Apparatus, systems, and methods utilizing dispersive networking

Abstract

An electronic device configured for electronic communications utilizing virtual dispersive networking includes: a network interface for communicating over a network; an application loaded onto the electronic device programmed to communicate over a network; and virtual dispersive networking software configured to create, for such application, a virtual machine comprising a virtual interface for the network interface of the electronic device; select a network protocol out of a plurality of available network protocols based on current communication requirements of the application; and cause network communications of the application to occur via the virtual network interface of the electronic device using the determined network protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating direct interaction between first and second end-user devices via network communications, the direct interaction pertaining to goods or services offered by a user of the first end-user device to a plurality of potential customers by respective end-user devices, comprising the steps of:
 (a) first,
 (i) communicating by the first end-user device, to a server, network contact information of the first end-user device, and 
 (ii) communicating by the second end-user device, to the server, network contact information of the second end-user device; and 
   (b) thereafter, transferring information, arranged in a file, regarding one or more goods or service transaction being offered from the first end-user device to the second end-user device by,
 (i) communicating, by the first end-user device, a request to the server to engage in a file transfer with the second end-user device by the first end-user device, 
 (ii) communicating, by the server, the file transfer request received from the first end-user device, 
 (iii) communicating, by the second end-user device, acceptance to the server of the request to engage in a file transfer with the first end-user device, 
 (iv) communicating connection information, by the server, to the first and second end-user devices for enabling an open network connection between the first and second end-user devices, and 
 (v) initiating, by the first and second end-user devices, through the open network connection, the file transfer based on the connection information received from the server. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 (a) an electronic device having software loaded thereon configured to spawn a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device;   (b) a consumer appliance having networking capabilities;   (c) wherein the electronic device is configured to communicate with the consumer appliance via a connection with the consumer appliance, the connection being associated with a virtual machine spawned at the electronic device that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . A method for communicating with an appliance comprising:
 (a) spawning, by an electronic device, a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device such that a first virtual network connection is provided;   (b) spawning, by a consumer appliance, a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the consumer appliance such that a second virtual network connection is provided;   (c) electronically communicating, by the electronic device, with the consumer appliance, wherein such electronically communicating comprises communicating a plurality of packets from the electronic device via the first virtual network connection that are received at the consumer appliance via the second virtual network connection, the plurality of packets comprising data providing an instruction that controls a setting of the consumer appliance.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a desktop computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a video game console. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a laptop computer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a notebook computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end-user device comprises a mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a desktop computer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a video game console. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a laptop computer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a notebook computer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second end-user device comprises a mobile electronic device.