Communication device for peer-to-peer communication and a communication network using the same

A communication method performed by a first communication device having a peer-to-peer communication application installed thereon, the method comprising:

• acting in server mode to:
• monitor at least one port listened to via at least one protocol to detect a request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link;
• in response to receiving, on a first of said at least one monitored port and via a first of said at least one protocol, a first request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link with the second communication device running the peer-to-peer communication application:
• trigger an exchange with the second communication device to exchange information required for setting up a peer-to-peer communication link with the second communication device, wherein the exchanged information includes connectivity information for connecting the first and the second communication device and information relating to capabilities of the first or the second communication device, and wherein the connectivity information comprises an Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) candidate for connecting the first communication device and the second communication device and information about external connections of the first and the second communication devices towards connectivity interfaces, and
• set up the peer-to-peer communication link with the second communication device using the information exchanged with the second device;
• and
• send on one of said at least one monitored port and via one of said at least one protocol a second request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link to a detected third communication device.

A first communication device, the first communication device having a peer-to-peer communication application installed thereon, the first communication device comprising:

• a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a computer-readable medium to:
• act in server mode to:
• monitor at least one port listened to via at least one protocol, to detect a request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link;
• in response to receiving, on a first of said at least one monitored port and via a first of said at least one protocol, a first request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link with a second communication device running the peer-to-peer communication application:
• trigger an exchange with the second communication device to exchange information required for setting up a peer-to-peer communication link with the second communication device, wherein the exchanged information includes connectivity information for connecting the first and the second communication device and information relating to capabilities of the first or the second communication device, and
• set up the peer-to-peer communication link with the second communication device using the information exchanged with the second communication device;
• and
• send on one of said at least one monitored port and via one of said at least one protocol a second request to set up a peer-to-peer communication link to a detected third communication device,
• wherein the connectivity information comprises at least one of:
• an Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) candidate for connecting the first communication device and the second communication device and information about external connections of the first and the second communication devices.