Method and System for Extending Memory Capacity of a Mobile Device Using Proximate Devices and Unicasting

Abstract

An improved download capability for mobile devices, without requiring increasing of the local memory of such devices, by providing a set of multimedia devices with the capability to create a cooperative download grid where multiple instrumented devices can be aggregated together according to predefined profiles. This capability is useful in at least two different scenarios. The first is when a SIP enabled device must download a large file having a capacity that is larger than the available memory of the SIP device. The second is when a SIP enabled device must download a file but cannot be connected for a long enough time to accomplish the download. If the SIP device is in proximity to other compatible devices such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), these devices are operable to be dynamically aggregated to provide a download grid with multiprotocol support that allows optimized downloading.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A data processing system for downloading a file to a device, the data processing system comprising a data processor coupled to a memory, wherein the data processor is operable for executing instructions in the memory to perform steps of:
 receiving, at the device, a first portion of the file, with the file having a greater size than available memory within the device; and   sending, by the device, the first portion of the file to another device in physical proximity to the device while the downloading of the file to the device is still pending.   
     
     
         15 . The data processing system of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions to perform steps of:
 retrieving, from each of a plurality of client devices including the another device, device characteristics for each of the plurality of client devices; and   sending the device characteristics to a server.   
     
     
         16 . The data processing system of  claim 15  wherein the device characteristics sent to the server include an available amount of memory for each of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         17 . The data processing system of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions to perform steps of:
 determining whether any of the plurality of devices is a session initiated protocol (SIP) enabled device; and   for each of the plurality of devices that are determined to be an SIP enabled device, registering the SIP device with a presence server.   
     
     
         18 . The data processing system of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the file is sent via a session initiated protocol (SIP) session established between the device and the another device, and wherein the first portion of the file comprises a header that specifies a size of the first portion and a target device that the first portion is to be sent to be the device. 
     
     
         19 . The data processing system of  claim 14 , wherein the device comprises a profile which specifies available devices and a behavior associated with at least one of the available devices and is user-configurable to specify a move destination for the first portion of the file. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer-recordable media for downloading a file to a device, said computer program product comprising instructions operable by a data processing system for performing the steps of:
 receiving, at the device, a first portion of the file, with the file having a greater size than available memory within the device; and   sending, by the device, the first portion of the file to another device in physical proximity to the device while the downloading of the file to the device is still pending.