METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR SHARING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT WITHIN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK

A system, method and communication device configuration for sharing multimedia content between network devices, such as UPnP or UPnP/DLNA devices and mobile communication devices, across different local networks or subnets. One possible system arrangement or architecture is based on the communication devices forming groups and then sharing UPnP control messages across the groups. The system arrangement supports enabling group member access to UPnP devices that are in other group devices or reachable via other group devices. By enabling devices to form groups across wide-area networks and distribute UPnP messages within the group members, the system effectively extends the range of a UPnP network. Devices include an overlay middleware and an xDLNA application to provide the functionality to form or join a device group and communicate multimedia content with other devices in the group as if the devices are within the same local network.