Abstract: A mobile device includes a memory, a wireless communication module, and a programmable processor operatively coupled together. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate within an ad hoc network with other mobile devices by wireless broadcasting. The programmable processor is instructed by computer executable code to: initiate an ad hoc network by self-identifying as a host device; receive requests to join the ad hoc network from participating mobile devices; assign a unique identifier to each of the host device and the participating mobile devices, the unique identifiers identifying the host device and the participating mobile devices as network participants; distribute to the participating mobile devices a list of the network participants, the list including the assigned unique identifiers; confirm receipt of the participant list by each of the participating mobile devices; and designate to the participating mobile devices a data exchange protocol for the ad hoc network.