Method and apparatus for sharing common interest links between communication devices

1. A method for processing data of common interest to users of a communication network, comprising:

detecting the occurrence of a trigger event related to a pre-existing primary communication session between a first communication device and a remote second communication device, wherein the first communication device and the remote second communication device transmit and receive communication data between each other via the pre-existing primary communication session, and wherein the trigger event related to the pre-existing primary communication session reflects a status change of the pre-existing primary communication session;

responsive to the occurrence of the trigger event, initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device, via the communication network, wherein the first data object comprises information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device;

receiving a second data object formed in response to the first data object, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by users of the first and second communication devices; and

processing the second data object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device comprises requesting that a data object server send the first data object to the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device comprises sending the first data object to the second communication device.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising assembling the first data object based on at least one attribute corresponding to the second communication device before initiating the transmission of the first data object to the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one attribute comprises one or more of a communication address for the second communication device, a device capability for the second communication device, a communication type for the communication between the first and second communication devices, and a preference profile for the second communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event comprises the establishment of a communication session or call between the first and second communication devices, the establishment of a secondary communication session between the first and second communication devices, a timer-based periodic or random event, or a manual activation by a user of the first communication device.

7. A method, in a data object server, for providing data of common interest to users of first and second communication devices in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a first data object from either the first communication device or the second communication device, wherein the first data object comprises first information indicating one or more interests of the user of the first communication device and second information indicating one or more interests of the user of the second communication device;

assembling a second data object from the first information and the second information, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

sending the second data object to the first communication device via the communication network.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising retrieving all or a portion of the data related to the one or more common interests from a second server.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one attribute parameter comprises one or more of a communications address for the first communication device, a device capability for the first communication device, a communication type for the communication between the first and second communication devices, and preference data for the first communication device.

11. A method for providing data of common interest to users of a communication network, comprising:

receiving, at a second communications device, a first data object, wherein the first data object comprises first information indicating one or more interests of a user of a first communication device;

assembling a data object request from the first information and from second information indicating one or more interests of a user of the second communication device;

sending the data object request to a data object server; and

receiving a second data object in response to the data object request, the second data object comprising data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forwarding the second data object to the first communication device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.

14. A first communication device configured for communication over a communication network with a remote second communication device, wherein the first communication device comprises processing logic configured to:

detect the occurrence of a trigger event related to a pre-existing primary communication session between the first communication device and the second communication device, wherein the first communication device and the remote second communication device transmit and receive communication data between each other via the pre-existing primary communication session, and wherein the trigger event related to the pre-existing primary communication session reflects a status change of the pre-existing primary communication session;

initiate transmission of a first data object to the second communication device via the communication network, responsive to the occurrence of the trigger event, wherein the first data object comprises information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device;

receive a second data object formed in response to the first data object, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

process the second data object.

15. The first communication device of claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is configured to initiate transmission of the first data object to the second communication device by requesting that a data object server send the first data object to the second communication device.

16. The first communication device of claim 14 , wherein the processing logic is configured to initiate transmission of the first data object to the second communication device by sending the first data object to the second communication device.

17. The first communication device of claim 16 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to assemble the first data object based on at least one attribute corresponding to the second communication device.

18. A data object server comprising processing logic configured to:

receive a first data object, from either a first communication device or a second communication device, comprising first information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device and second information indicating one or more interests of a user of the second communication device;

assemble a second data object from the first information and the second information, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

send the second data object to the first communication device.

19. The data object server of claim 18 , wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.