Verizon Communications Inc.
Systems and methods for searching files across distributed WLAN-connected devices

Abstract:

A network router maintains a list of devices that are connected to a network established by the network router, where the list includes a first device and at least one other device and where the at least one other device includes a wired or a wireless device. The network router receives, from the first device, a search request that includes search terms for performing a file search, and broadcasts, to the at least one other device, the search request that includes the search terms. The network router receives search responses from the at least one other device, where each of the search responses comprises a device identifier associated with a responding one of the at least one other device and a file name and file location information of at least one file that matches the search terms. The network device forwards the search responses to the first device.