Nokia Corporation

Nokia Technologies Oy

Mikko Tirronen

Mika Kasslin

Philip Ginzboorg

Sami Virtanen

Kari Leppanen

Markku Tapio Turunen

Enrico Rantala

Kari Juhani Leppänen

Mark T Turunen

Kari Leppänen

An approach is provided for providing a collaborative reply to a flooding message over an ad-hoc mesh network. A reply message to a flooding message is received by a wireless node within the ad-hoc network. The wireless node monitors for an acknowledgement of receipt of the reply message according to a routing table and initiates a scheduled transmission of the reply message based on the monitoring.

Method and apparatus for providing a colloborative reply over an ad-hoc mesh network

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.

Method and apparatus for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network

Method and apparatus for providing a collaborative reply over an ad-hoc mesh network

Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become 'aware' of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Data-related task support in wireless communication systems

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to facilitating apparatus interaction. In at least one example embodiment of the present invention, apparatuses may comprise both triggered communication activities and automated communication activities. Triggered communication activities may correspond to, for example, user and/or application instigated actions in a wireless apparatus. Automated activities may occur without any requirement for user intervention, and further, without any notification to the user that an action has occurred.

Beaconing mode for wireless communication

An approach is provided for discovering a location-based service over an ad-hoc mesh network. A location-based service is discovered sending an anonymous flooding message including a query over the ad-hoc mesh network. A wireless node replies to the flooding message over the ad-hoc mesh network with a pointer to the discovered location-based service.

Method and apparatus for engaging in a service or activity using an ad-hoc mesh network

Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal transmitted at a set interval. Communication-related activities may be planned around instances when beacon signals are expected, which may also be known as a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). Scanning opportunities, which are periods of time during which apparatuses may perform passive scanning, may be planned based on an interfere multiple of a network beacon signal interval. Apparatuses may, upon realizing a scanning opportunity, opt either to utilize the scanning opportunity or to participate in network beaconing. In example scenarios where apparatuses opt to utilize scanning opportunities, apparatuses may prepare a network information message and then enter a passive scanning mode. Apparatuses may remain in the passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity, reacting when messages are received from devices outside of the network by transmitting the network information message.

Network discovery in wireless communication systems

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the invocation of active states and power conservation states in accordance with the standard or diluted beacon periods defined in beacon frames. Active periods, or 'awake windows,' may be defined by additional information (e.g., information elements) that is included in the beacon. Awake windows may establish periods of time during which apparatuses may contend for access to a wireless communication medium. A methodology may further be employed to help determine which apparatuses will have priority when accessing the communication medium. This criteria may be used alone or in combination with the corresponding standard channel access rules (e.g., contention) that govern operation of the particular wireless communication medium in order to control how apparatuses communicate and interact in the wireless network.

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Helsinki, Finland

Mikko Tirronen