Patent ID: 7212785

Claim:
A method of transferring data to a first communications device having a first transceiver for communication at a first data rate over a long range, and a second transceiver for communication at a second, higher data rate over a short range, the method being performed by using a coordinated short-range wireless network including the first communications device and at least one second communications device of a similar type, the method comprising the steps of: (a) initiating communication between the first communications device and said at least one second communications device to establish whether or not said at least one second communications device has data required by the first communications device; (b) the first communications device communicating, upon the first communications device receiving confirmation that a second communications device has the required data, with a service provider using its first transceiver to request permission for the transfer of the required data from said second communications device to the first communications device; and (c) transferring the required data from said second communications device to the first communications device following transmission by the service provider to the first communications device of authorisation.