Method of discovering contact identifiers for network access devices

A network access device for use in a method of discovering a contact identifier by which data may be sent over one or more electronic data communication network toward one or more network access device used by a user, which method comprises the steps of:

• (a) electronically collecting a contact identifier from said one or more-network access device, and storing said contact identifier in memory, which contact identifier provides an indication of the addressing option(s) available on the or each network access device;
• (b) generating an electronic database comprising or comprising a reference to said contact identifier;
• and
• (c) providing access to said electronic database whereby said user and/or another user may obtain said contact identifier, whereby said user and/or another user may discover said addressing option(s) to facilitate transmission of data toward said one or more network access device;
• said network access device comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for electronically collecting a contact identifier and storing said contact identifier in memory, which contact identifier provides an indication of the addressing option(s) available on that network access device.

A network node for use in a method of discovering a contact identifier by which data may be sent over one or more electronic data communication network toward one or more network access device used by a user, which method comprises the steps of:

• (a) electronically collecting a contact identifier from said one or more network access device, and storing said contact identifier in memory, which contact identifier provides an indication of the addressing option(s) available on the or each network access device;
• (b) generating an electronic database comprising or comprising a reference to said contact identifier;
• and
• (c) providing access to said electronic database whereby said user and/or another user may obtain said contact identifier, whereby said user and/or another user may discover said addressing option(s) to facilitate transmission of data toward said one or more network access device;
• said network node comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for generating an electronic database comprising or comprising a reference to said contact identifier.

A network node for use in a method of discovering a contact identifier by which data may be sent over one or more electronic data communication network toward one or more network access device used by a user, which method comprises the steps of:

• (a) electronically collecting a contact identifier from said one or more network access device, and storing said contact identifier in memory, which contact identifier provides an indication of the addressing option(s) available on the or each network access device;
• (b) generating an electronic database comprising or comprising a reference to said contact identifier;
• and
• (c) providing access to said electronic database whereby said user and/or another user may obtain said contact identifier, whereby said user and/or another user may discover said addressing option(s) to facilitate transmission of data toward said one or more network access device;
• said network node comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for storing a mapping between said static identifier and a list of one or more buddy of said user, and upon receipt of said contact identifier, transmitting or otherwise making accessible said contact identifier to said one or more buddy.

In a first electronic data communication network having a first interface, a method of identifying a second interface in a second electronic data communication network, to which second interface data is to be sent from said first interface, which method comprises the steps of:—

• (a) receiving on said first electronic data communication network electronic data representing a network identifier of said second electronic data communication network, which network identifier uniquely identifies an operator of said second electronic data communication network;
• (b) electronically searching for said network identifier in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier;
• and
• (c) if said network identifier is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of said second interface, whereby data may be sent from said first interface to said second interface.

A network node for use in a method of identifying in a first electronic data communication network having a first interface, a second interface in a second electronic data communication network, to which second interface data is to be sent from said first interface, which method comprises the steps of:—

• (a) receiving on said first electronic data communication network electronic data representing a network identifier of said second electronic data communication network, which network identifier uniquely identifies an operator of said second electronic data communication network;
• (b) electronically searching for said network identifier in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier;
• and
• (c) if said network identifier is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of said second interface, whereby data may be sent from said first interface to said second interface.
• said a network node comprising means storing computer executable instructions for performing steps of:—
• (i) receiving on a first electronic data communication network electronic data representing a network identifier of a second electronic data communication network, which network identifier uniquely identifies an operator of said second electronic data communication network;
• (ii) electronically searching for said network identifier in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier;
• and
• (iii) if said network identifier is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of said second interface, whereby data may be sent from said first interface to said second interface.

A method of assisting network selection for a multi-mode network access device, which method comprises the steps of:—

• (a) gathering data representing available interfaces on said multi-mode network access device, each interface permitting communication with a respective electronic data communication network;
• (b) composing and transmitting an electronic message comprising a network identifier for each electronic data communication network accessible from that device, which electronic message is transmitted to a home electronic data communication network of said multi-mode network access device;
• (c) receiving on said home electronic data communication network electronic data representing said network identifier(s);
• (d) electronically searching for said network identifier(s) in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier on that electronic data communication network;
• and
• (e) if said network identifier(s) is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of the or each other interface;
• (f) said home electronic data communication network transmitting a request to the or each interface, which request message causes each electronic data communication network to determine an ability serve said multi-mode network access device and to respond to said home electronic data communication network accordingly;
• (g) said home electronic data communication network composing and transmitting to said multi-mode network access device a response message comprising data representing said ability of each electronic data communication network accessible from said multi-mode network access device;
• and
• (h) said multi-mode network access device awaiting said response from said electronic data communication network;
• whereby on receipt of said response said multi-mode network access device or a user thereof may select one of said electronic data communication networks for a service on said multi-mode network access device based on data in said response.

A multi-mode network access device for use in a method of assisting network selection for a multi-mode network access device, which method comprises the steps of:—

• (a) gathering data representing available interfaces on said multi-mode network access device, each interface permitting communication with a respective electronic data communication network;
• (b) composing and transmitting an electronic message comprising a network identifier for each electronic data communication network accessible from that device, which electronic message is transmitted to a home electronic data communication network of said multi-mode network access device;
• (c) receiving on said home electronic data communication network electronic data representing said network identifier(s);
• (d) electronically searching for said network identifier(s) in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier on that electronic data communication network;
• and
• (e) if said network identifier(s) is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of the or each other interface;
• (f) said home electronic data communication network transmitting a request to the or each interface, which request message causes each electronic data communication network to determine an ability serve said multi-mode network access device and to respond to said home electronic data communication network accordingly;
• (g) said home electronic data communication network composing and transmitting to said multi-mode network access device a response message comprising data representing said ability of each electronic data communication network accessible from said multi-mode network access device;
• and
• (h) said multi-mode network access device awaiting said response from said electronic data communication network;
• said multi-mode network access device comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for performing the steps of:—
• (i) gathering data representing available interfaces on said multi-mode network access device, each interface permitting communication with a respective electronic data communication network;
• (ii) composing and transmitting an electronic message comprising a network identifier for each electronic data communication network accessible from that device, which electronic message is transmitted to a home electronic data communication network of said multi-mode network access device;
• and
• (iii) said multi-mode network access device awaiting said response from said electronic data communication network;
• whereby on receipt of said response said multi-mode network access device or a user thereof may select one of said electronic data communication networks for a service on said multi-mode network access device based on data in said response.

A network node for use in a method of assisting network selection for a multi-mode network access device, which method comprises the steps of:—

• (a) gathering data representing available interfaces on said multi-mode network access device, each interface permitting communication with a respective electronic data communication network;
• (b) composing and transmitting an electronic message comprising a network identifier for each electronic data communication network accessible from that device, which electronic message is transmitted to a home electronic data communication network of said multi-mode network access device;
• (c) receiving on said home electronic data communication network electronic data representing said network identifier(s);
• (d) electronically searching for said network identifier(s) in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier on that electronic data communication network;
• and
• (e) if said network identifier(s) is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of the or each other interface;
• (f) said home electronic data communication network transmitting a request to the or each interface, which request message causes each electronic data communication network to determine an ability serve said multi-mode network access device and to respond to said home electronic data communication network accordingly;
• (g) said home electronic data communication network composing and transmitting to said multi-mode network access device a response message comprising data representing said ability of each electronic data communication network accessible from said multi-mode network access device;
• and
• (h) said multi-mode network access device awaiting said response from said electronic data communication network;
• said network node comprising a memory storing computer executable instructions for performing the steps of:—
• (i) receiving on a home electronic data communication network electronic data representing a network identifier of another electronic data communication network, which network identifier uniquely identifies an operator of said other electronic data communication network;
• (ii) electronically searching for said network identifier in an electronic database comprising data organised into a network identifier field and an address field, which electronic database provides a mapping between each network identifier and a respective address of an interface associated with that network identifier;
• and
• (iii) if said network identifier is located, providing an output signal comprising an address of said second interface, whereby data may be sent from said first interface to said second interface;
• (iv) repeating steps (a) to (c) to identify an address of an interface in each electronic data communication network accessible by said multi-mode network access device;
• (v) said home electronic data communication network transmitting a request to said address of each interface in each electronic data communication network accessible by said multi-mode network access device, which request message causes each electronic data communication network to determine an ability serve said multi-mode network access device and to respond to said home electronic data communication network accordingly;
• (vi) said home electronic data communication network composing and transmitting to said multi-mode network access device a response message comprising data representing said ability of each electronic data communication network accessible from said multi-mode network access device;
• and
• whereby on receipt of said response said multi-mode network access device or a user thereof may select one of said electronic data communication networks for a service on said multi-mode network access device based on data in said response.