Patent ID: 7089298
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: H04L,H04W,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method to distribute a user-defined name of a user's wireless device in an ad hoc network, comprising: associating a first member device address with a first member-defined name, in a member name record stored in a first member device in an ad hoc network; associating a second member device address with a second member-defined name, in a member name record stored in a second member device in the ad hoc network: distributing a name distribution message in the ad hoc network, said name distribution message associating a user device address with a user-defined name and including an operation code; receiving the name distribution message at the first member device; selecting an operation in response to said operation code, to perform a corresponding one of a plurality of name distribution functions relating to the user-defined name and the ad hoc network; comparing the user-defined name with the first member-defined name to automatically resolve a name conflict; storing the user device address in association with the user-defined name in a user name record in the first member device, if there is no name conflict; performing the corresponding one of a plurality of name distribution functions relating to the user-defined name and the ad hoc network in response to the selecting step; forwarding the name distribution message from the first to the second member device; and repeating the steps of receiving, selecting, comparing, storing, performing and forwarding in the second member device.