Information sharing in a smart space

• US 20080301301A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tuupola, Juha-Matti, Palin, Arto, Arponen, Jarmo, Jantunen, Joni, Tyrkko, Olli, Sovio, Sampo, Eriksson, Timo O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An apparatus and method for storing and maintaining in a smart space device connectivity information of devices of the smart space including a plurality of disparate radio access technologies. The connectivity information is propagated to at least one other device of the smart space and is used for selecting an optimal distribution route for information to be shared in the smart space. Technologies such as NoTA, BillBoard and Whiteboard can be used.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio bearer arranged for propagating previously obtained connectivity information of devices of a smart space to at least one other device of the smart space; and

a memory arranged for storing and maintaining connectivity information of devices of the smart space comprising a plurality of disparate radio access technologies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to propagate information about services provided by the smart space devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has stored accessibility information about where and how a certain service or information which the apparatus can not provide by itself is accessible, and wherein the apparatus is arranged to deliver such accessibility information to another device of the smart space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a multi-bearer apparatus comprising a first radio bearer and a second radio bearer different from the first radio bearer, the apparatus being configured to receive connectivity information over the first radio bearer and to propagate connectivity information to at least one other device of the smart space over the second radio bearer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to decide a distribution route, based on shared device characteristics and/or topology information, for information which needs to be shared.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to propagate to another device of the smart space information comprised by a logical information repository, such as a Whiteboard, which is common to each of the devices of the smart space.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a service advertisement board, such as a BillBoard, for advertising different services provided by the devices of the smart space.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connectivity information is arranged in a connectivity map in a low interconnect section of a device which is compliant with a service based interconnect centric platform architecture, such as NoTA.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disparate radio access technologies are selected from a group comprising at least:

Bluetooth, WLAN, WiMAX, Wibree, UWB, and cellular technologies.

10. A method, comprising:

storing and maintaining in a smart space device connectivity information of devices of the smart space comprising a plurality of disparate radio access technologies;

propagating the connectivity information to at least one other device of the smart space.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises propagating information about services provided by the smart space devices.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises:

receiving connectivity information at a first device over a radio bearer; and

propagating connectivity information to at least one other device of the smart space over another radio bearer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises:

deciding a distribution route, based on shared device characteristics, for information which needs to be shared.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises propagating to another device of the smart space information comprised by a logical information repository, such as a Whiteboard, which is common to each of the devices of the smart space.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises arranging the connectivity information in a connectivity map in a low interconnect section of a device which is compliant with a service based interconnect centric platform architecture, such as NoTA.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the disparate radio access technologies are selected from a group comprising at least:

Bluetooth, WLAN, WiMAX, Wibree, UWB, and cellular technologies.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for propagating previously obtained connectivity information of devices of a smart space to at least one other device of the smart space; and

means for storing and maintaining connectivity information of devices of the smart space comprising a plurality of disparate radio access technologies.