Configuration of a peer group

US7689700B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Brian L. McNeil · Kirkland, US
• Steve Seixeiro · Snohomish, US
• Jerry K. Koh · Redmond, US
• Andrew V. Davidson · Kirkland, US
• Anshul Rawat · Kirkland, US
• Daniel Oliver · Seattle, US
• Michael G. Sheldon · Seattle, US
• Michael D. McCormack · Plano, US
• Ram Ramasubramanian · Bellevue, US
• Tracy Schultz · Seattle, US
• Giles van der Bogert · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 8, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 30, 2010
• Expiry date: Jun 18, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L63/083
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for configuring computing devices to join a peer group. A peer group may be created on a subnetwork by a computing device. When a new computing device enters the subnetwork, it may join the peer group and be given access to the shared resources on the peer group and associated computing devices, using a communications layer and an authorization layer. Allowing a new computing device to join a peer group includes inviting the new device to join and then challenging the device for a passkey of the peer group. After joining the peer group, the computing device will be able to access and share resources with the peer group and other computing devices associated with the peer group.