Mobile Conferencing Method and System

Abstract

A server-based architecture for mobile conferencing is presented. Session-based mobile conferencing is established by transmitting necessary server network address information through page-mode based messaging services to establish connections among the various mobile devices with the server.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of initiating a data exchange session among mobile devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a server, a request from an initiating mobile device to allocate a session identifier to use in a data exchange session with a participating mobile device, wherein the session identifier comprises a network port number of the server;   transmitting, from the server, the session identifier to the initiating mobile device, wherein the initiating mobile device uses a page-mode messaging service to assist in communicating the session identifier to the participating mobile device and wherein the page-mode messaging service utilizes a unique identifier to locate the participating mobile device;   establishing, at the server, connections with the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device based on the session identifier; and   facilitating, at the server, the data exchange session between the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the page-mode messaging service may be utilized to transmit page-mode messages to devices for purposes unrelated to participating in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the page-mode messaging service transmits a page-mode message to the participating mobile device that is encoded to be recognized by software on the participating mobile device configured to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein additional devices are invited to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server is a non-mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier utilized by the page-mode messaging service is associated with a telephone number of the participating mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the session identifier further comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions for initiating a data exchange session among mobile devices, which when executed cause a processor to perform the steps of:
 receiving, at a server, a request from an initiating mobile device to allocate a session identifier to use in a data exchange session with a participating mobile device, wherein the session identifier comprises a network port number of the server;   transmitting, from the server, the session identifier to the initiating mobile device, wherein the initiating mobile device uses a page-mode messaging service to assist in communicating the session identifier to the participating mobile device and wherein the page-mode messaging service utilizes a unique identifier to locate the participating mobile device;   establishing, at the server, connections with the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device based on the session identifier; and   facilitating, at the server, the data exchange session between the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the page-mode messaging service may be utilized to transmit page-mode messages to devices for purposes unrelated to participating in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the page-mode messaging service transmits a page-mode message to the participating mobile device that is encoded to be recognized by software on the participating mobile device configured to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein additional devices are invited to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the server is a non-mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier utilized by the page-mode messaging service is associated with a telephone number of the participating mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the session identifier further comprises an IP address. 
     
     
         15 . A server configured to facilitate a data exchange session among mobile devices, the server comprising:
 an input port to receive a request from an initiating mobile device to allocate a session identifier to use in a data exchange session with a participating mobile device, wherein the session identifier comprises a network port number of the server; and   an output port to transmit the session identifier to the initiating mobile device, wherein the initiating mobile device uses a page-mode messaging service to assist in communicating the session identifier to the participating mobile device and wherein the page-mode messaging service utilizes a unique identifier to locate the participating mobile device; and   a computer for:   establishing connections with the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device based on the session identifier; and   facilitating the data exchange session between the initiating mobile device and the participating mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the page-mode messaging service may be utilized to transmit page-mode messages to devices for purposes unrelated to participating in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         17 . The server of  claim 16 , wherein the page-mode messaging service transmits a page-mode message to the participating mobile device that is encoded to be recognized by software on the participating mobile device configured to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         18 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein additional devices are invited to participate in the data exchange session. 
     
     
         19 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the server is a non-mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier utilized by the page-mode messaging service is associated with a telephone number of the participating mobile device.