Methods and apparatus to facilitate device-to-device communication
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsYufei Wu BLANKENSHIP, David Stuart FURBECK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus to facilitate device-to-device communication with a remote device registered with a communication network are described. One example method may include obtaining an identity information of the second device from an address book, submitting the identity information of the second device to a communication network, estimating device-to-device (D2D) proximity of the second device, generating an indication of the proximity of the second device relative to the first device, and initiating a device-to-device communication session with the second device when the indication is that the second device is proximate.
Claims22
A method to facilitate device-to-device communication between a first device and a second device, the method comprising:
- obtaining an identity information of the second device from an address book;
- submitting the identity information of the second device to a communication network;
- estimating device-to-device (D2D) proximity of the second device;
- generating an indication of the D2D proximity of the second device relative to the first device;
- and
- initiating a device-to-device communication session with the second device when the indication is that the second device is proximate.
A mobile device configured to facilitate device-to-device communication between a first device and a second device, the mobile device comprising a processor configured to:
- obtain an identity information of the second device from an address book;
- submit the identity information of the second device to a communication network;
- estimate device-to-device (D2D) proximity of the second device;
- generate an indication of the proximity of the second device relative to the first device;
- and
- initiate a device-to-device communication session with the second device when the indication is that the second device is proximate.
A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:
- obtain an identity information of the second device from an address book;
- submit the identity information of the second device to a communication network;
- estimate device-to-device (D2D) proximity of the second device;
- generate an indication of the proximity of the second device relative to the first device;
- and
- initiate a device-to-device communication session with the second device when the indication is that the second device is proximate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.