DIRECTIONAL DATA DISTRIBUTION

• US 20100309049A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: REUNAMÄKI, Jukka, PALIN, Arto Tapio
• Application Number:
  US12/479,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309049A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/367
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system for facilitating wireless communication in an apparatus that may be triggered by the realization of data for wireless transmission. A determination may then be made as to whether the data is intended for transmission to a certain recipient (e.g., a specific apparatus) or in a specific direction. The data may then be transmitted using directional wireless communication if a wireless transport is determined to be usable for transmitting the data in a direction based on the previous determination. If directional wireless communication is not available, the data may be transmitted via omnidirectional communication.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving data at an apparatus;

determining one or more directions from which the data was received; and

transmitting the data in one or more specific directions excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the received data is intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, and if the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, determining whether directional communication is supported in the apparatus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if directional communication is determined to be supported in the apparatus and the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients, assigning the one or more specific directions to be directions toward the specific recipients from the apparatus.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the data in the one or more specific directions occurs if the apparatus first determines that directional communication is supported, and further, that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determination that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions further comprises determining if any of the wireless transports are also supported by the specific recipients.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the data in all directions, excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received, when at least one of the data is not intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, or if the directions towards the specific recipients are unknown.

7. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

computer executable program code configured to receive data at an apparatus;

computer executable program code configured to determine one or more directions from which the data was received; and

computer executable program code configured to transmit the data in one or more specific directions excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising determining that the received data is intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, and if the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, determining whether directional communication is supported in the apparatus.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein if directional communication is determined to be supported in the apparatus and the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients, assigning the one or more specific directions to be directions toward the specific recipients from the apparatus.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein transmitting the data in the one or more specific directions occurs if the apparatus first determines that directional communication is supported, and further, that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein determination that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions further comprises determining if any of the wireless transports are also supported by the specific recipients.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the data in all directions, excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received, when at least one of the data is not intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, or if the directions towards the specific recipients are unknown.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the device to perform at least the following;

receive data at an apparatus;

determine one or more directions from which the data was received; and

transmit the data in one or more specific directions excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising determining that the received data is intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, and if the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, determining whether directional communication is supported in the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein if directional communication is determined to be supported in the apparatus and the data is determined to be intended for specific recipients, assigning the one or more specific directions to be directions toward the specific recipients from the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein transmitting the data in the one or more specific directions occurs if the apparatus first determines that directional communication is supported, and further, that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determination that at least one communication transport supported by the apparatus is usable for directional transmission in the one or more specific directions further comprises determining if any of the wireless transports are also supported by the specific recipients.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the data in all directions, excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received, when at least one of the data is not intended for specific recipients or for transmission in one or more specific directions, or if the directions towards the specific recipients are unknown.

19. A system, comprising:

at least one origin apparatus; and

a transmission apparatus;

the transmission apparatus being configured to receive data from the at least one origin apparatus and to determine one or more directions from which the data was received; and

the transmission apparatus being further configured to transmit the data in one or more specific directions excluding the one or more directions from which the data was received.