FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT  1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES  2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10  rule 13)

“A method and system of transferring content to complete a task from one user equipment to the other in a network”

Tejas Networks Limited
2nd floor  GNR Tech Park  46/4  Garbebhavi Palya 
Kudlu Gate  Hosur main road 
Bangalore 560 068  Karnataka  India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to communication and more specifically to a method and system for managing communication sessions between two or more equipments.

Background of the Invention
Traditionally browsing task and downloading/uploading task of a session is limited to a particular client that is utilized to access the content. When viewing or browsing a web page  for instance  a session is initiated between a browser of a personal computer and a head end. Downloading a video  audio  data file on the webpage is coupled to the same session and consequently will be downloaded to the same personal computer. The session is not aware of capabilities or service plan of the user equipment  e.g. internet connection plan of this PC. If another device or client of the user is better suited for downloads or uploads  the session is not aware of such device and hence cannot re-direct the contents to or from that other device. This lack of awareness may result in additional costs  such as to purchase conditional access rights to access the content utilizing the new client  in network bandwidth costs of networks utilized to transfer the content  and so on. Example: As shown in Figure 1  user has two devices UE1 and UE2. On UE1 the user likes a (video  audio  etc.) content while browsing (UE1 = mobile). User cannot download it due to browsing policy or internet plan or data rate or signal quality or low battery. If this user has another device  say UE2  that is better positioned to download then  from his mobile device user would like to re-direct the download onto that another device (e.g. laptop  desktop  etc. connected to network where the content is available.) It is possible or well known in the prior arts that  the redirection of same data from one User Equipment to the other is possible. But none of the prior arts allow re-directed download or upload on the second user equipment while only browsing on the first user equipment.
Accordingly  there is a continuing need for redirection download or upload of the content or data.

Summary of the Invention
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments  and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention is a method of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network  the method comprising: registering the first user equipment  at least one second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the server are tagged with a unique identifier  browsing to select the content in the site at the first user equipment via a first communication link and redirecting automatically the selected content temporarily from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content.
In another aspect of the present invention is a system of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network  the system comprising: at least one server having content  and at least one look up server operatively configured to the plurality of user equipments and the server over the communication network  wherein the lookup server is configured for  registering the first user equipment  at least one second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the server are tagged with a unique identifier  browsing to select the content in the site at the first user equipment via a first communication link and redirecting automatically the selected content temporarily from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Before undertaking the detailed description of the invention below  it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise ” as well as derivatives thereof  mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or ” is inclusive  meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith ” as well as derivatives thereof  may mean to include  be included within  interconnect with  contain  be contained within  connect to or with  couple to or with  be communicable with  cooperate with  interleave  juxtapose  be proximate to  be bound to or with  have  have a property of  or the like; and the term “controller” means any device  system or part thereof that controls at least one operation  such a device may be implemented in hardware  firmware or software  or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed  whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document  those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many  if not most instances  such definitions apply to prior  as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

Brief description of the drawings
For a more complete understanding of the present invention  and the advantages thereof  reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings  wherein like numbers designate like objects  and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary prior system in which data may be exchanged between two or more nodes in a network.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary system of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary generalized operational flow including various operations that may be performed while preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example  the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings  it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements  features  and structures.

Detail description of the Invention
In the following description  for purposes of explanation and not limitation  specific details are set forth such as particular architectures  interfaces  techniques  etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However  it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is  those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which  although not explicitly described or shown herein  embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances  detailed descriptions of well-known devices  circuits  and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles  aspects  and embodiments of the invention  as well as specific examples thereof  are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally  it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future  i.e.  any elements developed that perform the same function  regardless of structure.
Thus  for example  it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly  it will be appreciated that any flow charts  state transition diagrams  pseudocode  and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor  whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
The functions of the various elements including functional blocks labeled or described as "computer"  "processor" or "controller" may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded instructions stored on computer readable medium. A computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors  and the terms computer and processor may be employed interchangeably herein. When provided by a computer or processor  the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer or processor  by a single shared computer or processor  or by a plurality of individual computers or processors  some of which may be shared or distributed. Such functions are to be understood as being computer-implemented and thus machine-implemented. Moreover  use of the term "processor" or "controller" shall also be construed to refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executing software  and may include  without limitation  digital signal processor (DSP) hardware  reduced instruction set processor  hardware (e.g.  digital or analog) circuitry  and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions.
Figure 1 illustrates prior system in which data may be streamed or exchanged between two or more nodes in a network.. The system 100 includes one or more user equipments (110  120)  a server 130  where the user equipments 110  120 communicates with the server via a network 140 over link L1. The user equipments 110  120 may include a portable terminal  a mobile terminal  a personal digital assistant (PDA)  an MP3 player  a PSP  and the like  which are capable of storing or reproducing multimedia. Referring to FIG. 1  the server may be or may includes a network processor  a transmitter  a receiver  a meta interface (IF) processor  a user interface  a media redirection processor  an optimum UI determiner  an announcement processor  a device and service information provider  a media player component  a mobile code provider and processor  a media source processor  an environment monitor  and a controller. The server 130 is responsible for receiving data for connecting with user equipments. The server 130 is also responsible for receiving data for the connection from the user equipments over the network 140. For example  upon a multimedia request from the user equipments  the server reproduces a multimedia stream or content selected according to a user""s request. Also  the server is responsible for managing a database (DB) (not shown in figure) which converts the multimedia stream to data and stores the same.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary system of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system 200 includes one or more user equipments (210  220)  a server 230  and the system may also include a lookup server (not shown in figure). The user equipments 210  220 communicate with the network 240 over link L1 and link L2.
The user equipments 210  220 may include a portable terminal  a mobile terminal  a personal digital assistant (PDA)  an MP3 player  a PSP  and the like  which are capable of storing or reproducing multimedia.
The server 230 may be or may includes a network processor  a transmitter  a receiver  a meta interface (IF) processor  a user interface  a media redirection processor  an optimum UI determiner  an announcement processor  a device and service information provider  a media player component  a mobile code provider and processor  a media source processor  an environment monitor  and a controller. Also  the server is responsible for managing a database (DB) (not shown in figure) which converts the multimedia stream to data and stores the same.
The lookup server (not shown in figure) may be or may include any standard data processing means or computer  including a minicomputer  a microcomputer  a UNIX® machine  a mainframe machine  a personal computer (PC) such as INTEL® based processing computer or clone thereof  an APPLE® computer or clone thereof or  a SUN® workstation  or other appropriate computer. Lookup server generally includes conventional computer components (not shown)  such as a motherboard  central processing unit (CPU)  random access memory (RAM)  hard disk drive  display adapter  other storage media such as diskette drive  CD-ROM  flash-ROM  tape drive  PCMCIA cards and/or other removable media  a monitor  keyboard  mouse and/or other user interface means  a modem  and/or other conventional input/output devices. Lookup server also includes a Network Interface for communication with other computers using an appropriate network protocol.
In an operation  End nodes (UEs) register their ID (Unique Registration ID or URI) with the server and may also register with the lookup server. UEs belonging to a user are grouped together under one User ID. Each UE’s URI has physical address associated with it… example IP address  Tunnel ID  MAC address  Telephone number  etc. When a UE is connected to a network  the lookup server is notified about the physical address also. When user browse to select the content in the site or enters a particular servers ID to source a video content onto the UE1 210 via a first communication link  the UE’s URI is notified to the lookup server (not shown in figure). UE1 210 requests the lookup server for physical address of the server 230 matching the server ID. The lookup server will return the physical address of the server 230 if available. If not  then the lookup server will request other lookup servers for the information (not shown in figure). Once UE1 210 receives physical address of the server 230  it will be able to download the video. A download of video is assigned a session ID by end nodes and which is stored by all intermediate network nodes (router  bridges  etc.). The network nodes  like RP (Rendezvous Point 260)  also store associated URIs and optionally physical address. The Rendezvous Point (RP) can be within UE  Server  Router  bridges  proxy servers  serving gateway  packet data network gateway  IMS server  etc. If the existing session encounters fault  then network nodes will detect reason of failure and try to reestablish the same session with alternate end nodes by switching or re-directing stream to alternate URI of the user.
Further  once the content is selected by the user at the first user equipment  the first user may authenticate or the system automatically redirect the selected content temporarily from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading. The redirection of the first user equipment to the second user equipment is based on the unique ID of the content. It is also possible that the redirection of the selected content temporarily may be initiated by the server or may be at the Rendezvous Point via a second communication link. The server or Rendezvous Point (RP) are aware of the capabilities of User Equipments. The server  RP and lookup server are configured such that browsing session and downloading are decoupled.
Further  the notifying the amount of data downloaded or uploaded at the second User Equipment to the first User Equipment  once the task is completed.
In the present system  topology is not fixed and not restricted to end nodes connecting to fixed topology. The topology is routing topology over IP network or like and hence dynamic and not fixed. End nodes only know the ID and session ID. Topology knowledge of how to reach the end nodes or connect the end nodes is learnt by the end nodes and network nodes from the physical address and associated routing or bridging protocols. In this way session re-direction is network assisted. Buffering in the network is used while redirection or switching or sourcing.
Also  because of the presence of Rendezvous Point  the present invention is capable of doing multicasting and broadcasting. Also  the present system 200 can perform protection switching of unicast  multicast and broadcast traffic.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary generalized operational flow including various operations that may be performed while preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network.
At step 310  the method allows to register the first user equipment  one or more second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the lookup server are tagged with a unique identifier.
At step 320  the method allows the user to browse to select the content in the site at the first user equipment via a first communication link.
At step 330  the method automatically redirects the selected temporarily content from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content. Further  the redirecting the selected temporarily content initiated by the server or at the Rendezvous Point via a second communication link  wherein the server or Rendezvous Point (RP) are aware of the capabilities of User Equipments.
Before redirecting the selected content at the first user equipment by the user  the method may ask for the authentication for the second User Equipment with the server at the first User Equipment.
The method also checks periodically integrity of the path between UE1 and server  and UE2 and server  where the checking integrity of the connection between the server and the user equipments by way of TCP acknowledgement  Continuity Check Message (CCM) of CFM IEEE 802.1ag  BFD (bidirectional fault detection)  etc.

At step 340  the method notifies the first user equipment about the amount of data downloaded or uploaded at the second user equipment.

Although the method flowchart includes steps 310-340 that are arranged logically in the exemplary embodiments  other embodiments of the subject matter may execute two or more steps in parallel  using multiple processors or a single processor organized as two or more virtual machines or sub-processors. Moreover  still other embodiments may implement the steps as two or more specific interconnected hardware modules with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules  or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus  the exemplary process flow diagrams are applicable to software  firmware  and/or hardware implementations.

FIGS. 1-3 are merely representational and are not drawn to scale. Certain portions thereof may be exaggerated  while others may be minimized. FIGS. 1-3 illustrate various embodiments of the invention that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art.

We Claim:

1. A method of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network  the method comprising:
registering the first user equipment  at least one second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the server are tagged with a unique identifier;
browsing to select the content in the site at the first user equipment via a first communication link; and
redirecting automatically the selected content from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content.

2. The method of claim 1  further comprising:
checking periodically integrity of the path between UE1 and server  and UE2 and server  wherein the checking integrity of the connection between the server and the user equipments by way of TCP acknowledgement  Continuity Check Message (CCM) of CFM IEEE 802.1ag  BFD (bidirectional fault detection)  etc.

3. The method of claim 1  further comprising:
redirecting the selected content initiated by the server or at the Rendezvous Point via a second communication link  wherein the server or Rendezvous Point (RP) are aware of the capabilities of User Equipments.

4. The method of claim 1  further comprising:
notifying the amount of data downloaded or uploaded at the second User Equipment to the first User Equipment.

5. The method of claim 1  further comprising:
authenticating the second User Equipment with the server at the first User Equipment before redirection of the selected content from the first UE to the identified second available UE.

6. The method of claim 1  wherein the server  RP and lookup server are configured such that browsing session and downloading are decoupled.

7. A system of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network  the system comprising:
at least one server having content; and
at least one look up server operatively configured to the plurality of user equipments and the server over the communication network;
wherein the lookup server is configured for 
registering the first user equipment  at least one second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the server are tagged with a unique identifier;
browsing to select the content in the site at the first user equipment; and
redirecting automatically the selected content from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content.
Dated this the 22nd day of January  2012
S Afsar
Agent for the Applicant
Registration No. IN/PA-1073

Abstract
A method and system of transferring content to complete a task from one user equipment to the other in a network
The present invention relates to a method and system of preserving an active session with a site at a first user equipment and downloading or uploading contents or data on at least one second user equipment in a communication network. In one embodiment  this can be accomplished by registering the first user equipment  at least one second user equipment and a server with at least one lookup server  the first user equipment  the second user equipment and the lookup server are tagged with a unique identifier  browsing to select the content in the site at the first user equipment via a first communication link and redirecting automatically the selected temporarily content from the first UE to the identified second available UE for downloading or uploading  wherein the redirection is based on the unique ID of the content.
Figure 2 (for publication)