Method and apparatus for resource sharing over handset terminals

• US 20050054354A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Islam, Nayeem, Roman, Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/459
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A mechanism and supporting apparatus to enable resource sharing among groups of users over mobile terminals. The system presented leverages the carrier infrastructure to simplify the requirements at the terminals, and describes a graphical user interface binding mechanism that allows developing generic graphical users interfaces that can be customized to heterogeneous devices at run-time.

Claims

1. A mobile device for use with a network device of a carrier as part of a plurality of mobile devices, the mobile device comprising:

a memory to store one or more media resources; and

a resource manager to control the one or more media resources stored in the memory by cooperating with a resource coordinator of the network device to dynamically determine whether a media resource or a link to the media resource is to be provided to the resource coordinator to enable distribution of the one or more media resources to other mobile devices in the plurality of mobile devices.

2. The mobile device defined in claim 1 wherein the resource manager and a resource coordinator of the network device cooperate to dynamically and adaptively handover resources using a protocol that involves the mobile device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on the condition of the mobile device.

3. The mobile device defined in claim 2 wherein the resource manager sends a link to the resource coordinator of the network device and further wherein the resource coordinator stores the link and causes the link to be sent to a group of members of the plurality of mobile devices.

4. The mobile device defined in claim 3 wherein the plurality of mobile devices are a subset of mobile devices communicating with the network device.

5. The mobile device defined in claim 2 wherein the resource manager sends the media resource to the network device, and further wherein the resource coordinator stores the media resource and causes a link to the media resource to be sent to the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the link identifies a location to the media resource in a memory accessible by the network device.

6. The mobile device defined in claim 2 wherein the resource manager sends a link to content storage on the mobile device to the resource coordinator, wherein in response thereto the resource coordinator retrieves the content from the mobile device and stores the content locally, wherein the resource coordinator causes the content to be sent to the plurality of mobile devices.

7. The mobile device defined in claim 6 wherein the resource manager sends the content to the resource coordinator that stores the content locally and causes a notification coordinator to send the content to the plurality of mobile devices.

8. The mobile device defined in claim 7 wherein the resource manager checks local storage for content and, if it is not in local storage, sends a request to the resource coordinator of the network device, which retrieves the resource and forwards it to the resource manager of the mobile device hosting the resource.

9. The mobile device defined in claim 8 wherein the resource manager stores the content locally in response to receiving the content.

10. The mobile device defined in claim 9 wherein the resource manager checks local storage for content and then sends the link to the content to the resource coordinator of the network device and in response to receiving a link the network device checks local storage and if the content is not stored in local storage, sends a request to retrieve the content to a resource manager of another mobile device to obtain the content therefrom and then subsequently forward the retrieved content to the resource manager of the mobile device.

11. The mobile device defined in claim 10 wherein the resource coordinator of the network device and the resource manager of the mobile device stores a copy of the content in local storage.

12. The mobile device defined in claim 1 wherein the resource manager utilizes adaptive resource distribution protocol that includes posting links or content and distributing links or content in which the decision to post the link or content and distribute a link or content is based on criteria.

13. The mobile device defined in claim 12 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on resource popularity.

14. The mobile device defined in claim 12 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

15. The mobile device defined in claim 1 further comprising a browser to interact with the resource manager to add resources and retrieve resources.

16. The mobile device defined in claim 1 further comprising a notification manager.

17. A method comprising:

a mobile device storing one or more media resources; and

the mobile device controlling the one or more media resources stored in the memory by cooperating with a resource coordinator of a network device to dynamically determine whether a media resource or a link to the media resource is to be provided to the resource coordinator to enable distribution of the one or more media resources to other mobile devices in a plurality of mobile devices in a network.

18. The method defined in claim 17 further comprising dynamically and adaptively handing over resources using a protocol that involves the mobile device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on a condition of the mobile device.

19. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising:

sending a link to the resource coordinator of the network device and further wherein the resource coordinator stores the link; and

causing the link to be sent to a group of members of the plurality of mobile devices.

20. The method defined in claim 19 wherein the plurality of mobile devices are a subset of mobile devices communicating with the network device.

21. The mobile device defined in claim 18 further comprising:

sending the media resource to the network device; and

the network device storing the media resource and causing a link to the media resource to be sent to the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the link identifies a location for the media resource in a memory accessible by the network device.

22. The mobile device defined in claim 18 further comprising:

sending a link to content storage on the mobile device to the resource coordinator of the network device;

in response thereto, the resource coordinator of the network device

retrieving the content from the mobile device;

storing the content locally; and

causing the content to be sent to the plurality of mobile devices.

23. The method defined in claim 22 further comprising

sending the content to the resource coordinator that stores the content locally;

and

causing a notification coordinator of the network device to send the content to the plurality of mobile devices.

24. The method defined in claim 23 further comprising:

a resource manager of the network device checking local storage for content;

if it is not in local storage, the resource manager sending a request to the resource coordinator of the network device for retrieving the resource; and

forwarding the request to the resource manager of the mobile device hosting the resource.

25. The method defined in claim 24 further comprising the resource manager storing the content locally in response to receiving the content.

26. The method defined in claim 25 further comprising:

the resource manager checking local storage for content and then sending the link to the content to the resource coordinator of the network device; and

in response to receiving the link, the network device

checking local storage, and

if the content is not stored in local storage, sending a request to retrieve the content to a resource manager of another mobile device to obtain the content therefrom and then subsequently forwarding the retrieved content to the resource manager of the mobile device.

27. The method defined in claim 26 further comprising the resource coordinator of the network device and the resource manager of the mobile device storing a copy of the content in local storage.

28. The method defined in claim 17 further comprising the resource manager utilizing adaptive resource distribution protocol that includes posting links or content and distributing links or content in which the decision to post the link or content and distribute a link or content is based on criteria.

29. The method defined in claim 28 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on resource popularity.

30. The method defined in claim 28 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

31. A method comprising:

receiving a first notification from a first mobile device of a group of mobile devices, the first notification including a resource identifier and indicating a resource to be made available to the group that is hosted by the first mobile device;

sending a second notification to other mobile devices in the group indicating that the resource is available, the second notification including the resource identifier;

receiving a request for the resource from one of the other mobile devices;

obtaining the resource from the first mobile device; and

providing the resource to the one other mobile device.

32. The method defined in claim 31 wherein the resource identifier comprises a URL.

33. The method defined in claim 31 wherein the second notification includes the type and name of the channel.

34. A system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices;

a network device communicably coupled to the plurality of mobile devices, the network device having

a group coordinator to coordinate the plurality of mobile devices,

a resource coordinator to obtain media resources for the plurality of mobile device, and

a notification distributor to notify mobile devices in the plurality of mobile devices of a media resource that is available;

wherein each of the plurality of mobile devices hosts one or more media resources and cooperates with the network to have individual mobile devices handover resources to the network when the individual mobile device is in a condition.

35. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the resource manager of the individual mobile device and the resource coordinator of the network device cooperate to dynamically and adaptively handover resources using a protocol that involves the mobile device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on the condition of the mobile device.

36. The system defined in claim 35 wherein the condition is one selected from a group consisting of excessive bandwidth consumption condition, a low battery power condition, and a storage quota condition.

37. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the resource manager sends a link to the resource coordinator of the network device and further wherein the resource coordinator stores the link and causes the notification coordinator to send the link to a group of members of the plurality of mobile devices.

38. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the plurality of mobile devices are a subset of mobile devices communicating with the network device.

39. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the resource manager sends the media resource to the network device, and further wherein the resource coordinator stores the media resource and causes the notification coordinator to send a link to the media resource to the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the link identifies the media resource in a memory accessible to the network device.

40. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the resource manager sends a link to content storage on the mobile device to the resource coordinator, wherein the response thereto the resource coordinator retrieves the content from the individual mobile device and stores the content locally, wherein the resource coordinator causes the notification coordinator to send the content to the plurality of mobile devices.

41. The system defined in claim 40 wherein the resource manager sends the content to the resource coordinator that stores the content locally and causes the notification coordinator to send the content to the plurality of mobile devices.

42. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the resource manager of an individual mobile device checks local storage for content and, if it is not in local storage, sends a request to the resource coordinator of the carrier, which retrieves the resource and forwards it to the resource manager of the individual mobile device.

43. The system defined in claim 42 wherein the resource manager stores the content locally in response to receiving the content.

44. The system defined in claim 43 wherein the resource manager checks local storage for content and then sends the link to the content to the resource coordinator of the carrier;

in response to receiving a link the carrier checks local storage and if the content is not stored in local storage, sends a request to retrieve the content to a resource manager of another mobile device to obtain the content therefrom and then subsequently forward the retrieved content to the resource manager of the mobile device.

45. The system defined in claim 44 wherein the resource coordinator of the carrier and the resource manager of the mobile device store a copy of the content in local storage.

46. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the resource coordinator utilizes an adaptive resource distribution protocol that includes posting links or content and distributing links or content in which the decision to post the link or content and distribute a link or content is based on criteria.

47. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the criteria comprises resource popularity.

48. The system defined in claim 46 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

49. A carrier comprising:

a group coordinator;

a resource coordinator to obtain media for a plurality of mobile device; and

a notification distributor to notify mobile devices in the plurality of mobile devices of a media resource that has been received, wherein the resources coordinator and the notification distributor cooperate with the plurality of mobile devices to dynamically and adaptively provide access to resources using a protocol that involves a mobile device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on the condition of the mobile device.