Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer communication

• US 6,219,710 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TainoApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hilgrave Incorporated
• Inventors: Masters, John C., Gray, Matthew H., Hile, John K., Everett, Jr., Robert D., Beamsley, Jeffery F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Time in patent office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/212, 709/213, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 29/12103 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. Rendezvous server H04L29/12094 takes precedence for address exchange for Voice over IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/1535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. "rendezvous" server address exchange for voice over internet protocol [VoIP] H04L61/1529
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer, i.e. layer seven network arrangements or network communication protocols for networked applications H04L67/00; data processing systems and methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial or managerial purposes G06Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Peer-to-peer communication is established between two remote computing units over a network channel, even though a permanent network address is not known. An originating computer sends a message over a monitor channel, such as a circuit-switched telephone line, to a receiving computer creating a triggering event. In response to the triggering event, either the originating computer or the receiving computer determines a network address associated with either the originating computer or the receiving computer. Then, using the network address, peer-to-peer communication between the originating computer and receiving computer is established over the network channel.

Claims

1. A method of establishing communication between an originating unit and a receiving unit over a network channel that identifies communicating units by network address, comprising the steps of:

sending a message from said originating unit to said receiving unit over a monitor channel;

monitoring a monitor channel by said receiving unit;

generating a trigger event in response to at least one of said sending and monitoring steps;

determining information indicative of a first network address associated with at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit; and

in response to said triggering event, establishing communication between said originating unit and said receiving unit over said network channel using said first network address.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

initiating communication for sending said message over said monitor channel by said originating unit; and

terminating communication after sending said message over said monitor channel by said originating unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

responding to said message by initiating communication over said monitor channel by said receiving unit;

exchanging information indicative of a first network address between said originating unit and said receiving unit over said monitor channel; and

terminating communication over said monitor channel by said receiving unit.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first network address associated with at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit is determined using the identity of at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit and an address locator service.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said originating unit determines said first network address for said receiving unit by using said identity of said originating unit and an address locator service, where said address locator service is found on said network channel and can be accessed by said receiving unit.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said receiving unit determines said first network address for said originating unit by using said identity of said originating unit and an address locator service, where said address locator service is found on said network channel and can be accessed by said receiving unit.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said message is indicative of the identity of said originating unit and said receiving unit determines said first network address by using said identity of said originating unit and a stored rule set.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first network address for said originating unit is transmitted to receiving unit by said originating unit using said message.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

connecting said originating unit to said network channel in response to said triggering event.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

connecting said receiving unit to said network channel in response to said triggering event.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said monitor channel is based upon a circuit switched communication medium.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said monitor channel is based upon an unbounded communication medium.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said network channel is based upon a packet switched communication medium.

4. The method according to claim I further comprising the steps of:

receiving information indicative of identity of said originating unit by said receiving unit over said monitor channel.

15. An apparatus for supporting communication over a network channel that identifies communicating units by network address said apparatus using a monitor channel, comprising:

a monitor module coupled to said monitor channel;

a first network communication handler coupled to said monitor module for establishing communication with said network channel;

a call origination module for sending a message to said monitor module over said monitor channel;

a second network communication handler coupled to said call origination module for establishing communication with said network channel;

a memory accessible by at least one of said first and second network communication handlers for storing information indicative of a first network address associated with at least one of said first and second network communication handlers; and

at least one of said first and second network communication handlers having a module responsive to at least one of said monitor module and said call origination module for accessing said memory, thereby determining said first network address, and establishing communication between said first and second network communication handlers over said network channel using said first network address.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a connection between said call origination module and said monitor channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a connection between said monitor module and said monitor channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a connection between said first network communication handler and said network channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a connection between said second network communication handler and said network channel.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said monitor channel is based on a circuit switched communication media.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said monitor channel is based on an unbounded communication media.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said network channel is based on a packet switched communication media.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said memory further comprises an address locator service.

24. A method of establishing communication between an originating unit and a receiving unit comprising the steps of:

providing a network channel that identifies communicating units by dynamic network addressing;

connecting said originating unit to said network channel, thereby establishing a first network address for said originating unit;

sending a message from said originating unit to said receiving unit over a monitor channel, wherein said first network address is transmitted via said message to said receiving unit by said originating unit;

monitoring a monitor channel by said receiving unit;

receiving said message by said receiving unit; and

establishing communication between said originating, unit and said receiving unit over said network channel using said first network address.

25. A method of establishing communication between an originating unit and a receiving unit over a network channel that identifies communicating units by network address, comprising the steps of:

sending a message from said originating unit to said receiving unit over a monitor channel;

monitoring a monitor channel by said receiving unit;

determining information indicative of the identity of at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit;

generating a trigger event in response to at least one of said sending and monitoring steps, wherein said trigger event includes activating at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit to said network channel, thereby establishing a first network address for at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit and determining said first network address by the other of said originating unit or said receiving unit using the information indicative of the identity of at least one of said originating unit and said receiving unit; and

in response to said triggering event, establishing communication between said originating unit and said receiving unit over said network channel using said first network address.