System and method for creating a preferential ad-hoc network

Abstract

A system and method are provided for identifying participants for a preferential ad-hoc network using a peer-to-peer (P 2 P) network and then establishing the ad-hoc network with the identified participants. In general, an initiating peer node provides a request for participants for an ad-hoc network to the P 2 P network, wherein the request includes content information describing content stored at the initiating peer node. The content information is used by the peer nodes receiving the request to determine whether to join the ad-hock network. The peer nodes receiving the request that decide to join the ad-hoc network respond to the initiating peer node via the P 2 P network. All or select ones of the peer nodes responding to the request are identified as the participants for the ad-hoc network. Once the participants are identified, the initiating peer node dynamically establishes the ad-hoc network with the identified participants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 identifying at least one participating device from a plurality of devices in a first network using the first network;   providing a request from an initiating device for participants for a second network to the plurality of devices using the first network, the request including content information describing content stored on the initiating device; and   establishing the second network with the at least one participating device, the second network being logically separate from the first network, wherein the at least one participating device decides whether to join the second network based on the content information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the at least one participating device further comprises:
 receiving a response from each of at least one receiving device from the plurality of devices including the at least one participating device, wherein the response includes a compatibility score provided by the at least one receiving device based on a comparison of the content information for the initiating device and content information for the at least one receiving device; 
 selecting at least one invited device from the at least one receiving device based on the compatibility scores, the at least one invited device comprising the at least one participating device; 
 inviting the at least one invited device to join the second network; and 
 receiving an acceptance from each of the at least one participating device in response to inviting the at least one invited device to join the second network. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein selecting the at least one invited device comprises automatically selecting the at least one invited device based on a comparison of the compatibility score from the at least one receiving device to a threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein selecting the at least one invited device comprises:
 displaying the compatibility scores from the at least one receiving device to a user of the initiating device; and 
 receiving a selection of the at least one invited device from the user of the initiating device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein inviting the at least one invited device comprises sending an invitation including content information for each of the at least one invited device to the at least one invited device, wherein the at least one invited device decides whether to accept the invitation based on the content information for each of the at least one invited device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the at least one participating device further comprises:
 receiving a response from each of at least one receiving device including the at least one participating device, wherein the response includes content information describing the content stored by the at least one receiving device; 
 selecting at least one invited device from the at least one receiving device based on the content information for the at least one receiving device, the at least one invited device comprising the at least one participating device; 
 inviting the at least one invited device to join the second network; and 
 receiving an acceptance from each of the at least one participating device in response to inviting the at least one invited device to join the second network. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein selecting the at least one invited device comprises automatically selecting the at least one invited device based on examining the content information from the at least one receiving device for at least one secret criterion defined by a user associated with the initiating device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein selecting the at least one invited device comprises:
 displaying the content information from the at least one receiving device to a user of the initiating device; and 
 receiving a selection of the at least one invited device from the user of the initiating device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein inviting the at least one invited device comprises sending an invitation including content information for each of the at least one invited device to the at least one invited device, wherein the at least one invited device decides whether to accept the invitation based on the content information for each of the at least one invited device. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for participants at a receiving device from an initiating device via a first network comprising the receiving device and the initiating device, the request including content information describing content stored by the initiating device;   deciding whether to join a second network based on the content information, wherein the request is a request for participants for the second network; and   providing a response to the initiating device if the receiving device decides to join the second network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein deciding whether to join the second network comprises:
 comparing the content information for the initiating device to content information describing content stored by the receiving device to provide a compatibility score; and 
 deciding whether to join the second network based on the compatibility score. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein deciding whether to join the second network comprises automatically deciding whether to join the second network based on a comparison of the compatibility score to a threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein deciding whether to join the second network comprises:
 displaying the compatibility score to a user of the receiving device; and 
 receiving a selection as to whether to join the second network from the user of the receiving device. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein providing the response comprises providing the compatibility score to the initiating device, wherein the initiating device decides whether to invite the receiving device to join the second network based on the compatibility score. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 receiving an invitation to join the second network from the initiating device, the invitation including content information describing content stored by each of a plurality of invited devices comprising the receiving device; 
 deciding whether to accept the invitation based on the content information for each of the plurality of invited devices; and 
 providing an acceptance to the initiating device if the receiving device decides to accept the invitation, wherein the initiating device establishes the second network in response to receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein providing the response comprises providing content information describing content stored by the receiving device, wherein the initiating device decides whether to invite the receiving device to join the second network based on the content information for the receiving device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 receiving an invitation to join the second network from the initiating device, the invitation including content information describing content stored by each of a plurality of invited devices comprising the receiving device; 
 deciding whether to accept the invitation based on the content information for each of the plurality of invited devices; and 
 providing an acceptance to the initiating device if the receiving device decides to accept the invitation, wherein the initiating device establishes the second network in response to receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a) a communication interface; and   b) a control system communicatively coupled to a first network via the communication interface and adapted to:
 i) establish communication with a plurality of devices via the first network; 
 ii) identify at least one participating device for a second network from the plurality of devices in the first network using the first network; 
 iii) provide a request for participants for the second network to the plurality of devices using the first network, the request including content information describing content stored on the device; and 
 iv) establish the second network with the at least one participating device, the second network being logically separate from the first network, wherein the at least one participating device decides whether to join the second network based on the content information.