Enrollment in a Device-to-Device Network

A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to communicate a message, the computer-program mechanism including:

• instructions for receiving an address associated with a second user of a second instance of the electronic device in a group of one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device, wherein communication between the electronic device and the group is via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained associations in the device-to-device network,
• wherein the associations are maintained for longer time than the dynamic connections, and
• wherein a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication between the electronic device and the given instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique;
• instructions for accessing an encryption key associated with the user that is stored in memory;
• instructions for providing, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, a message to the address inviting the second user to join the device-to-device network, wherein the message includes the encryption key and a location of the electronic device;
• instructions for receiving, via the interface circuit, a response to the message from the second user accepting the invitation, wherein the response includes a second encryption key associated with the second user and a second location of the second instance of the electronic device;
• instructions for verifying the second user based on the second encryption key;
• and
• instructions for establishing a new maintained association with the second instance of the electronic device in the device-to-device network, wherein the new maintained association specifies a location of the second instance of the electronic device.

An electronic-device-implemented method for communicating a message, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving an address associated with a second user of a second instance of the electronic device in a group of one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device, wherein communication between the electronic device and the group is via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained associations in the device-to-device network,
• wherein the associations are maintained for longer time than the dynamic connections, and
• wherein a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication between the electronic device and the given instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique;
• accessing an encryption key associated with the user that is stored in memory;
• providing, via an interface circuit in the electronic device, a message to the address inviting the second user to join the device-to-device network, wherein the message includes the encryption key and a location of the electronic device;
• receiving, via the interface circuit, a response to the message from the second user accepting the invitation, wherein the response includes a second encryption key associated with the second user and a second location of the second instance of the electronic device;
• verifying the second user based on the second encryption key;
• and
• establishing a new maintained association with the second instance of the electronic device in the device-to-device network, wherein the new maintained association specifies a location of the second instance of the electronic device.