Cooperative Device Browsing through Portable Private Area Network

In next-generation networking environments, ubiquitous networks will be available both indoors and outdoors. Various devices will be ubiquitously embedded in our homes and cityscape. Digital content will be stored not only by servers on the Internet, but also in embedded devices belonging to ubiquitous networks. In this paper, we propose a content-processing mechanism for use in environment-enabling collaborative acquisition of embedded digital content in real-world situations. We have developed a network management device that makes it possible to acquire embedded content using coordinated ubiquitous devices. This management device actively configures networks that include content-providing devices and browsing devices to enable sharing of a range of digital content. To demonstrate our system, we built a practical prototype called the "Virtual Insect Catching System", which is simple enough for children to use. In a test that 48 children took part in we demonstrated that the system can be used to find embedded devices, build peer-topeer networks, acquire embedded digital content, retrieve related content from the Internet, and then create new web content.