Social networking and network connectivity

• US 9,203,929 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stankey, John Thomas, Malik, Dale W., Mikan, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANTON, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US14/255,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Social networking is used to enhance content delivery to mobile devices. Sometimes a mobile device lacks network connectivity, such as when the mobile device is off. Content cannot be sent to the mobile device when lacking network connectivity. A social network, however, may be retrieved for interim storage of the content. When the mobile device lacks network connectivity, the content may be routed to a member device of the social network associated with the mobile device. The member device stores the content until the mobile device resumes network connectivity. The member device may then send or forward the content to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a server, content sent from a first end-user device for delivery to a network address associated with a second end-user device;

retrieving, by the server, information describing network connectivity of the second end-user device to a communications network;

determining, by the server, that the second end-user device currently lacks the network connectivity to the communications network;

identifying, by the server, a social network associated with a user of the second end-user device currently lacking the network connectivity; and

generating, by the server, an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member'"'"'s network address associated with a member device of the social network that is associated with the user of the second end-user device that currently lacks the network connectivity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a database to determine the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing electronic database associations between network addresses of devices and the network connectivity to communications networks.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising subsequently determining, after the interim storage, the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising instructing the member device to send the content to the network address associated with the second end-user device responsive to the network connectivity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the content to the network address associated with the member device for the interim storage.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

determining content, to be routed from a first end-user device, that is destined for delivery to a network address associated with a second end-user device;

retrieving information describing network connectivity of the second end-user device to a communications network;

determining that the second end-user device currently lacks the network connectivity to the communications network;

identifying a social network associated with a user of the second end-user device; and

generating an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member'"'"'s network address associated with a member device of the social network that is associated with the user of second end-user device that currently lacks the network connectivity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise querying a database to determine the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise storing electronic database associations between network addresses of devices and the network connectivity to communications networks.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise subsequently detecting, after the interim storage, the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise instructing the member device to send the content to the network address associate with the second end-user device responsive to the network connectivity.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the content.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending the content to the member device for the interim storage.

15. A hardware memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

determining content to be routed from a first end-user device, that is destined for delivery to a network address associated with a second end-user device;

retrieving information describing network connectivity of the second end-user device to a communications network;

determining that the second end-user device currently lacks the network connectivity to the communications network;

identifying a social network associated with a user of the second end-user device; and

generating an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member'"'"'s network address associated with a member device of the social network that is associated with the user of second end-user device that currently lacks the network connectivity.

16. The hardware memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise querying a database to determine the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

17. The hardware memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise storing electronic database associations between network addresses of devices and the network connectivity to communications networks.

18. The hardware memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise subsequently detecting, after the interim storage, the network connectivity of the second end-user device.

19. The hardware memory of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise instructing the member device to send the content to network address associated with the second end-user device responsive to the network connectivity.

20. The hardware memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the content.