Patent ID: 8706815

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; wherein said device operating software is configured to direct said at least one 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 that are within wireless communication range of each other, and form a peer-to-peer network of said similar devices; wherein said device operating software is further configured to use said video camera and said light source to establish a peer-to-peer network with said similar 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; wherein said light source is either one or more light emitting diodes built-in to said device, or said light source is the backlight for said video display screen; wherein said light source transmits peer-to-peer network data according to a Morse code, ASCII, RS232, IrDA, or other digital encoding scheme; and wherein said device operating software is further configured to use said video camera and said at least one processor to distinguish said light source from background visual signals, detect the transmission of said peer-to-peer network data, and receive the transmission of said peer-to-peer network data.