System and methods for locating and acquisitioning a service connection via request broadcasting over a data packet network

Abstract

A broadcast routing system with dynamic end node response capability includes a first node for creating a request for broadcasting, a broadcasting application running on, or available to the first node for broadcasting the request, one or more destination nodes enabled to monitor a broadcasting channel or channels and to receive the request, and a software routine running on or available to each of the one or more destination nodes for determining which, if any, of more than one destination node may service the request.

1 . A broadcast routing system with dynamic end node response capability comprising:
 a first node for creating a request for broadcasting;   a broadcasting application running on, or available to the first node for broadcasting the request;   one or more destination nodes enabled to monitor a broadcasting channel or channels and to receive the request; and   a software routine running on or available to each of the one or more destination nodes for determining which, if any, of more than one destination node may service the request.   
     
     
         2 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first node is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a music player, a personal digital assistant, or a handheld computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcasting application is running on a server node available to the first node through network access. 
     
     
         4 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 3 , wherein the network is the Internet network. 
     
     
         5 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes sender identification including address and contact information and the type of request. 
     
     
         6 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 5 , wherein the type of request is equated to a code or number. 
     
     
         7 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the destination nodes are one or a combination of computers, laptops, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, or Internet protocol telephones. 
     
     
         8 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the software routine is available on a router accessible to the destination nodes via a data packet network. 
     
     
         9 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more than one network gateway adapted as an intermediary destination node capable of directly routing of received requests or rebroadcast of received requests. 
 
     
     
         10 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 9 , wherein in the case of more than one gateway, load balancing is practiced using pre-assigned traffic load thresholds for each gateway. 
     
     
         11 . The broadcast routing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first node and the one or more destination nodes can broadcast requests and can receive requests that were broadcast. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A software utility for enabling a computing node to receive broadcast requests and to determine to service or not to service a request received comprising:
 a module for monitoring broadcasting network channels;   a module for receiving and parsing broadcast messages; and   a module for determining if a request received may be serviced by the node.   
     
     
         14 . The software utility of  claim 12 , wherein the computing nodes are those operated by customers of an enterprise. 
     
     
         15 . The software utility of  claim 13 , wherein the computing nodes are those operated by associates or employees of an enterprise. 
     
     
         16 . A method for locating a service and for establishing a service connection with the service over a data packet network including acts for:
 (a) formatting a request of type including instruction for establishing a service connection to initiate fulfillment a service requirement of the request;   (b) broadcasting the formatted request from a starting node on the network, the request addressed to end nodes, one or more of which may be capable of servicing the request;   (c) receiving the broadcast request at the end nodes addressed to receive the request, parsing the request for type and intent;   (d) comparing the type and intent of the received request against service profile information held at each receiving node;   (e) upon discovering a match between service requirement of the request and service profile at any of the receiving nodes, accepting the request for servicing; and   (f) if request acceptance is approved for any of the accepting nodes, establishing a service connection between the starting node or related implement and the accepting node or related implement.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in act (a), the request of type is selected from a list of types and completed by adding information necessary to service the request. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in act (b), the starting node is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, an Internet protocol telephone, a network capable music player, or a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in act (b), the starting node is a server node hosted on the network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in act (b), the broadcasting is scheduled for repeated broadcast bursts. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in act (e), if no match is discovered, ignoring the request or responding with a not serviceable message with or without referral address information for addition to a next broadcast. 
     
     
         22 - 25 . (canceled)