SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD FOR RELAYING MESSAGES

• US 20110107084A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pate, Kristopher A., Campbell, Gary L., Clavenna, Robert A., Archer, Steven T., Hubner, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US12/612,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system for and method of relaying messages is presented. In an exemplary embodiment, the system and method may include receiving a request from a user to transmit a message to an intended recipient, processing the message for transmission, wherein processing the message comprises assigning metadata to the message, and transmitting the message with the metadata to the intended recipient, where transmitting the message with metadata comprises searching for at least one proximate ad hoc relay device in the event that a communication link cannot be established with a communication network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to transmit a message to an intended recipient;

processing the message for transmission, wherein processing the message comprises assigning metadata to the message; and

transmitting the message with the metadata to the intended recipient, wherein transmitting the message with metadata comprises

     1) detecting that a communication link cannot be established with a communication network, and

     2) searching for at least one proximate ad hoc relay device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein processing the message further comprises compressing the message in order to reduce an amount of data transmitted and increase a transmission speed of the message.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprises generating a hash file associated with the message in order to determine whether the message is delivered to the intended recipient.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein processing the message further comprises encrypting the message with the metadata in order to provide a secure transmission.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprises determining whether the communication link can be established with the communication network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein processing the message further comprises assigning a max-hop count to the message in order to indicate a number of times the message is transmitted.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metadata includes at least one of time stamps, location, the user identification and information, the intended recipient identification and information, a hash file, a max-hop counter and a priority level.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein searching for at least one proximate ad hoc relay device comprises transmitting at least one ad hoc beacon signal to seek the at least one proximate ad hoc relay device to establish the communication link.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the communication link includes at least one of a Bluetooth link and a Wi-Fi link.

10. A computer readable storage media comprising code to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving at least one encrypted message having metadata from at least one mobile user device destined for an intended recipient;

processing the at least one encrypted message; and

transmitting the at least one encrypted message to a message relay system when a communication link is established with a communication network.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprises transmitting the at least one encrypted message to another ad hoc relay device in the event that the communication link cannot be established with the communication network.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein transmitting the at least one encrypted message to a message relay system in the event that a communication link is established with a communication network comprises relocating to establish the communication link with the communication network.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein processing the at least one encrypted message comprises updating a hash file associated with the metadata of the at least one encrypted message to indicate in the hash file that the at least one encrypted message have not been delivered to the message relay system.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein processing the at least one encrypted message comprises decrementing a max-hop counter associated with the metadata of the at least one encrypted message.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving at least one encrypted message having metadata from an ad hoc relay agent;

identifying a hash file associated with the metadata of the at least one encrypted message; and

transmitting the at least one encrypted message to a message delivery system based at least in part on the hash file.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprises searching a hash file database to identify the hash file associated with the metadata of the at least one encrypted message to determine whether the at least one encrypted message have been delivered based at least in part on the hash file.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein processing the at least one encrypted message comprises decrypt the at least one encrypted message via a key.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprises transmitting a status message signal to notify the ad hoc relay device that the at least one encrypted message have been delivered to an intended recipient.

20. The system, comprising:

a presentation module configured to receive a request from a user to transmit a message to an intended recipient;

a processing module configured to process the message for transmission, wherein processing the message comprises assigning metadata to the message; and

an ad hoc relay agent module configured to transmit the message with the metadata to the intended recipient, wherein transmitting the message with metadata comprises

     1) detecting that a communication link cannot be established with a communication network, and

     2) searching for at least one proximate ad hoc relay device.

21. The system according to claim 20, further comprises a database module configured to store the message.

22. The system according to claim 20, further comprises an encryption module configured to encrypt the message.