# US 8,788,642 B2 · Network terminal identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,642 B2 - Document ID: US8788642B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/938,837 - Filed: 2007-11-13 - Published: 2008-06-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-21 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: Luigi Pichetti; Marco Secchi; Antonio Secomandi - Inventors: Luigi Pichetti; Marco Secchi; Antonio Secomandi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788642B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/1845: {broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast (protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02)} - H04L 12/1886: {with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains} - H04L 51/48: Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of dynamically composing or updating electronic contact lists, such as mailing lists, on the basis of proximity to a particular point or user. By means of this method a user can be offered the option of addressing a method to all “nearby” users. Proximity may be determined with reference to network hardware or other resources associated with each user, for example, LAN segments or wireless access points. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network terminal identification method for use in a data network comprising a plurality of uniquely identifiable interface points, said method comprising the steps of: logging the identity of a plurality of terminal devices each with an associated interface point identity in an identity log; determining the identity of a requesting interface point being the interface point associated with a requesting terminal device; identifying terminal devices connected to interface points having a predetermined physical relationship with said requesting interface point with reference to said identity log; making available the results of said step of identifying to said requesting terminal device; and compiling a list of said uniquely identifiable interface points, and wherein said step of identifying terminal devices connected to interface points having the predetermined physical relationship is made with reference to said list of uniquely identifiable interface points, wherein said step of determining the position of said requesting terminal device, and said step of identifying terminal devices connected to interface points having a predetermined physical relationship with said requesting terminal device, are carried out responsive to receiving a request from said requesting terminal device, and wherein the position of said requesting terminal device is determined by extracting routing data identifying said interface points through which said request was conveyed from said requesting terminal device and comparing the interface points thus identified to said list of uniquely identifiable interface points, wherein at least some of said interface points are hierarchical with respect to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said list describes the physical location of each of said uniquely identifiable interface points. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said logging, determining, identifying, making and compiling steps are performed by an agent, and wherein said agent is incorporated in said requesting terminal device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said logging, determining, identifying, making and compiling steps are performed by an agent, and wherein said agent is incorporated in a server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said step of making available the results of said step of identifying to said requesting terminal device comprises compiling a mailing list incorporating all said terminal devices connected to said interface points having said predetermined physical relationship with said requesting interface point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein said mailing list is formed and stored at said server. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined physical relationship of proximity is defined in terms of interface points within a predetermined radius in three dimensional space or in two dimensional space, disregarding the vertical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined physical relationship of proximity is defined in terms of interface points falling within a predetermined space of arbitrary shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said a predetermined space corresponds to a campus, a building, a floor of a building, a wing of a building, or a particular room. ### Claim 10 A network terminal identification method for use in a data network comprising a plurality of uniquely identifiable interface points, said method comprising the steps of: logging the identity of a plurality of terminal devices each with an associated interface point identity in an identity log; determining the identity of a requesting interface point being the interface point associated with a requesting terminal device; and identifying terminal devices connected to interface points having a predetermined physical relationship with said requesting interface point with reference to said identity log; making available the results of said step of identifying to said requesting terminal device; wherein said step of determining the position of said requesting terminal device, and said step of identifying terminal devices connected to interface points having a predetermined physical relationship with said requesting terminal device, are carried out responsive to receiving a request from said requesting terminal device, and wherein the position of said requesting terminal device is determined by extracting identity details from said request and comparing these to said identity log to determine an associated interface point associated with a given terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, and comparing the associated interface point thus identified to said list of uniquely identifiable interface points.