Patent ID: 8447813

Claim:
A mobile handheld wireless computerized communications device, comprising: a peer-to-peer network server; at least one wireless transceiver; at least one microphone and at least one sound output device, configured to enable the device to function as a telephone or cellular phone; a video camera; a visible or infrared light emitting source; at least one processor and device operating software; a video display screen; and wherein said device operating software is configured to direct said processor, said at least one wireless transceiver, and said peer-to-peer network server to seek out similar devices, establish wireless peer-to-peer communications sessions with said similar devices, and form a network of said similar devices; wherein said device operating software is further configured to use said at least one video camera and said at least one light source to establish a peer-to-peer network with said devices that are not within wireless communication range of each other, but which are within optical communication range of each other, thereby extending the size of said network of peer-to-peer connected devices; and wherein said device operating software is further configured to extend the optical communication range of at least some of said plurality of devices by further attaching extended optical communication range peripherals to at least one of said plurality of devices, each said extended optical communication range peripherals comprising at least one light emitting diode or solid state laser, and at least one photodetector, and using at least one of said peripherals to establish a peer-to-peer network with said devices that are not within wireless communication range of each other, but which are within optical communication range of each other, thereby extending the size of said network of peer-to-peer connected devices.