Application control in peer-to-peer ad-hoc communication networks

• US 20050058108A1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ekberg, Jan-Erik, Lahtinen, Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A computer system, method, and computer program product for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network. The method comprises sending an inquiry message to the network, receiving a response, choosing a selected application, and examining control parameters associated with the selected application. The control parameters dictate a behavior of the selected application such as allowing or refusing communication with the selected application. When a nearby wireless device includes a matching application, connecting the selected application and the matching application further comprises sending a connection request, receiving connection response, launching the selected application, and sending a service request. When the selected application closes, the method further comprises erasing the selected application. To choose the selected application, the method further comprises retrieving an entry from a distributed application directory or selecting the application based on a priority assigned to the entry.

Claims

1. A system for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

a memory device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

send an inquiry message to the ad-hoc communications network;

receive a response to the inquiry message from a nearby wireless device;

choose a selected application from a list of application programs; and

examine at least one control parameter associated with the selected application.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one control parameter dictates a behavior of the selected application.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the selected application, refusing communication with the selected application, downloading the selected application, or distributing the selected application.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device, the processor is further configured to:

send a connection request to the nearby wireless device;

receive an accept connections message from the nearby wireless device;

launch the selected application; and

send a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein when a user closes the selected application, the processor is further configured to:

erase the selected application.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein to choose the selected application, the processor is further configured to:

retrieve an entry from an application directory stored in a middleware layer portion of the memory device, the entry associating the selected application and the nearby device and including said at least one control parameter.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the choice of the selected application is based on a priority assigned to the entry.

8. A method for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

sending an inquiry message to the ad-hoc communications network;

receiving a response to the inquiry message from a nearby wireless device;

choosing a selected application from a list of application programs; and

examining at least one control parameter associated with the selected application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one control parameter dictates a behavior of the selected application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the selected application, refusing communication with the selected application, downloading the selected application, or distributing the selected application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device, the method further comprises:

sending a connection request to the nearby wireless device;

receiving an accept connections message from the nearby wireless device;

launching the selected application; and

sending a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein when a user closes the selected application, the method further comprises:

erasing the selected application.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the choosing of the selected application further comprises:

retrieving an entry from an application directory stored in a middleware layer portion of the memory device, the entry associating the selected application and the nearby device and including said at least one control parameter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the choice of the selected application is based on a priority assigned to the entry.

15. A computer program product for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing;

program code for sending an inquiry message to the ad-hoc communications network;

program code for receiving a response to the inquiry message from a nearby wireless device;

program code for choosing a selected application from a list of application programs; and

program code for examining at least one control parameter associated with the selected application.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further storing:

program code for sending a connection request to the nearby wireless device when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device;

program code for receiving an accept connections message from the nearby wireless device when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device;

program code for launching the selected application when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device; and

program code for sending a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application when a matching application is resident on the nearby wireless device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, the computer readable medium further storing:

program code for erasing the selected application when a user closes the selected application.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program code for choosing of the selected application further comprises:

program code for retrieving an entry from an application directory stored in a middleware layer portion of the memory device, the entry associating the selected application and the nearby device and including said at least one control parameter.

19. A system for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

a memory device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

receive an inquiry message;

send a response to the inquiry message;

receive a connection request;

send an accept connections message;

receive a service request to connect to an application; and

examine at least one control parameter associated with a matching application program for the application.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one control parameter dictates a behavior of the matching application.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the selected application, refusing communication with the selected application, downloading the selected application, or distributing the selected application.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:

launch the matching application; and

receive a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein when a user closes the matching application, the processor is further configured to:

erase the selected application.

24. A method for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

receiving an inquiry message;

sending a response to the inquiry message;

receiving a connection request;

sending an accept connections message;

receiving a service request to connect to an application; and

examining at least one control parameter associated with a matching application program for the application.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one control parameter dictates a behavior of the matching application.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the selected application, refusing communication with the selected application, downloading the selected application, or distributing the selected application.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

launching the matching application; and

receiving a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein when a user closes the matching application, the method further comprises:

erasing the selected application.

29. A computer program product for controlling access to an application program in a wireless device connected to an ad-hoc communications network, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing;

program code for receiving an inquiry message;

program code for sending a response to the inquiry message;

program code for receiving a connection request;

program code for sending an accept connections message;

program code for receiving a service request to connect to an application; and

program code for examining at least one control parameter associated with a matching application program for the application.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, the computer readable medium further storing:

program code for launching the matching application; and

program code for receiving a service request to connect the selected application and the matching application.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, the computer readable medium further storing:

program code for erasing the selected application when a user closes the matching application.

32. A system for controlling access to a preferred application program in a wireless device, wherein an ad-hoc communications network connects at least one device and supports at least one application program, said at least one device including the wireless device, and said at least one application program including the preferred application program, comprising:

a memory device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

maintain a local information database in each said at least one device, the local information database associating at least one prioritized application program with at least one control parameter, said at least one application program including said at least one prioritized application program, and said at least one prioritized application program including the preferred application program;

conduct an inquiry of the ad-hoc communications network to discover at least one nearby device in said at least one device, the inquiry including an indication that said at least one nearby device may include a middleware layer;

access the local information database to identify the preferred application program in said at least one prioritized application program; and

access the local information database to examine said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program dictates a behavior of a peer device in said at least one nearby device toward the preferred application program.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the preferred application program.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the local information database further includes preference information relating to said at least one application program.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the preference information includes a preference of a peer device in said at least one nearby device for one of said at least one application program.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein a user of the wireless device selects said at least one prioritized application program and defines said at least one control parameter associated with each said at least one prioritized application program.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein a monitor program resident in the wireless device monitors actions performed by a user of the wireless device to select said at least one prioritized application program and define said at least one control parameter associated with each said at least one prioritized application program.

39. A method for controlling access to a preferred application program in a wireless device, wherein an ad-hoc communications network connects at least one device and supports at least one application program, said at least one device including the wireless device, and said at least one application program including the preferred application program, comprising:

maintaining a local information database in each said at least one device, the local information database associating at least one prioritized application program with at least one control parameter, said at least one application program including said at least one prioritized application program, and said at least one prioritized application program including the preferred application program;

conducting an inquiry of the ad-hoc communications network to discover at least one nearby device in said at least one device, the inquiry including an indication that said at least one nearby device may include a middleware layer;

accessing the local information database to identify the preferred application program in said at least one prioritized application program; and

accessing the local information database to examine said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program dictates a behavior of a peer device in said at least one nearby device toward the preferred application program.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the behavior includes allowing communication with the preferred application program.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the local information database further includes preference information relating to said at least one application program.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the preference information includes a preference of a peer device in said at least one nearby device for one of said at least one application program.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein a user of the wireless device selects said at least one prioritized application program and defines said at least one control parameter associated with each said at least one prioritized application program.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein a monitor program resident in the wireless device monitors actions performed by a user of the wireless device to select said at least one prioritized application program and define said at least one control parameter associated with each said at least one prioritized application program.

46. A computer program product for controlling access to a preferred application program in a wireless device, wherein an ad-hoc communications network connects at least one device and supports at least one application program, said at least one device including the wireless device, and said at least one application program including the preferred application program, comprising:

a computer readable medium storing;

program code for maintaining a local information database in each said at least one device, the local information database associating at least one prioritized application program with at least one control parameter, said at least one application program including said at least one prioritized application program, and said at least one prioritized application program including the preferred application program;

program code for conducting an inquiry of the ad-hoc communications network to discover at least one nearby device in said at least one device, the inquiry including an indication that said at least one nearby device may include a middleware layer;

program code for accessing the local information database to identify the preferred application program in said at least one prioritized application program; and

program code for accessing the local information database to examine said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program.

47. A system for controlling access to a preferred application program in a wireless device, wherein an ad-hoc communications network connects at least one device and supports at least one application program, said at least one device including the wireless device, and said at least one application program including the preferred application program, comprising:

means for maintaining a local information database in each said at least one device, the local information database associating at least one prioritized application program with at least one control parameter, said at least one application program including said at least one prioritized application program, and said at least one prioritized application program including the preferred application program;

means for conducting an inquiry of the ad-hoc communications network to discover at least one nearby device in said at least one device, the inquiry including an indication that said at least one nearby device may include a middleware layer;

means for accessing the local information database to identify the preferred application program in said at least one prioritized application program; and

means for accessing the local information database to examine said at least one control parameter associated with the preferred application program.