Connectivity information sharing in a smart space having a multiplicity of radio access technologies

• US 7,831,717 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sovio, Sampo, Eriksson, Timo O., Tuupola, Juha-Matti, Palin, Arto, Arponen, Jarmo, Jantunen, Joni, Tyrkkö, Olli
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell; Robert B
• Application Number:
  US11/809,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 725/81
• 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 memory configured to store and maintain connectivity information of devices of a smart space, the devices of the smart space using a plurality of disparate radio access technologies to communicate with each other, and wherein the connectivity information defines a connectivity map comprising radio bearer information for one or more radio bearers for at least two of the plurality of disparate radio access technologies used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

a transceiver coupled to the memory,

a the processor being configured to cause the transceiver to propagate via a selected radio bearer the connectivity information to at least one device of the smart space other than the at least two devices of the smart space, the selected radio bearer different from at least one of the one or more radio bearers used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises about services provided by the smart space devices and wherein the processor is further arranged to cause the transceiver to propagate information about services provided by the smart space devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory 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 processor is arranged to cause such accessibility information to be delivered, using the transceiver, to another device of the smart space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to decide a distribution route, based on shared device characteristics and/or topology information, for information which needs to be shared and to cause the transceiver to propagate the information over at least part of the distribution route.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to cause to be propagated to another device of the smart space information comprised by a logical information repository, which is common to each of the devices of the smart space.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a service advertisement board, for advertising different services provided by the devices of the smart space, and wherein the connectivity information contains information on which devices in the smart space store the service advertisement board.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus cannot communicate via at least one of the at least two disparate radio access technologies.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one device of the smart space other than the at least two devices cannot communicate using at least one of the at least two of the plurality of the disparate radio access technologies used by the at least two of the devices.

11. A method, comprising:

storing and maintaining in a smart space device connectivity information of devices of the smart space, the devices of the smart space using a plurality of disparate radio access technologies to communicate with each other, and wherein the connectivity information defines a connectivity map comprising radio bearer information for one or more radio bearers for at least two of the plurality of disparate radio access technologies used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other;

the smart space device transmitting the connectivity information via a selected radio bearer to at least one device of the smart space other than the at least two devices of the smart space, the selected radio bearer different from at least one of the one or more radio bearers used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other.

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

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises:

receiving connectivity information at the smart space device over a first radio bearer from a first device in the smart space; and

transmitting connectivity information to another device of the smart space over another radio bearer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises:

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

transmitting the information over at least a portion of the distribution route.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises transmitting to another device of the smart space information comprised by a logical information repository, which is common to each of the devices of the smart space.

16. The method of claim 11, 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.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the disparate radio access technologies are selected from a group comprising at least:

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

18. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

storing and maintaining in a smart space device connectivity information of devices of the smart space, the devices of the smart space using a plurality of disparate radio access technologies to communicate with each other, and wherein the connectivity information defines a connectivity map comprising radio bearer information for one or more radio bearers for at least two of the plurality of disparate radio access technologies used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other; and

the smart space device transmitting via a selected radio bearer the connectivity information to at least one other device of the smart space, the selected radio bearer different from at least one of the one or more radio bearers used by at least two of the devices to communicate with each other.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

receiving connectivity information at the smart space device over a first radio bearer from a first device in the smart space; and

transmitting connectivity information to another device of the smart space over another radio bearer.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

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

transmitting the information over at least a portion of the distribution route.