Invitation for transferring objects in a communications network

Abstract

Method for transferring objects in a communications network. A preferred embodiment comprises defining a location of an object to be transferred, providing descriptive information for an invitation, specifying a recipient of the invitation, and issuing the invitation. The invitation can provide a way for a creator of the invitation to provide contextual information, such as object names, instructional and descriptive information related to the object, and so forth, to the recipient to help reduce confusion. Furthermore, the invitation can permit the combination of multiple objects (by the recipient or the creator) to further reduce confusion and the loss of objects. Scheduling can be added to help reduce network resource contention when there are large numbers of objects to be transferred.

1 . A method for initiating a transfer of an object with context with an invitation, the method comprising: 
 in the invitation, defining an object location;    providing descriptive information for the invitation;    specifying a recipient of the invitation; and    issuing the invitation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising prior to the issuing, providing an identifier for the object.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer comprises transmitting the object to the recipient, and wherein the defining comprises defining a source location of the object to be transferred.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer comprises receiving the object from the recipient, and wherein the defining comprises defining a destination location of the object to be transferred.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising prior to the issuing, providing scheduling information for the invitation.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the scheduling information comprises a transmission time for the invitation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the scheduling information comprises a delay that is imparted prior to the transfer of the object.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of recipients for the invitation, and wherein the transfer of the object occurs with each recipient.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the transfer comprises receiving the object from the recipient, and the method further comprises after the issuing, assigning a unique identifier that is based upon an identity of the recipient of the invitation.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a plurality of objects, and wherein the plurality of objects is grouped into a single unit prior to transfer.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the descriptive information further comprises instructions for responding to the invitation.  
   
   
       12 . A method for transferring objects in a communications network with an invitation, the method comprising: 
 defining an object location;    providing descriptive information for the invitation;    specifying a recipient of the invitation;    issuing the invitation;    receiving a response to the invitation; and    initiating the transfer of the object.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer comprises transmitting the object to the recipient, and the method further comprising: 
 at the recipient, 
 selecting a destination for the object; and  
 responding to the invitation.  
   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer comprises receiving the object from the recipient, and the method further comprising: 
 at the recipient, 
 selecting the object to transfer; and  
 responding to the invitation.  
   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer comprises receiving the object from the recipient, and the method further comprising after the issuing: 
 receiving a response to the invitation; and    assigning a unique identifier to the object.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein there are a plurality of recipients, wherein each recipient responds independently to the invitation, and wherein an object transferred by a recipient is assigned a unique identifier based upon an identity of the recipient.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising prior to the issuing, providing a scheduled transmission time for the invitation.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein an invitation is not issued until a local time of a device issuing the invitation is not substantially equal to the scheduled transmission time of the invitation.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein there are a plurality of recipients, and wherein the transmission time is different for each recipient.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising prior to the initiating, imparting a delay.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein there are a plurality of recipients, and wherein the delay is different for each recipient.