Patent ID: 6487600
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A client communication device that operates within a dynamically configured computer network, the dynamically configured computer network supporting communications among a plurality of network members via a communication network according to a metanetwork definition, the client communication device comprising:a network interface that couples the client communication device to a communication network; a processor coupled to the network interface; a memory coupled to the processor that stores a plurality of software instructions for execution by the processor, the plurality of software instructions cause the client communication device to: obtain a local view of the metanetwork definition, the local view describing: a set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate; for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, at least one contact number with which the client communication device may contact the network member; for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, a respective time interval during which the client communication device may communicate with the network member; and for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, authentication information with which the client communication device may authenticate the network member; process the local view to determine when and how links may be established with the set of network members of the plurality of network members; establish a link with another network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members based upon a respective contact number and a respective time interval for the another network member that are contained in the local view; authenticate the identity of the another network member based upon respective authentication information contained in the local view; and exchange electronic information with the another network member across the link.