Method and apparatus for resource sharing over handset terminals

• US 7,937,091 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHEN, EMEM O
• Application Number:
  US10/873,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 455/454, 455/509, 455/450, 455/422.1, 455/464, 455516-519, 370329-341, 370431-449
• US Class Current: 455/454
• 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 cellular phone;

a memory of the cellular phone to store one or more media resources;

a resource manager of the cellular phone to control distribution of 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 a predetermined group of mobile devices in the plurality of mobile devices, and wherein middleware infrastructure control is partitioned between the network device of the carrier and the cellular phone, such that middleware at the cellular phone controls the distribution of the one or more media resources and middleware at the network device coordinates the plurality of mobile devices, 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; and

a notification manager to receive notifications from a notification distributor of the network device regarding resources and their availability to the predetermined group of mobile devices and to forward the notifications to either the resource manager or to another internal location for handling.

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 a 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 a network.

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 1 wherein the resource coordinator of the network device and the resource manager of the mobile device store a copy of the content in local storage.

11. The mobile device defined in claim 1 wherein the resource manager 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.

12. The mobile device defined in claim 11 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on resource popularity.

13. The mobile device defined in claim 11 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

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

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

44. The mobile device defined in claim 1, wherein the resource manager serves resources to other cellular phones, keeps track of resources added to the mobile device by other members of the predetermined group, coordinates resource distribution and management for the group, and services requests of a browser of the mobile device.

46. The mobile device defined in claim 1, wherein the resource manager directly shares the media resources from a memory of the mobile device, through the resource coordinator, and to a plurality of mobile devices of the predetermined group of mobile devices.

47. The mobile device defined in claim 46, wherein the plurality of mobile devices includes the mobile device;

and wherein the media resources comprise personal content including audio, video, or pictures generated by the mobile device.

48. The mobile device defined in claim 46, wherein distribution is controlled by the mobile device to partition middleware infrastructure between a mobile device carrier network of the mobile device and the mobile device.

16. A method comprising:

a mobile device storing one or more media resources, the mobile device comprising a cellular phone having a memory;

the mobile device controlling distribution of 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 a predetermined group of mobile devices in a plurality of mobile devices in a network, wherein dynamically determining comprises determining whether a bandwidth consumption condition, a low battery condition or a storage quotient condition is reached, and wherein middleware infrastructure control is partitioned between the network device and the mobile device, such that middleware at the mobile device controls the distribution of the one or more media resources and middleware at the network device coordinates the plurality of mobile devices; and

receiving, with a notification manager in the mobile device, notifications from a notification distributor of the network device regarding resources and their availability to the predetermined group of mobile devices and forwarding the notifications to either the resource manager or to another internal location in the mobile device for handling,

and wherein the method 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.

17. The method defined in claim 16 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.

18. The method defined in claim 17 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.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the plurality of mobile devices are a subset of mobile devices communicating with a network.

20. The mobile device defined in claim 17 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.

21. The mobile device defined in claim 17 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 other mobile devices.

22. The method defined in claim 21 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 other mobile devices.

23. The method defined in claim 22 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.

24. The method defined in claim 23 further comprising the resource manager storing the content locally in response to receiving the content.

25. The method defined in claim 16 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.

26. The method defined in claim 16 further comprising the resource manager utilizing 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.

27. The method defined in claim 26 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on resource popularity.

28. The method defined in claim 26 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

45. The method of claim 16, wherein the media resource or the link to the media resource to be provided to the resource coordinator is kept in a cellular telephone handset instead of being transferred to a network device, and is shared with other cellular phone handsets from the cellular phone handset.

29. A system comprising:

a plurality of mobile handset devices comprising cellular phones;

a network device comprising a cellular phone carrier server communicably coupled to the plurality of mobile handset devices, the network device having a group coordinator to coordinate the plurality of mobile handset devices, a resource coordinator to obtain media resources for the plurality of mobile handset devices, and a notification coordinator to notify mobile handset devices in the plurality of mobile handset devices of a media resource that is available;

wherein each of the plurality of mobile handset devices generates and hosts one or more audio, video or picture media resources and cooperates with the network device to dynamically determine whether to individual mobile handset devices handover resources when the individual mobile handset device is in a condition, wherein each of the plurality of mobile handset devices keeps track of resources added to the mobile handset device by other mobile handset devices, and coordinates distribution to the other mobile handset devices of media resources hosted on the mobile handset device, and wherein middleware infrastructure control is partitioned between the network device and a mobile handset device, such that middleware at the mobile handset device controls the distribution of the one or more media resources and middleware at the network device coordinates the plurality of mobile devices, and 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 handset device to obtain the content therefrom and then subsequently forward the retrieved content to the resource manager of the mobile handset device.

30. The system defined in claim 29 wherein the resource manager of the individual mobile handset device and the resource coordinator of the network device cooperate to dynamically and adaptively handover resources using a protocol that involves the mobile handset device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on the condition of the mobile handset device.

31. The system defined in claim 30 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.

32. The system defined in claim 29 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 handset devices.

33. The system defined in claim 29 wherein the plurality of mobile handset devices are a subset of mobile handset devices communicating with a network.

34. The system defined in claim 29 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 other mobile handset devices, wherein the link identifies the media resource in a memory accessible to the network device.

35. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the resource manager sends a link to content storage on the mobile handset device to the resource coordinator, wherein the response thereto the resource coordinator retrieves the content from the individual mobile handset device and stores the content locally, wherein the resource coordinator causes the notification coordinator to send the content to other mobile handset devices.

36. The system defined in claim 35 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 handset devices.

37. The system defined in claim 36 wherein the resource manager of an individual mobile handset 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 handset device.

38. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the resource manager stores the content locally in response to receiving the content.

39. The system defined in claim 29 wherein the resource coordinator of the carrier and the resource manager of the mobile handset device store a copy of the content in local storage.

40. The system defined in claim 29 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.

41. The system defined in claim 40 wherein the criteria comprises resource popularity.

42. The system defined in claim 40 wherein modification of the distribution protocol is based on bandwidth consumption.

43. A cellular phone carrier comprising:

a group coordinator;

a resource coordinator to obtain media for a plurality of mobile cellular phone devices, wherein obtaining media comprises obtaining audio, video, or pictures generated, stored, and distributed by ones of the mobile cellular phone devices, as a resource, to be accessed by the others of the mobile cellular phone devices; and

a notification distributor to notify mobile cellular phone devices in the plurality of mobile cellular phone devices of a media resource that has been received, wherein the resources coordinator and the notification distributor cooperate with the plurality of mobile cellular phone devices to dynamically and adaptively provide access to resources using a protocol that involves a mobile cellular phone device sending either a link to a resource or the resource to the resource coordinator based on a condition of the mobile cellular phone device, and wherein middleware infrastructure control is partitioned between the cellular phone carrier and the mobile cellular phone device, such that middleware at the mobile cellular phone device controls the distribution of the one or more media resources and middleware at the cellular phone carrier coordinates the plurality of mobile devices,

wherein a first resource manager of a cellular phone controls distribution of the one or more media resources by cooperating with the resource coordinator, and further 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.