile device and a server to initiate a second session of the second mobile device comprises:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a second session request from the second mobile device using the reliable protocol; and

sending non-location information from the server, including a second session response to the second mobile device, responsive to approval of the second session request.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, location information from the first mobile device using the unreliable protocol.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a destroy session request using the reliable protocol from the first mobile device;

ending the session of the first mobile device responsive to receipt of the destroy session request by the server; and

sending non-location information including a destroy session response from the server to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to the session of the first mobile device being ended.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a destroy session request using the reliable protocol from the second mobile device;

ending the session of the second mobile device responsive to receipt of the destroy session request by the server; and

sending non-location information including a destroy session response from the server to the second mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to the session of the second mobile device being ended.

21. A method of communicating data between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

sending non-location information, using a reliable protocol, between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a session between the first mobile device and the server;

sending, from the first mobile device, non-location information including a contact information request for the second mobile device'"'"'s contact information to the server using the reliable protocol;

receiving, by the first mobile device, non-location information, including a contact information response, from the server using the reliable protocol;

sending, by the first mobile device, non-location information, including a subscription request for the second mobile device, to the server using the reliable protocol;

receiving, by the first mobile device, location information from the second mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to the second mobile device granting the subscription request and when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance; and

receiving, by the first mobile device, location information from the second mobile device using an unreliable protocol, that is distinct from the reliable protocol, responsive to the second mobile device granting the subscription request and when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein sending non-location information using the reliable protocol between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a session between the first mobile device and the server comprises:

sending non-location information including a session request from the first mobile device to the server using a reliable protocol; and

receiving, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a session request response from the server, responsive to the server'"'"'s approval of the session request.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sending location information from the second mobile device to the server using an unreliable protocol.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sending, by the first mobile device, non-location information including an unsubscribe request to the second mobile device using a reliable protocol.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sending, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a destroy session request to the server using the reliable protocol; and

receiving, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a destroy session response from the server using the reliable protocol, responsive to the server ending the session.

26. A method of communicating data between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

sending non-location information using a reliable protocol between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a session between the first mobile device and the server;

receiving, by the server, non-location information including a subscription request identifying the second mobile device from the first mobile device using the reliable protocol;

sending, by the server, location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using the reliable protocol, responsive to acceptance of the subscription request and when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is greater than the predetermined distance; and

sending, by the server, location information of the second mobile device to the first mobile device using an unreliable protocol, that is distinct from the reliable protocol, responsive to acceptance of the subscription request and when the first mobile device is separated from the second mobile device by a distance that is less than the predetermined distance.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein sending non-location information using a reliable protocol between a first mobile device and a server to initiate a session with the server comprises:

sending, by the first mobile, non-location information including a session request to the server using a reliable protocol; and

receiving, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a session request response from the server, responsive to the server'"'"'s approval of the session request.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sending location information from the first mobile device to the server using an unreliable protocol.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving, by the server, non-location information including an unsubscribe request from the first mobile device using a reliable protocol; and

discontinuing sending location information to the first mobile device.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sending, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a destroy session request to the server using a reliable protocol; and

receiving, by the first mobile device, non-location information including a destroy session response from the server, responsive to the server ending the session.