Social Networking and Network Connectivity

• US 20140229535A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,203,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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 to be routed from a first end-user device that is destined for delivery to a second end-user device;

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

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

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

generating, by the server, an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member device of the social network.

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 associations between 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 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 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, comprising;

determining content to be routed from a first end-user device that is destined for delivery to a second end-user device;

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

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

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

generating an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member device of the social network.

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 associations between 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 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 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 second end-user device;

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

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

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

generating an instruction to route the content for interim storage to a member device of the social network.

16. The 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 memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise storing associations between devices and the network connectivity to communications networks.

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

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