METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCATING COMMUNITIES OVER AN AD-HOC MESH NETWORK

• US 20100306320A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kasslin, Mika, Tirronen, Mikko, Virtanen, Sami, Turunen, Markku T., Leppanen, Kari J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An approach is provided for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network. Community identifiers are used to locate communities and community members over an ad-hoc mesh network. The community identifiers are also associated with keys to authenticate members of the community and to protect the privacy and anonymity of information exchanged between the members.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a community of a plurality of wireless nodes using a community identifier corresponding to the community, wherein the community is active among one or more neighboring wireless nodes over an ad-hoc mesh network; and

updating a list of active communities based on the identification.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message directed to the community from a neighboring wireless node;

determining whether a receiving wireless node is a member of the community;

identifying the community as an active community if the receiving node is a member of the community; and

updating the list of active communities based on the identification.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input requesting a search for the community;

retrieving a community identifier corresponding to the community;

generating a community search message containing a community query identifier and the community identifier;

initiating transmission of the community search message to one or more neighboring wireless nodes, wherein each neighboring wireless node that is associated with the community identifier automatically replies to the community search message;

identifying the community as an active community if at least one reply is received in response to the community search message; and

updating the list of active communities based on the identification.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input requesting a search for one or more members of the community;

retrieving a community identifier corresponding to the community;

generating a member search message containing a community query identifier and the community identifier;

initiating transmission of the member search message to one or more neighboring wireless nodes, wherein each neighboring wireless node that is visible and that is associated with the community identifier automatically replies to the member search message;

updating a list of visible community members based on one or more replies to the member search message;

identifying the community as an active community if at least one reply is received in response to the member search message; and

updating the list of active communities based on the identification.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the community is set to a visible state in which members of the community are visible, and the method further comprising:

retrieving an alias corresponding to a member of the community; and

including the user alias in the member search message,

wherein a neighboring wireless node corresponding to the user alias automatically replies to the member search message.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring for one or more messages related to the community over a predetermined period of time;

designating the community as an inactive community if no messages related to the community are observed during the predetermined period of time; and

updating the list of active communities based on the designation.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

anonymizing the community identifier in one or more messages directed to the community; and

encrypting information related to an identity of a member of the community in one or more messages directed to the community.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein a wireless node joins the community by receiving, over a secure communication channel, the community identifier and a corresponding authentication key and storing the received community identifier and the corresponding authentication key in a community directory within the wireless node.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the community is specific to a first wireless node and a second wireless and represents a bond between the first wireless node and the second wireless node, and wherein the community is created by exchanging the community identifier and the corresponding authentication key between the first wireless node and the second wireless.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

identify a community of a plurality of wireless nodes using a community identifier corresponding to the community, wherein the community is active among one or more neighboring wireless nodes over an ad-hoc mesh network, and

update a list of active communities based on the identification.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a message directed to the community from a neighboring wireless node;

determine whether a receiving wireless node is a member of the community;

identify the community as an active community if the receiving node is a member of the community; and

update the list of active communities based on the identification.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive input requesting a search for the community;

retrieve a community identifier corresponding to the community;

generate a community search message containing the community identifier;

initiate transmission of the community search message to one or more neighboring wireless nodes, wherein each neighboring wireless node that is associated with the community identifier automatically replies to the community search message;

identify the community as an active community if at least one reply is received in response to the community search message; and

update the list of active communities based on the identification.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive input requesting a search for one or more members of the community;

retrieve a community identifier corresponding to the community;

generate a member search message containing the community identifier;

initiate transmission of the member search message to one or more neighboring wireless nodes, wherein each neighboring wireless node that is visible and that is associated with the community identifier automatically replies to the member search message;

update a list of visible community members based on one or more replies to the member search message;

identify the community as an active community if at least one reply is received in response to the member search message; and

update the list of active communities based on the identification.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the community is set to a visible state in which members of the community are visible, and the apparatus is further caused to:

retrieve an alias corresponding to a member of the community; and

include the user alias in the member search message,

wherein a neighboring wireless node corresponding to the user alias automatically replies to the member search message.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

monitor for one or more messages related to the community over a predetermined period of time;

designate the community as an inactive community if no messages related to the community are observed during the predetermined period of time; and

update the list of active communities based on the designation.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

anonymize the community identifier in one or more messages directed to the community; and

encrypt information related to an identity of a member of the community in one or more messages directed to the community.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein a wireless node joins the community by receiving, over a secure communication channel, the community identifier and a corresponding authentication key and storing the received community identifier and the corresponding authentication key in a community directory within the wireless node.

18. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the community is specific to a first wireless node and a second wireless and represents a bond between the first wireless node and the second wireless node, and wherein the community is created by exchanging the community identifier and the corresponding authentication key between the first wireless node and the second wireless.

19. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

20. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the mobile phone includes a radio for device-to-device communication.