Method for discovering and discriminating devices on local collaborative networks to facilitate collaboration among users

Abstract

A method for identifying participants of a collaborative network is disclosed. The participants communicate over a larger electronic network wherein not all members may be participating in the collaborative session. The method begins by determining a unique session identifier for only the participants of the collaborative network. Next, a message having the session identifier is sent to all members of the network by an inquiring participant of the collaborative network. Only participants that have the session identifier respond to the inquiring participant. Finally, communication is established between the participants that responded to the message and the inquiring participant. In this regard, a collaborative network is formed including the inquiring participant.

1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 at a first peer computing device in a peer-to-peer network, sending a multicast message to at least two additional peer computing devices on a network, the multicast message comprising a session identifier, the session identifier derived from a session name based on user prior to establishing a new collaborative network;   responsive to the sending, receiving a unicast message from at least a plurality of the at least two additional peer computing devices on network having the same session identifier, each of the unicast messages comprising:
 an IP address, or an address resolvable to an IP address, of the additional peer computing device; and 
 other identification of the additional peer computing device; and 
   forming a new collaborative network that includes each of the plurality of peer computing devices that have responded.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising periodically sending a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the first peer computing device broadcasting a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first peer computing device maintaining a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and   when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, removing the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the collaborative network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a wireless ad-hoc network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 periodically sending a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device;   the first peer computing device broadcasting a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network;   the first peer computing device maintaining a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and   when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, removing the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the list;   wherein the subnet is a wireless ad-hoc network and the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 periodically sending a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device;   the first peer computing device broadcasting a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network;   the first peer computing device maintaining a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and   when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, removing the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the collaborative network;   wherein the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory;   an interface configured to communicate with a peer-to-peer network; and   one or more processors configured to:
 send a multicast message to at least a plurality of additional peer computing devices on an Internet Protocol (IP)-connected network, the multicast message comprising a session identifier, the session identifier derived from a session name based on user input, the apparatus comprising a first peer computing device on the IP-connected network; 
 responsive to the sending, receive a unicast message from at least a plurality of the at least two additional peer computing devices on the IP-connected network having the same session identifier, the unicast message comprising:
 an IP address, or an address resolvable to an IP address, of the additional peer computing device; and 
 other identification of the additional peer computing device; and 
 
 establishing a new collaborative network that includes each of the plurality of peer computing devices that have responded. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more processors are further to periodically sending a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more processors are further to broadcast a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more processors are further to:
 maintain a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and 
 when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, remove the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the new collaborative network. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the network is a wireless ad-hoc network. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more processors are further to:
 periodically send a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device; 
 broadcast a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network; 
 maintain a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and 
 when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, remove the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the new collaborative network; 
 wherein the network is a wireless ad-hoc network and the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more processors are further to:
 periodically send a message to the network to announce the presence of the first peer computing device; 
 broadcast a message announcing a departure of the first peer computing device from the network; 
 maintain a record of an interval since a last message from a peer computing device other than the first peer computing device; and 
 when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded for the interval, remove the peer computing device other than the first peer computing device from the new collaborative network; and 
 wherein the identifier is pre-determined by a software configuration of the first peer computing device. 
 
     
     
         17 . A nontransitory computer-readable medium comprising a program of instructions for execution and when executed operable to:
 at a first peer computing device in a peer-to-peer network, sending a multicast message to at least two additional peer computing devices on an Internet Protocol (IP)-connected network, the multicast message comprising a session identifier, the session identifier derived from a session name based on user input-prior to establishing a new collaborative network;   responsive to the sending, receiving a unicast message from at least a plurality of the at least two additional peer computing devices on the IP-connected network having the same identifier, each of the unicast messages comprising:
 an IP address of the additional peer computing device and 
 other identification of the additional peer computing device; and 
   forming the new collaborative network that includes each of the plurality of peer computing devices that have responded.