Direct file transfer between subscribers of a communications system

• US 9,571,560 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crawford, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SHINGLES, KRISTIE D
• Application Number:
  US14/165,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20140143379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/204, 709/206, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a first client mobile device, that a second client device is available for a file transfer;

sending, by the first client mobile device, a connect request to the second client device;

receiving, at the first client mobile device, a connect acceptance sent from the second client device;

upon receiving the connect acceptance, establishing a direct connection between the first client mobile device and the second client device; and

sending a file directly to the second client device from the first client mobile device via the direct connection.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a list of one or more contacts accessing a communications system; and

receiving a user selection of a contact from the list of one or more contacts to send the file.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein identifying that the second client device is available for the file transfer comprises receiving an indication that the contact is accessing the communications system using the second client device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the communication system comprises an instant message system.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

sending, by the first client mobile device, the connect request to the second client device comprises sending the connect request to a host for forwarding to the second client device; and

receiving, at the first client mobile device, the connect acceptance sent from the second client device comprises receiving the connect acceptance via the host.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the direct connection is a direct socket connection.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the direct connection is a peer-to-peer connection.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the file comprises one or more of a video file or a graphic file.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a user selection of the file from a directory of the first client mobile device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first client mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the second client device comprises a mobile phone.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a first client mobile device to:

identify that a second client device is available for a file transfer;

send a connect request to the second client device;

receive a connect acceptance sent from the second client device;

establish a direct connection between with the second client device upon receiving the connect acceptance; and

send a file directly to the second client device via the direct connection.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage media as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first client mobile device to identify that the second client device is available for the file transfer by receiving an indication that the second client device is accessing a communications network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause a first client mobile device to:

display a list of contacts available for direct file transfer; and

receive a user selection of a contact from the list of contacts.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage media as recited in claim 12, wherein the direct connection is a peer-to-peer connection.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage media as recited in claim 12, wherein the first client mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

17. A mobile device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to;

identify that a client device is available for a file transfer;

send a connect request to the client device;

receive a connect acceptance sent from the client device;

establish a direct connection between with the client device upon receiving the connect acceptance; and

send a file directly to the client device via the direct connection.

18. The mobile device as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to display a list of clients connected to a communications network to which the mobile device is connected.

19. The mobile device as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the direct connection comprises a peer-to-peer connection;

the mobile device comprises a mobile phone; and

the client device comprises a mobile phone.

20. The mobile device as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the mobile device to present a user interface allowing a user to select the file from a directory of the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium.