`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office europeen des brevets
`
`iii
`
`(11)
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`(12)
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`28.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/05
`
`(21) Application number: 02078025.0
`
`(22) Date of filing: 24.07.2002
`
`(51) Int CI.7: HO4M 7/00, HO4L 12/56,
`HO4Q 7/38
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES Fl FR GB GR
`IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
`Designated Extension States:
`AL LT LV MK RO SI
`
`(74) Representative: Wuyts, Koenraad Maria et al
`Koninklijke KPN N.V.,
`Intellectual Property Group,
`P.O. BOX 95321
`2509 CH The Hague (NL)
`
`(71) Applicant: Koninklijke KPN N.V.
`9726 AE Groningen (NL)
`
`(72) Inventors:
`• Cordenier, Tomas Hector Andre Jozef
`2613 VS Delft (NL)
`• Groten, Dirk
`2315 LG Leiden (NL)
`
`Remarks:
`A request for correction of the numbering of the
`claims has been filed pursuant to Rule 88 EPC. A
`decision on the request will be taken during the
`proceedings before the Examining Division
`(Guidelines for Examination in the EPO, A-V, 3.).
`
`(54) A system, a method and apparatus for peer-to peer exchange of information
`
`The invention is about a system for exchanging
`(57)
`information between a first terminal (1) and a second
`terminal (2), which may comprise a data network (3) for
`data transport between the first terminal (1) and the sec-
`ond terminal (2), a telecom network (4) for providing ac-
`cess to the data network (3) to the first and second ter-
`minal (2), and a signalling network (5) for signalling be-
`tween the first terminal (1) and the second terminal (2),
`whereby the first terminal (1) has a first data network
`address, which can be sent to the second terminal (2)
`via the signalling network (5), the second terminal being
`arranged to establish a connection to the data network
`(3), thereby obtaining a second network address and
`send terminal (1) a message containing the second ad-
`dress.
`
`13
`
`—15
`
`10
`
`Fig 6
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`1 385 323 Al
`
`w
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 1
`
`
`
`1
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`2
`
`Description
`
`Field of the invention
`
`[0001] The invention is about a method for exchang-
`ing information from one terminal to another terminal.
`The invention is further about a system for exchanging
`information from one terminal to another terminal.
`The invention is further about a terminal for sending in-
`formation to a further terminal.
`The invention is further about a terminal for receiving
`information from a further terminal. The invention is fur-
`ther about a terminal for exchanging information to an-
`other terminal.
`
`Background
`
`[0002] According to the state of the art, several appli-
`cations on the Internet use peer-to-peer data communi-
`cation channels, to directly exchange information be-
`tween parties. Some examples of applications using
`peer-to-peer communication channels are:
`
`• exchange of files and documents
`•
`chat-services
`•
`videoconference
`
`[0003] Each user needs to be connected to the Inter-
`net and should be assigned a (temporary) IP-address.
`In orderto directly exchange information between users,
`it is needed that both parties know each-others IP-ad-
`dress. Therefore, these addresses must be exchanged
`in some way. After having done this, data can be ad-
`dressed to the IP-address of the other party. This data
`will be routed through the Internet and arrive at the des-
`tination address. See for an illustration fig 1.
`Fixed users may connect to the Internet using ISDN and
`or PSTN. An ISP connects these users to the Internet
`assigning each user an IP-address.
`Mobile users on a GPRS network connect to the Internet
`by creating a PDP-context to the Internet Service Pro-
`vider (ISP). Doing this, they are assigned a temporary
`IP address, which identifies them for the time they are
`online. On other mobile networks, a point-to-point com-
`munication channel is created to the ISP using various
`protocols, but the principle remains the same, i.e. the
`user receives a temporary IP address once communi-
`cation channel to the Internet is made. For the following
`we assume both users to be mobile users without fixed
`IP-address assigned.
`[0004] According to the state of the art, the system
`requires both parties to be connected to the internet and
`to have an IP address assigned before a peer-to-peer
`communication channel can be established between
`both parties (see Figure 2).
`The exchange of IP-addresses between users takes
`place by an IP-exchange server. Users should log onto
`this server, thereby registering their temporary IP-ad-
`
`dress, which they were assigned during their Packet Da-
`ta Protocol context (PDP-context) set-up, including a
`Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway
`GPRS Serving/Support Node (GGSN) (see Figure 3).
`5 Users identify themselves using a self-chosen nick-
`name.
`In this state, a user (e.g. user A) can discover that an-
`other user (e.g. user B) is online by querying the server
`and send a request to invite him for a session. Upon
`10 acceptance of the request, the IP-addresses of both par-
`ties are exchanged (IP-address of user A is sent to user
`B and v.v., see Figure 4).
`Now both users can address each other using their re-
`spective IP-address. Data from user A can be sent to B,
`15 using the IP-address of B and data from user B to A can
`be sent using the IP-address of A. Note that the IP-ex-
`change server is not involved anymore in this process.
`The data is independently routed over the Internet (see
`Figure 5)
`[0005] To be able to exchange the IP-addresses of us-
`ers, it is always necessary that both users are online to
`the Internet and that both users are registered at the
`same IP-exchange server. It therefore is not possible for
`a user, not being online to the Internet, to receive re-
`25 quests for a peer-to-peer session.
`
`20
`
`Summary
`
`[0006]
`It is an object of the invention to provide an ar-
`30 chitecture for peer-to-peer communication between a
`first and a second terminal using a data network, but
`without the need of a common exchange server in the
`data network.
`The object of the invention is achieved in a system for
`35 exchanging information between a first and a second
`terminal, which may comprise a data network for data
`transport between the first and second terminal, a tele-
`com network for providing access to the data network
`to the first and second terminal, a signalling network for
`40 signalling between the first terminal and the second ter-
`minal, wherein
`the first terminal may have a first data network address,
`the first terminal may be arranged to send the first mes-
`sage containing the first network address to the second
`terminal via the signalling network, the second terminal
`may be arranged to establish a communication channel
`with the data network via the telecom network upon re-
`ceipt of the first data network address from the first ter-
`minal, thereby obtaining a second network address, the
`50 second terminal may be arranged to send a second
`message containing the second data network address
`to the first terminal upon establishment of the commu-
`nication channel with the data network, the first terminal
`may be arranged to send information to the second ter-
`55 mina) via the data network upon receipt of the second
`message containing the second data network address
`from the second terminal.
`In an embodiment according to the invention, the first
`
`45
`
`2
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 2
`
`
`
`3
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`4
`
`message may comprise a command and the second ter-
`minal may be arranged to launch an application program
`upon receipt of the command.
`This embodiment has the advantage of being able to
`launch the application that is best suited for displaying
`or showing or playing the information to be transferred
`from the first terminal to the second terminal.
`In another embodiment according to the invention the
`telecom network may comprise a first sub telecom net-
`work for providing access to the data network for the first
`terminal and a second telecom network for providing ac-
`cess to the data network for the second terminal.
`In yet another embodiment according the invention the
`signalling network may comprise a first and at least one
`second sub signalling network, whereby the first termi-
`nal may be connected to or communicating with the first
`sub signalling network and the at least one second sub
`signalling network may be connected to or communicate
`with the second sub signalling network. This has the ad-
`vantage that the first and second terminal may be of a
`different type. The invention may also be embodied in a
`method for exchanging information between a first and
`a second terminal, whereby the method may comprise
`sending a first message containing a first data network
`address from the first terminal to the second terminal via
`a signalling network, which communicates with a data
`network via a telecom network,
`establishing a communication channel by the second
`terminal with the data network via the telecom network,
`upon receipt of the first message containing thefirst data
`network address, sending a second message contain-
`ing the second data network address by the second ter-
`minal to the first terminal, upon establishment of the
`communication channel with the data network,
`sending information from the first terminal to the second
`terminal via the data network, upon receipt of the second
`message containing the second data network address.
`[0007] The invention may also be embodied in a ter-
`minal for sending information to a furtherterminal, which
`terminal may comprise
`a first communication unit for communicating with a sig-
`nalling network,
`a second communication unit for communicating with a
`telecom network ,
`a data entry unit, for entering information,
`a processing unit, programmed for processing the infor-
`mation, wherein the second communication unit of op-
`eration may be arranged to provide a connection be-
`tween the processing unit and a data network, the con-
`nection having a first network address, and
`wherein the processing unit may be arranged for
`the transmission of a first message containing the first
`data network address to the further terminal using the
`first communication unit, whereby the further terminal
`may be arranged to connect to the data network upon
`receipt of the first message and send a second message
`to the terminal containing a second data network ad-
`dress of the further terminal,
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`the reception of the second message containing the
`second data network address of the further terminal,
`the transmission of the information to the further termi-
`nal using the first communication unit, the connection to
`5 the data network and the data network address of the
`further terminal, upon receipt of the second message
`containing the second data network address of the fur-
`ther terminal , whereby the further terminal may be ar-
`ranged to receive the information via the data network
`10 and the telecom network.
`[0008]
`It is advantageous to have a terminal only for
`transmitting information to another terminal. This allows
`for a one-way connection between two terminals.
`[0009] An embodiment of the terminal for sending in-
`formation according the invention, wherein the first mes-
`sage also contains a command, whereby the further ter-
`minal is arranged to start an application upon receipt of
`the command, is advantageous because it allows the
`receiving terminal to start an application upon receipt of
`the first data network address for displaying the infor-
`mation without user intervention. It could also allow for
`user notification of the expected arrival of the informa-
`tion.
`[0010] The invention may also be embodied in a ter-
`25 mina) for receiving information from a further terminal,
`which may comprise
`a first communication unit for communicating with a sig-
`nalling network,
`a second communication unit for communicating with a
`telecom network,
`a processing unit, programmed for processing informa-
`tion,
`a memory, for storing the information,
`a display unit for displaying the information
`35 wherein the processing unit may be arranged for the re-
`ception of a first data network address of the further ter-
`minal, via the first communication unit, whereby the fur-
`ther terminal may be arranged to send the first message
`containing the first data network address via the signal-
`ling network,
`upon receipt of the first network address from the further
`terminal, the establishment of a connection to a data
`network using the second communication unit,
`and upon the completion of the connection to the data
`45 network, whereby a second network address is supplied
`by the data network, the transmission of a second mes-
`sage containing the second data network address to the
`further terminal, whereby the further terminal is ar-
`ranged to receive the message containing the second
`50 data network address, upon which the further terminal
`transmits information via the telecom network and the
`data network to the terminal,
`the reception of the information and the display thereof
`in the display unit.
`[0011]
`It is advantageous to have a terminal only for
`receiving information from another terminal. This allows
`for a one-way connection between two terminals.
`[0012] An embodiment of the terminal for receiving in-
`
`40
`
`55
`
`3
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 3
`
`
`
`5
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`6
`
`formation according the invention, wherein the first mes-
`sage also contains a command, wherein the further ter-
`minal may be arranged to send the first message con-
`taining a command, and
`the terminal may be arranged to start an application up-
`on receipt of the command, is advantageous because it
`allows the terminal to start an application upon receipt
`of the first data network address for displaying the infor-
`mation without user intervention. It could also allow for
`user notification of the expected arrival of the informa-
`tion.
`[0013] The invention may also be embodied in a ter-
`minal for exchanging information with a further terminal,
`comprising
`a first communication unit for communicating with a sig-
`nalling network,
`a second communication unit for communicating with a
`telecom network,
`a processing unit, programmed for processing informa-
`tion,
`a memory, for storing the information,
`a display unit for displaying the information,
`a data entry unit, for entering information,
`wherein the terminal is arranged to have a transmission
`mode of operation, in which the terminal is arranged ac-
`cording to claim 20 or 21,
`and wherein the terminal is arranged to have a trans-
`mission mode of operation, in which the terminal is ar-
`ranged according to claim 22 or 23.
`[0014]
`It is advantageous to have a terminal which is
`capable of sending and receiving information to a further
`terminal, because it allows for two way communication
`between the terminal and the further terminal.
`
`Brief description of drawings
`
`[0015]
`
`Fig. 1 shows a principle of point-to-point data ex-
`change, according to the state of the art
`Fig. 2 shows an example two users connected to
`the Internet by a PDP-context, being assigned an
`IP-address, according to the state of the art.
`Fig. 3 shows an example of users who register their
`IP-addresses on the IP-exchange server, according
`to the state of the art.
`Fig. 4 shows an example of the exchange of IP-ad-
`dresses between user A and user B, according to
`the state of the art.
`Fig. 5 shows an example of data exchange from A
`to B and vice versa, whereby the IP-exchange serv-
`er is not involved anymore, according to the state
`of the art.
`Fig. 6 shows a first embodiment according to the
`invention.
`Fig. 7 shows another embodiment according to the
`invention with two sub telecom networks for data
`transport.
`
`Fig 8 shows a further embodiment according the in-
`vention with two sub signalling networks.
`
`Detailed description
`
`5
`
`15
`
`35
`
`[0016] Fig 6 shows a first embodiment according to
`the invention.
`In this embodiment a first and a second terminal 1, 2 are
`used for communicating between users. These termi-
`10 nals may comprise communication apparatus for com-
`municating with a telecom network, memory for storing
`information, a processor for processing information, a
`display for displaying information, audio apparatus for
`recording and replaying audio information, video appa-
`ratus for recording and replaying video information.
`Such terminals may be telephones or wireless tele-
`phones, personal digital assistants, personal comput-
`ers, equipped with audio and video means.
`The terminals 1, 2 may be connected to a telecom net-
`20 work 4 via communication channels 8 and 9 respective-
`ly. Examples of such telecom networks are GPRS,
`UMTS, GSM, wireless LAN for wireless networks and
`ISDN or PSTN (Public Switched Telecommunications
`Network), for fixed telecom networks. The telecom net-
`25 work 4 may also be a combination of a mobile and a
`fixed network. For example in the preferred embodiment
`a GPRS network may connect a mobile terminal to a
`PSTN which connects to further destinations. The word
`connect is used here in the sense of providing a com-
`30 munication path.
`The telecom network 4 provides access to a data net-
`work 3 via a first communication channel 10 and a sec-
`ond communication channel 11 for the first terminal 1
`and the second terminal 2 respectively. Data network 3
`may be at least one of the Internet, a LAN or a WAN.
`Servers 15 may be connected to the data network 3 for
`providing services and information for users using ter-
`minals like the first terminal 1 or the second terminal 2.
`According to an embodiment of the invention the first
`40 and second terminal communicate with a signalling net-
`work 5, via communication channels 12 and 13. Exam-
`ples of such signalling networks are GSM, wireless net-
`works and ISDN or POTS, for fixed telecom networks.
`According to the first embodiment of the invention the
`first terminal 1 communicates with the data network 3
`via the telecom network 4 and has a first message 6
`containing the first network address that may be sent to
`the second terminal 2 using signalling network 5.
`In case of the signalling network 5 being a GSM network,
`the network address 7 may be sent by means of an SMS
`message. It may also be sent as a sub-address or as a
`user-to-user signal, both well known to a person skilled
`in the art.
`In an embodiment according the invention, an SMS
`55 message is used, whereby the first message 6 contain-
`ing the first network address is coded as a "hidden
`code.
`Further embodiments using ISDN user-to-user signal-
`
`45
`
`50
`
`4
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 4
`
`
`
`7
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`8
`
`ling or sub-addressing using the D-channel.
`The second terminal 2 is arranged to receive the first
`message 6 containing the first network address. Upon
`receipt of the first message 6 containing the first network
`address, the second terminal 2 is arranged to connect
`or log on to the data network 3, via the telecom network
`4 using communication channel 9, thereby establishing
`communication channel 11.
`Data network communication channels like the first
`communication channel 10 and the second communi-
`cation channel 11 may be established by logging on to
`a server 15, whereby the server 15 is arranged to com-
`municate a network address to the terminal that is log-
`ging on. In the case of the data network being an IP-
`network, the network address is an 1P-number.
`After logging on to the data network 3 by the second
`terminal 2, the second terminal may be arranged to com-
`municate the second message containing the second
`network address to the first terminal 1.
`In a preferred embodiment according to the invention,
`the second terminal may do so using the signalling net-
`work 5, whereby the second message containing the
`second network address 7a is sent like the first message
`6 containing the first network address e.g. as an SMS
`message, but sub-addressing or user-to-user signalling
`may also apply.
`In another embodiment, the second terminal 2 may be
`arranged to send the second message containing the
`second network address 7b via the telecom network 4
`to the first terminal 1.
`This embodiment may be a future development for
`GPRS or UMTS or WLAN networks. In another embod-
`iment, the second terminal 2 may be arranged to send
`the second message 7c containing the second network
`address to the first terminal 1 via the telecom network 4
`and the data network 3, using communication channels
`9, 11, 10 and 8.
`In a further embodiment according to the invention, the
`first message 6 containing the first network address may
`also contain a command. The second terminal 2 may be
`arranged to start a particular application in the terminal
`corresponding with the command. Such an application
`may be a program stored in the memory of the terminal
`and executable by the processor of the terminal for lis-
`tening to an audio file or streaming audio, viewing a vid-
`eo file or streaming video, viewing a text file or "stream-
`ing text" such as in chat programs. Other applications
`may apply as well.
`A command may for example correspond with an appli-
`cation identification number (ID). Well-known applica-
`tion IDs are e.g. already used currently in the Wireless
`Application Protocol (WAP) to identify which application
`should receive push content.
`[0017] Upon receipt of the second message 7a, 7b or
`7c containing the second network address of the second
`terminal 2 the first terminal 1 may start sending the in-
`formation 14 to the second terminal 2 using the telecom
`network 4 and the data network 3 and the communica-
`
`5
`
`tion channels 8, 10, 11, 9, whereby the second terminal
`2 may play, display or store the information 14.
`[0018] Fig 7, another embodiment according to the in-
`vention, wherein the telecom network 4 comprises a first
`sub telecom network 16 and a second sub telecom net-
`work 17.
`In this embodiment the first terminal 1 has access to the
`data network 3 via the first sub telecom network 16 and
`the second terminal has access to the data network 3
`10 via the second sub telecom network 17.
`The first sub telecom network 16 may differ from the sec-
`ond telecom network 17 in that the first sub telecom net-
`work 16 may apply a different medium (radio, wired net-
`work, glass fibre or other), a different protocol or may
`15 belong to a different operator than the second sub tele-
`com network 17. The first sub telecom network 16 may
`for example be a GPRS network, operated by a first op-
`erator, whereas the second sub telecom network 17
`may be an ISDN network operated by a second opera-
`20 tor.
`Since data exchange may take place via telecom net-
`works operated by different operators, it may, in the case
`the data network 3 is an 1P-network, be necessary to
`route IP-traffic from the first and second terminal 1, 2 to
`25 a network address translator connected with the data
`network 3.
`[0019]
`In the following sections, a preferred embodi-
`ment according to the invention will be described.
`In this embodiment the signalling network 5 is a GSM
`30 signalling network and the telecom network 4 is a GPRS
`network.
`In a GSM mobile telecom network, a Mobile Subscriber
`Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number
`uniquely identifies a mobile terminal in thesignalling net-
`35 work 5. The invention will make use of the fact that a
`mobile terminal can always be found in the signalling
`network 5, based on the MSISDN.
`[0020] Similarly a terminal connected to the PSTN,
`and where the PSTN is used as a signalling network
`40 may be identified by a telephone number.
`[0021] The same method can be used on other types
`of signalling networks 5, given the fact that a terminal is
`identified by a unique address and such networks have
`signalling protocols allowing information to be sent to
`45 any terminal at any time.
`[0022] To start a peer-to-peer session, it is obvious
`that the initiating first terminal 1 needs to have assigned
`an 1P-address and thus must have established a Packet
`Data Protocol context (PDP-context).
`50 When the second terminal 2 accepts the invitation, a
`PDP-context is set up and thus the second terminal 2 is
`assigned an 1P-address; also, the requested peer-to-
`peer application is started on the second terminal 2. An
`acknowledge message 7c
`including the 1P-address of
`55 the second terminal 2, is sent back over the data net-
`work 3, in this case the Internet to the first terminal 1
`using the 1P-address of the first terminal. Note that the
`acknowledgement might also be sent back to the first
`
`5
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 5
`
`
`
`9
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`10
`
`terminal 1, using a second message 7a over the signal-
`ling network.
`At this stage. both parties have obtained each other's
`IP-address and can start exchanging data, addressed
`to the respective IP-addresses (see fig. 11).
`
`• Using the system according the preferred embodi-
`ment, it is not necessary anymore for the invited
`party to be online.
`• An invited party can be reached at any moment, at
`any time.
`• There is no need to be registered on a specific serv-
`er.
`
`[0023] The above-described exchange of IP-address-
`es using signalling messages can make use of the fol-
`lowing standardised methods:
`
`• The IP-address and application ID can be included
`in a Short Message
`• The IP-address and application ID can be included
`in the Sub-Address of an ISUP set-up message, af-
`ter which a direct ISUP release is needed.
`• The IP-address and application ID can be sent us-
`ing User-to-User signalling.
`
`[0024] The invention can for example be used in the
`following situations:
`
`•
`
`Instant Messaging: Chat clients on mobile devices
`could be used to set up a data communication chan-
`nel between two mobile devices, so that users can
`easily exchange messages with each other. In con-
`trast to exchanging SMS messages, this could now
`happen real-time, so users could seethe messages
`as they are being typed. It also encourages users
`to send more data to each other (pictures, sounds:
`etc...) with future devices, without the need for an
`operator to invest in expensive infrastructure (SM-
`SC, MMS relay, ...), still maintaining traffic reve-
`nues.
`• Client-to-client push: In WAP devices, it is possible
`to push content to a WAP client even if that client is
`not online. However this can only happen from the
`data network 3, using intermediary servers. It is not
`possible for a client to push to another client unless
`such mobile device is configured as a server (heavy
`burden on a mobile device). The above-described
`invention allows a lightweight client-to-client push.
`
`[0025] Fig 8 shows a further embodiment according
`the invention, whereby the signalling network 5 compris-
`es a first 19 and at least a second sub signalling network
`20.
`In this embodiment, the first terminal may for example
`be a mobile terminal like a mobile phone using GSM or
`example as a signalling network, whereas the second
`terminal may for example be a computer with ISDN-
`
`20
`
`25
`
`10
`
`adaptor connected to an ISDN signalling network,
`whereby the GSM and ISDN signalling networks are in-
`terconnected using standard interfacing means 21.
`When signalling from the first terminal to the second ter-
`5 minal, a step of converting the signalling messages 6:
`7a may be necessary between the first and the second
`sub signalling networks 19: 20.
`[0026] A terminal used in the system for peer-to-peer
`exchange of information may be in a preferred embod-
`invent according the invention a mobile phone equipped
`with at least two communication units for communicat-
`ing with two networks. An example of such a mobile
`phone is one for GSM and GPRS communication. Such
`a mobile phone has a GSM communication unit for di-
`15 ailing and voice communication with other GSM mobile
`phones. This mobile phones also has a data communi-
`cation unit for example GPRS. With this data communi-
`cation unit it is possible to connect to a data network, e.
`g. an IP-network or the Internet. A mobile phone of this
`type is usually equipped with a browser for displaying
`data on a display and has a keyboard for dialling and for
`data entry, e.g. entering typed messages. A mobile
`phone of this type may also be equipped with a camera
`for filming or shooting pictures for data entry, whereby
`the images may be stored in a memory in the mobile
`phone and or transferred to the data network using the
`data communication unit. Other forms of data entry may
`also be feasible, for example voice recording, whereby
`sound is picked up by a microphone and stored and im-
`30 mediately or after a delay transmitted to another termi-
`nal.
`[0027]
`In another embodiment a terminal may be a
`PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a laptop computer
`connected to a mobile phone having two communication
`35 units for communicating with a signalling network and a
`telecom network for data transport. The PDA or laptop
`is in this example used for handling information. Option-
`ally a camera or microphone may be connected to the
`PDA or laptop as well. In this example it is feasible to
`40 use the invention to transfer files, including text files,
`presentations, etc.... from one terminal to another.
`In yet another embodiment a terminal may be a personal
`computer or workstation, having the same functionality
`for information handling as a PDA or laptop computer:
`45 connected to a data network using ISDN. In this case
`there may be a communication unit, communicating with
`the D-channel of the ISDN network, which is used for
`signalling or as a signalling network, and a communica-
`tion unit communicating with the B-channel of the ISDN
`50 network, which is used as a telecom network for data
`transport.
`These embodiments of terminal have in common that
`they are equipped with a processing unitthat can be pro-
`grammed for performing the functions described in this
`55 document.
`A terminal according the invention may be programmed
`to perform sending the information to a further terminal.
`A terminal according the invention may also be pro-
`
`6
`
`Apple Inc.
`Ex. 1007 - Page 6
`
`
`
`11
`
`EP 1 385 323 Al
`
`12
`
`grammed to perform receiving the information from a
`further terminal.
`A terminal according the invention may be programmed
`to perform sending and receiving the information to or
`from a further terminal.
`[0028] Using the various terminal configurations and
`sub telecom networks and sub signalling networks, the
`invention can be used to establish for example a one-
`way system for transferring data, i.e. from a camera in-
`tegrated in a first terminal, the first terminal connected
`to a data network 3 like the Internet via GPRS as a first
`sub telecom network 16, wherein the first terminal 1
`sends afirst message 6, using a GSM signalling network
`as a first sub signalling network 19, an ISDN signalling
`network as a second sub signalling network 20, to a sec-
`ond terminal which may be a PC connected to the ISDN
`signalling network. The second terminal may than log
`on to the Internet as the data network 3 via the ISDN
`data network as a second sub telecom network 17,
`thereby obtaining a second network address from the
`data network 3. The second terminal 2 may than send
`its second data network address to the first terminal 1
`via the second sub signalling network and the first sub
`signalling network using a message 7a. Upon receipt of
`the second data network address, the terminal 1 may
`start sending information, in this example streaming vid-
`eo, to the second terminal 2 via the first sub telecom
`network 16, the GPRS network, the data network 3 and
`the sub telecom network 17, the ISDN data network.
`[0029]
`In this example the ISDN network is interpreted
`of having a signalling network and a data network asso-
`ciated with the D-channel and the B-channels respec-
`tively.
`[0030]
`It must be clear that the elements mentioned
`in the various examples in this patent application are
`used in particular combination, but other combinations
`may apply which may still be covered by the invention.
`
`Claims
`
`1. A system for exchanging information between a
`first terminal (1) and a second terminal (2), compris-
`ing
`
`• a data network (3) for data transport between
`the first terminal (1) and the second terminal
`(2),
`• a telecom network (4) for providing access to
`the data network (3) to the first and second ter-
`minal (2),
`• a signalling network (5) for signalling between
`the first terminal (1) and the second terminal
`(2),
`
`wherein
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2