Method and apparatus for communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged with a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

• detecting the presence of the RFID tag which is coupled to the computing device, wherein the presence is detected at an RFID tag reader;
• broadcasting the RFID over a network so that devices on the network know that the computing device is in proximity to the RFID tag reader;
• receiving a request from a server to initiate a communication session with the computing device, wherein the server is preconfigured to initiate a communication session with the computing device upon receiving a broadcast of the RFID on the network;
• and
• in response to the request from the server, facilitating a communication session between the computing device and the server.

An apparatus for communicating with a computing device that is physically tagged with a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag, comprising:

• a detection mechanism configured to detect the presence of the RFID tag which is coupled to the computing device, wherein the presence is detected at an RFID tag reader;
• a broadcast mechanism configured to broadcast the RFID over a network so that devices on the network know that the computing device is in proximity to the RFID tag reader;
• a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request from a server to initiate a communication session with the computing device, wherein the server is preconfigured to initiate a communication session with the computing device upon receiving a broadcast of the RFID on the network;
• and
• a communications mechanism configured to facilitate a communication session between the computing device and the server in response to the request from the server.

A method for initiating a communication session with a computing device, comprising:

• detecting the presence of the computing device through a first communication channel;
• initiating a communication session between the computing device and a server through the second communication channel;
• and
• transferring the state of an existing communication session between the server and a client to the computing device through the second communication channel, so that the computing device can take over the existing communication session with the server in place of the client.