Mobile computing and communication
View Patent ↗An application development platform enables applications to be created easily for, e.g., mobile devices that have short-range wireless communication capability. The development platform exposes a carefully chosen core set of services through an API. Each of the applications can broadcast its services to local and remote devices. Message delivery between devices is guaranteed even for messages that cannot be delivered directly by local short-range wireless transmission. Message delivery through other channels, including the Internet, can occur transparently to the user. Each device can be associated with an “owner”, which can be a person or a entity. Services can be customized to the owner based on stored information that maps owners to devices. Information associated with each of the owners of devices can be stored centrally and used in connection with providing the services at each of the mobile devices. Virtual GPS capabilities can be provided for mobile devices that do not have GPS chips.
1. A method comprising:
maintaining a list of short-range wireless devices that are known to be within range of a first short-range wireless device;
transmitting a message, using a communication medium, from an identified user of the first device to a second wireless device being used by a second identified user, the communication medium being selected based at least in part on whether the second device is included on the list, and on the fact that the second device is being used by the second identified user, the selection being transparent to the user of the first device.
2. The method of claim 1 in which, if the second device is included on the list, the message is transmitted to the second device using a short-range radio link, and if the second device is not included on the list, the message is transmitted to the second device using another communication medium.
3. The method of claim 1 in which, if the second device is not included on the list, the message is transmitted to the second device over either the Internet or by mobile telephony.
4. A method comprising:
maintaining a list of short-range wireless devices that are known to be within range of a first short-range wireless device and in use by identified users associated with the devices;
if a second device is included on the list, transmitting a message from an identified user of the first device, using a short-range radio link, to a second wireless device being used by a second identified user, and
if the second device is not included on the list, transmitting a message from an identified user of the first device, using either the Internet or mobile telephony, to the second device.