Portable communication device with improved possibility of special connection

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of portable communication devices, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a portable communication device equipped with communication capabilities for a short range ad hoc connection.

BACKGROUND

Today there is a trend in portable devices to empower these devices increasingly diverse functions. In particular, there is a tendency to provide portable devices improved ability to manage multimedia data elements, such as different sounds, images and video, etc. Sound, for example, may be music or the like, images can be photographs, or the like, and the video may be a movie or the like Multimedia data items can be recorded or downloaded via a portable device. Similarly, with the increasing speed of different gaming and entertainment elements embedded in portable devices.

As portable devices become more "intelligent" and similar to stationary devices, the need for the exchange of multimedia elements between different devices is becoming more and more popular and necessary. For example, a user may want to watch a movie on your home TV or hear a piece of music on your home Hi-Fi-system, as well as enjoy these elements on a portable device. In another situation, the user may choose to present an image or video recorded portable device. Then it will be useful if these images and video sequences can be easily transferred to a television receiver or a device connected to the television receiver, for providing a larger display, which may enjoy a few viewers. It may also be a need for saving images or videos, recorded a portable device in a stationary storage device having a large amount of memory. Again, it would be useful if the image and / or video sequences can be easily transferred to a non-removable storage. In general, there are many situations in which it will be useful to transfer multimedia data items and entertainment items of data between various devices.

A well-known and commonly used technique for the simple transfer of multimedia and entertainment elements between different devices are so-called wireless local area network (WLAN), and in particular, so-called WiFi technology. WiFi (also known as Wi-Fi, wifi, etc.) is a trademark, which was originally licensed alliance WiFi, to describe the underlying technology of WLAN based on the IEEE 802.11 specification, or the like Man with WiFi-device such as a cellular phone or PDA or the like, may, for example, connect to the Internet, when the access point is near. Space covered by one or several access points is called a "hot" point (hotspot - hotspot). WiFi also enables communication in ad hoc mode that allows devices to communicate directly with each other. This mode of connection is particularly useful, for example, consumer electronics and game applications, etc.

However, in many homes and offices and other densely populated areas will be somewhat WiFi-equipped devices, and so are their neighbors. Since WiFi-devices have a range of the most long-range, they will have a greater degree of coverage of the same space. The problem then is how to protect the ease of use when connecting equipped with WiFi portable device with other WiFi-device in the environment in which the portable device is a plurality of devices (e.g., 5) arranged in this room, and even more (e.g., 15) WiFi devices in-band, located in the neighborhood.

According to the well-known decisions of users and portable WiFi-scan devices. The user then has to select from a long list of compatible devices within range, including the devices located in the neighborhood, etc. Over time, the user can create a favorites list of devices that can simplify the choice. However, you can stay with too long a list of selected devices at home, in the office, in the car, in the summer house, and so on, and benefits are reduced list of favorite devices.

Considering the above, it will be useful to provide an improved portable wireless communication device to the selected device in the group of nearby devices. In a particular aspect, it will be useful to provide said improved wireless connection using minimal additional circuitry and signal processing in a portable device.

Disclosure of invention

The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved wireless portable device to the selected device in the group of nearby devices. According to a particular aspect, it will be useful to provide said improved wireless connection using minimal additional circuitry and signal processing in a portable device.

One object of the present invention is thus to provide an improved wireless portable device to the selected device in the group of nearby devices.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the present invention which provides a method for the wireless connection of the wireless portable device to the selected wireless device in a group of nearby wireless devices, and this portable device is provided with a block of short-range wireless communication with said group of nearby wireless devices, a substantially omni-directional antenna connected to said short-range unit for substantially omnidirectional communication, and at least one directional communication device coupled to said unit for short range substantially directional communications.

The method comprises the steps of:

- Activation device aimed communication

- Direction directional device communication on a nearby wireless device,

- Connection of the portable device to the selected device via the device directed communication

- Connection to the selected device via said substantially omnidirectional antenna after said compound.

A second aspect of the invention is directed towards a method including the features of the first aspect, wherein the use of a directional antenna connected to said short-range block as a device targeted communication directed to communication via electromagnetic radiation.

A third aspect of the invention is directed towards a method including the features of the first and the second aspect, characterized by at least using the camera contained in the portable communication device as a communication device designed for directional communication by recording information received by means of light.

A fourth aspect of the invention is directed towards a method including the features of the third aspect, characterized in using the camera for directional communication by recording the light emitted by the selected device, wherein the portable light is used to identify the selected device.

A fifth aspect of the invention is directed towards a method including the features of the third aspect, characterized in using the camera (24) for directional communication by recording an image of the selected device (10a), and this image is used by the portable device (10) to identify the selected device (10a).

A sixth aspect of the invention is directed to a method including the features of the fifth aspect, wherein step of extracting any useful information for the connection of possible marks in the recorded image.

A seventh aspect of the invention is directed to a method including the features of the first aspect, characterized in that the directional communication device is activated by accident, at least one of the following: the user presses a key on the keyboard of the portable device; detection of several nearby devices; activation of the application program.

An eighth aspect of the invention is directed to a method including the features of the second aspect, characterized by the steps:

- Activation omnidirectional antenna performance and level measurement signal from nearby devices,

- Activation of the directional antenna and performing signal level measurement, at least one of a nearby device when the directional antenna is directed toward a nearby device,

- Connection of the portable device with the nearby device having substantially the same signal level omnidirectional measurements in the measuring direction, or having a high signal level in the measuring direction.

A ninth aspect of the invention is directed to a method including the features of the second aspect, characterized by the steps:

- Activation omnidirectional antenna performance and level measurement signal from nearby devices,

- Activation of the directional antenna and performing signal level measurement, at least one of a nearby device when the directional antenna is directed toward a nearby device,

- Connection of the portable device with the nearby device having the lowest degree of reduction in the level of the measurement signal from omnidirectional to directional measurements.

A tenth aspect of the invention is directed to a method comprising the features of the second, eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the transmission power is reduced when the directional antenna is activated.

The objective mentioned above is also achieved according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is directed to a wireless handheld device operable to a functional connection to the selected wireless device in a group of nearby wireless devices, and this portable device comprises a short-range wireless communication with said group nearby wireless devices, a substantially omnidirectional antenna connected to said short-range unit for substantially omnidirectional communication with said nearby wireless devices are located.

The portable device further comprises: at least one device directional wire connected to by said short range and adapted for rapid deployment to a nearby wireless device, and sharing information about the connection to the selected device when the device directional communication is directed to said located nearby device.

A twelfth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the eleventh aspect, characterized in that the directional communication device is a directional antenna connected to said short-range unit, designed for communication by means of electromagnetic radiation.

A thirteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the eleventh or twelfth aspect, characterized in that the directional communication device is a camera contained in the portable communication device for communication by recording information received by means of light.

A fourteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the thirteenth aspect, characterized in that the chamber is adapted to be directional communication by recording the light emitted by the selected wireless device, and in that the portable device is arranged to use the received light to identify selected device.

A fifteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the thirteenth aspect, characterized in that the chamber is adapted to be directional communication by recording an image of the selected wireless device, and in that the portable device is adapted to use an image to identify the selected device.

A sixteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the fifteenth aspect, characterized in that the short-range unit is arranged to operatively extract any useful information about the connection of the possible labels in the recorded image.

A seventeenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the twelfth aspect, characterized in that the directional communication device is activated upon the occurrence of at least one of the following events: The user presses a key on the keyboard of the portable device; detection of several nearby devices; activation of the application program.

An eighteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the thirteenth aspect, characterized in that the small control range is arranged to operatively:

- Activate the omnidirectional antenna and perform measurement of the signal from nearby devices,

- Activate a directional antenna, and perform signal level measurement, at least one of a nearby device when the directional antenna is aimed at a nearby device,

- To connect a portable device with the nearby device having substantially the same signal level measurement omnidirectional and directional measurement, or having a high signal level in the measuring direction.

A nineteenth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the thirteenth aspect, characterized in that the small control range is arranged to operatively:

- Activate the omnidirectional antenna and perform measurement of the signal from nearby devices,

- Activate a directional antenna, and perform signal level measurement, at least one of a nearby device when the directional antenna is aimed at a nearby device,

- To connect a portable device with the nearby device having the lowest degree of reduction in the level of the measurement signal from the omnidirectional to directional measurement.

A twentieth aspect of the invention is directed to a portable device including the features of the thirteenth aspect, characterized in that the control of short-range configured to efficiently reduce the transmission power when the directional antenna is activated.

A twenty-first aspect of the invention is directed to a computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, comprising readable program means for causing a portable device to execute, when said program means loaded in a portable device, comprising:

- A block of short-range wireless communication with said group of nearby devices

- A substantially omnidirectional antenna connected to said short-range unit for substantially omnidirectional communication, and

- At least one device designed for directional communication connection,

steps:

- Activation device aimed communication

- Connection of the portable device to the selected device via directional communication device when the device is directional communication is directed to the selected device,

- Connection to the selected device via said substantially omnidirectional antenna after said compound.

Twenty-second aspect of the invention is directed to an element of a computer program having a program recorded thereon, wherein the program is designed to instruct the portable device to perform, when said program means loaded in a portable device, comprising:

- A block of short-range wireless communication with said group of nearby devices

- A substantially omnidirectional antenna connected to said short-range unit for substantially omnidirectional communication, and

- At least one device designed for directional communication connection,

steps:

- Activation device aimed communication

- Connection of the portable device to the selected device via directional communication device when the device is directional communication is directed to the selected device,

- Connection to the selected device via said substantially omnidirectional antenna after said compound.

Additional advantages of the present invention and its embodiments will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 shows a schematic view exemplifying a portable communication device in the form of a cellular phone with WiFi.

2 shows a cellular telephone in Figure 1, connected to the cellular network.

3 shows a schematic block diagram of a typical cell phone parts to Figures 1-2.

4a shows a first circuit aticheskuyu structure comprising a cellular telephone in Figures 1-3 and three other WiFi-device.

4b shows a second schematic structure comprising a cellular telephone in Figures 1-3 and three other WiFi-device.

5 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 shows a CD-ROM, on which is provided a program code for performing the method according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to portable communication devices. Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communication devices and some embodiments relate to a communication device comprising an image processing system. In general, the invention can be applied to any suitable portable communication device.

Portable communication device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the device is a mobile cellular telephone 10, adapted to operate according to the 3G-technology (e.g., W-CDMA or CDMA2000) or possibly by 2,5G-based technologies (e.g., GPRS) or similar technologies. Information about the 3G-2,5G-technology and technology etc. may for example be found in the specifications Partnership Project third generation (3GPP), see., for example, a web site link www.3gpp.org.

The cell phone 10 shown in Figure 1, is provided with a keyboard 12, a speaker 14 and a microphone 16. The keyboard 12 is used for entering information such as selection of functions and responding to prompts. Keyboard 12 may be of any suitable type, including, but not limited to, keyboard presses the button, as well as the touch buttons and / or a combination of various suitable constructions buttons. The speaker 14 is used to represent sounds of the user and the microphone 16 is used to sense the user's voice. In addition, the cellular phone 10 includes an antenna to be used for communication with other users via a network. However, the antenna is built in the telephone 10 and therefore not shown in Figure 1. In addition, the cellular phone 10 includes a display 22 for displaying functions and prompts the user of telephone 10.

Moreover, the cellular phone 10 comprises a camera device 24 to enable digitally record images by telephone 10. Preferably, the device 24 comprises a camera lens and / or lens system and an image sensor such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) comprising an integral circuitry associated with the matrix, or coupled, capacitors, sensitive to light. Of course, there may be other imaging sensors such as APS (active pixel sensor) comprising an integrated circuit with a matrix of pixels, each of which comprises a photodetector as well as three or more transistors. The display 22 may be used to represent the images recorded by the camera device 24.

Before we proceed it should be emphasized that the cellular phone 10 in Figure 1 is only one example of a portable device in which the invention may be implemented. The invention, for example, can also be used in PDA (personal digital assistant), pocket PC, laptop, or smartphone, or any other suitable portable device, for example, such as a digital camera.

2 shows the cellular phone 10 connected to cellular network 30 via the base station 32. The network 30 is typically a GSM or GPRS-network, or any other 2G-, or 2,5G- 2,75G-network. Of course, it is also possible that the network is a 3G-network such as WCDMA-network. However, the network does not necessarily have to be a cellular network but can be some type of network such as the Internet, a corporate intranet, LAN or wireless LAN.

3 shows a portion of the inner cellular phone 10 relevant to the present invention. As explained previously, it is preferred that the cellular phone 10 comprises a keypad 12, speaker 14, microphone 16, a display device 22 and the camera 24. It is also preferred that the cellular phone 10 is provided with a memory 18 for storing data files, in particular files of images created by the camera apparatus 24. Memory 18 may be any suitable type of memory, which is typically used in portable devices.

In addition, the cellular phone 10 includes an antenna 34 connected to the radio circuit 36 ​​to enable radio communication network 30 in Figure 2. The radio circuit 36, in turn, is connected to the unit 19 event processing events such as incoming and outgoing communications to and from the external units via a network 30 such as calls and messages, such as SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service ).

Of particular interest in connection with the embodiment which is now described, it is a block of 50 short-range, as shown in Figure 3. Unit 50 is preferably a small radius of action is the so-called WiFi transceiver. As explained above, WiFi is a trademark, which was originally licensed alliance WiFi, to describe the underlying technology of WLAN based on the IEEE 802.11 specification, or the like Man with WiFi-device such as a cellular phone or PDA or the like, may, for example, connect to the Internet, when there is access from the access point. Space covered by one or several access points is called a "hot" point. WiFi also enables communication in ad hoc mode that allows devices to communicate directly with each other. This mode of connection is useful, for example, consumer electronics and gaming applications.

As schematically illustrated in Figure 3, block 50 is preferably a small radius of action is connected with a first substantially omnidirectional antenna 52 is substantially omnidirectional communication with other devices or WiFi-like access from the cellular phone 10. In addition, as similarly illustrated schematically in Figure 3, block 50 is preferably a small radius of action is connected with a second substantially directional antenna 54 is substantially directed to other communication devices or the like WiFi- . far away from the cell phone 10.

In particular, the control unit 50 short-range is adapted to shift between operative substantially omnidirectional antenna 52 and a substantially directional antenna 54. In this block 50 a small radius of action may include a switch (not shown) or similar means for selecting one of two antennas 52, 54 in communication with other WiFi-devices. The switch can for example be done through a diode and / or transistor circuit or the like, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

It should be added that the directional and omni-directional properties of an antenna circuit comprising a directional antenna 54 and the omnidirectional antenna 52 can be achieved by a number of suitable circuits with a directional antenna. For example, antenna circuit may alternatively comprise a group of antennas or the like, such as an electrically controlled phased array antenna configured to create an alternating lobe antenna pattern, i.e., a wide or possibly omni directional petal and narrow lobe. For this purpose unit 50 short-range may be provided by the control circuit lobe of the antenna to control the shape of the antenna lobe group or the like In an exemplary embodiment, such a control circuit is controlled petal φ relative phase shift between successive antenna elements in the antenna group are well known to those skilled in the art.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the cellular phone 10 is also provided with a control unit 20 for controlling and monitoring the operation of phone 10. The control unit 20 may be implemented by hardware and / or software, and it may comprise one or several hardware units and / or software modules, for example one or more processors, access or having access to the corresponding software and hardware required for the functions required by the telephone 10, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the control unit 20 was connected to a keyboard 12, speaker 14, microphone 16, memory 18, event processing unit 19, display 22, camera 24, radio unit 36 ​​and the block 50 of small radius. This allows control unit 20 to control and communicate with these units so that, for example, exchange of information and instructions with blocks.

Of particular interest in connection with the present invention is the control element 40 short-range contained in the control unit 20. As part of the control unit 20, it is understood that the element 40 controls short-range can be realized by hardware and / or software, and it may comprise one or several hardware units and / or software modules, for example one or more processors, access or having access to the software and hardware suitable for the required functions. Element 40 controls short range is preferably adapted to process the operational signals which are transmitted and / or receiving unit 50 short-range, for example, is adapted to process signals with WLAN-connections made through block 50 of small radius. Passing through WLAN-connection and management are well known to those skilled in the art, and the function is a common feature of a broad range of portable devices are well known. See, for example, 3G-smartphone P990i company Sony-Ericsson. Additionally, control element 40 of short-range is adapted to control the operational antenna lobe created antenna circuit connected to the block 50 of small radius. If the first antenna circuit comprises an omnidirectional antenna 52 and the second directional antenna 54, the antenna lobe can be controlled, for example, by switching between the two antennas. For this purpose it is preferred that the switch unit 50 disposed in the small range, the managed element 40 operatively controls short range, for example, by means of instructions sent to block 50 of small radius. If the antenna circuit is a group antenna (e.g., a phased array antenna) or a similar antenna diagram provides variables lobe of the antenna, it is preferable that the control device lobe was taken in a block 50 of small radius of action to efficiently managed element 40 controls small range, for example, by means of instructions sent to block 50 of small radius. Such instructions may for example comprise a relative phase shift φ to be used between successive antenna elements in a group antenna.

Before we proceed it should be emphasized that in addition to the parts and the blocks of cellular phone illustrated in Figure 3, may have additional parts and components or the like, present in the cellular phone 10. The parts and components shown in FIG. 3 may also be connected to a large number of parts and units than illustrated.

Attention is now drawn to Figure 4a, which shows the first exemplified structure of the four-WiFi devices, i.e. cell phone 10, as described above, and three peer node 10a, 10b and 10c. WiFi devices 10a-10c-4a may be, for example, WiFi-computer, CD-player, DVD-player, a TV, a camera phone, PDA or any other WiFi-media device, or the like, such as mass storage device. Devices 10a-10c is typically placed in the same room or in the same building or in a similar narrow space, so that the transmission of the beacon or the like, at least two, and typically all devices 10a- 10c can be detected simultaneously cellular phone 10 at least one location. Technology of detecting one or more WiFi-devices, etc. is well known to those skilled in the art and are often used in commercially available products such as cellular phones and laptop computers. See, for example, 3G-smartphone P990i company Sony-Ericsson. WiFi-distance transmission devices 10a-10c are schematically illustrated in Figures 4a through the shaded circles. As can be seen, the range of illustrated rather small circles, and it is understood that the ranges can be more extensive. In fact, the transmission ranges can be so large relative to the distance between the devices 10a-10c, so that the space covered by the devices 10a-10c, may be regarded as substantially identical. When WiFi-cellular phone 10 equipped with an omnidirectional antenna 52 included in such a space, it will be able to potentially communicate with each device 10a-10c, from which it receives the beacon or the like, i.e. In many cases, it will be able to communicate with all the devices 10a-10c.

To enable a quick, easy and intuitive selection devices 10a-10c, with which the cellular telephone 10 must communicate, it is preferable that an omni-directional antenna 52 is off, while the directional antenna 54 is enabled to preferably form a narrow tab 54 'of the antenna pattern . Tab 54 'of the antenna pattern may be for example in the range of substantially 20 ° -40 °, and more preferably in the range of substantially 10-30 °, and most preferably in the range of substantially 15 ° -25 ° . Narrow tab 54 'of the antenna pattern has been schematically indicated 4a darkened sector of a circle. Switching from an omnidirectional antenna 52 at the directional antenna 54, for example, may be formed by pressing a user button on the keyboard 22, which is detected by control unit 20 and the element 40 controls short range sends instruction unit 50 short-range, to switch from an omnidirectional antenna 52 in 54. Alternatively, a directional antenna, omni-directional antenna 52 can be switched off, and the directional antenna 54 includes, as soon as the cell phone 10 detects more than one WiFi-device within range of the omnidirectional antenna 52.

Furthermore, when the transmission is switched from the omnidirectional antenna 52 to a directional antenna 54, it is preferable that the transmission power has been reduced control element 40 of short-range and / or block 50 of small radius. This is advantageous because it reduces the transmission distance and thus reduces the risk that more than one-located nearby WiFi device receives a transmission direction signal, in order to be able to contact the cellular phone 10, i.e. selection function will be improved in that only one chance to select a nearby WiFi-devices increases.

After the directional antenna 54 is activated, the cell phone 10 will be able to detect only those other WiFi-devices that are within a lobe of the directional antenna 54. In other words, the cellular phone does not detect WiFi-device that is located outside of the directional antenna lobe 54. This is true even if the WiFi-device is located very close to the cellular telephone 10, at least if we assume ideal lobe of the antenna.

However, in some embodiments, it may be difficult to implement a directional antenna 54 with a lobe 54 'of the antenna pattern in preferred angular intervals, as discussed above. In addition, a directional antenna 54 may have sidelobes causing unwanted sensitivity outside the main lobe 54 'of the antenna. Therefore, even if the directional antenna 54 is activated, and the center lobe 54 'of the directional antenna is aimed at a specific WiFi-device, a cellular phone 10 may, nevertheless, find several WiFi-devices. However, the level of the signal from the device-specific WiFi near or at the center lobe 54 'of the directional antenna is essentially unchanged or even more potent compared to the level of the signal from the same device received omni-directional antenna 52. As opposed to other WiFi-device that are not near or in the center lobe 54 'of the directional antenna will be attenuation of the signal level. It should be added that in a case where a directional antenna 54 has a low gain, the signal level of a specific WiFi-device side or in the center lobe 54 'of the directional antenna 54 can be lower than the level of a signal received from the same device omnidirectional antenna 52. However, compared with the levels of signals received by an omnidirectional antenna 52, the degree of reduction in the signal level for WiFi-device side or in the center lobe 54 'of the antenna will be less than the degree of reduction in the signal level for other WiFi-devices that are not close to the center petal 54 'directional antenna.

Therefore, with reference to Figure 4a, WiFi-device 10a can be more accurately selected in some embodiments, if the omnidirectional antenna 52 is activated for the first measurement of signal strengths from nearby WiFi-devices 10a-10c, wherein the directional antenna 54 is activated second signal level measurement, at least one of the nearby WiFi-device when the directional antenna 54 aimed at defining a nearby WiFi-device 10a. Cellular telephone 10 may then be coupled with the nearby WiFi-device 10a, which has substantially the same signal level at the first and second measurements or has a greater signal level at the second measurement. Alternatively, in the case of a directional antenna with low gain cellular phone 10 may be connected with the nearby WiFi-device 10a, which indicates the lowest degree of reduction in the signal level from the first to the second measurement.

It should be added that the strength of the received signal-to WiFi devices typically contained in the value of the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the transmitting device. Therefore, it is preferred that the cellular phone 10 has been arranged to measure the signal levels of the aforementioned by-observation RSSI values ​​for nearby WiFi-devices 10a-10c.

As described above, activation of the directional antenna 54 enables the user to select the cellular phone 10-WiFi device with which the cellular telephone 10 will communicate, through a simple direction cellular phone 10 and tab 54 'on the antenna selected WiFi-device. This is illustrated in Figure 4a schematic lobe 54 'of the antenna pattern emanating from the directional antenna 54 cellular phone 10 directed towards the WiFi-device 10a. As seen in Figure 4a, the device 10a is now the only device in the WiFi-range cellular phone 10, and cellular telephone 10 may be securely and unambiguously connected to a WiFi-device 10a.

Detection of single-WiFi device can for example be indicated on the display 22 and / or through a specific sound from the speaker 14 of the cellular phone 10. Connection to-one WiFi device can for example be performed by the user pressing a button on the keyboard 22, which is detected by unit 20 controls and 40 short-range management adapted to operably linked cell phone 10 with a single WiFi-device unit 50 through the short-range. Alternatively, a compound with a WiFi-device can be performed control unit 20, etc. as soon as the cellular phone 10 detects one WiFi-device within range of the directional antenna 54.

After the connection with the selected WiFi-device has been found preferable that the directional antenna 54 is off, while the omnidirectional antenna 52 is included for ease of maintaining connections, as cellular telephone 10, and possibly also the selected WiFi-device can move .

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 4b, which shows a second an exemplary structure of the four-WiFi devices, i.e. cell phone 10, as described above, and three peer node 10a, 10b and 10c. The embodiment is characterized in that the directional antenna 54 cellular telephone 10 has been replaced by directional light sensor. Here, it is preferable that the camera device 24 is used as directional light sensor. This solution is especially useful because it uses existing hardware (camera), i.e. solution does not require additional hardware. The angle at which the camera records the light 24 is preferably controlled to be same or similar corner tab 54 'of the antenna pattern described above. For example, this may be achieved by the AF device for increasing or decreasing the recording angle, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In this method, tab 24 'perception of light can be created by the camera 24, as schematically illustrated in Figure 4b. Activation chamber 24 as a light sensor, for example, can be performed by the user pressing a button on the keyboard 22. This control unit 20 is detected, which in turn activates the camera 24. Alternatively, the camera 24 can be activated as a light sensor as only the cellular phone 10 detects more than one WiFi-device within range of the omnidirectional antenna 52.

From the above observation reader will understand that the embodiment under consideration is now assumes that the WiFi-device which is to be selected, the device is provided with a radiation beam, suitable to emit light which can be detected by the camera 24, i.e. means light sensing chamber 24. To this end, the tab 10a 'of light emanating from WiFi-devices 10a, has been schematically indicated in Figure 4b darkened sector of a circle. Angle scattering lobe 10a 'light may be the same or similar to the angle of the petal 54' directional antenna discussed above. However, it is obvious that possible larger angle. Light can be modulated and / or encoded, and this implies that the cellular phone 24 in such cases must be able to demodulate / decode the modulated / encoded light. In many cases it is preferred that the light from the WiFi devices 10a-contained useful information about the connection, to facilitate connection to other WiFi-devices such as cell phone 10. The connection information may, for example, include the name of the network (e.g., a wireless network identifier, SSID ), or the like, which belongs to the WiFi-device, and possibly the identity or the like WiFi-considered apparatus. The light emitted from WiFi-device 10a, may also contain the following useful information about the connection, as the range of frequencies over which the device operates, the channel in this range, whether the connection is open or closed, rates to be used, etc. Although it is not necessary as a condition for the invention, it is preferable that the light emitted WiFi-device was invisible to the human eye (e.g., infrared light or the like) to avoid user disturbance and others. It should be noted that the semiconductor light sensors, such as CCD, used in digital cameras, typically sensitive to infrared light.

After perceiving light camera 24, the cellular phone 10 has been activated, it allows the user of the cellular phone 10 to select WiFi-device which is to be connected to the cellular telephone 10, by simple directions cellular telephone 10 and the camera 24 at the material WiFi-device, such as WiFi The device of 10a, as illustrated in Figure 4b. When cellular phone 10 receives light from a WiFi-device 10a, it is preferable that the cell phone 10 receives the connection information contained in the light, such as a network name, or the like, which belongs to the WiFi-device 10a, and possibly the identity or etc. WiFi-device 10a. The connection information is then used by the cellular telephone 10 to establish a connection with the WiFi-device specified by the cellular phone 10 and the chamber 24.

As an additional feature, WiFi-connection device performs, only when the cellular phone 10 detects light from a WiFi-device, i.e. no attempt is made to establish a connection, when the cellular phone 10 detects the light from the two-WiFi devices or more. Light from different WiFi-devices may for example comprise different carrier frequencies in order to allow the cell phone 10 to detect light from two or more WiFi-devices by analyzing the frequency content of the received light.

After the connection with the selected WiFi-device has been found preferable that receives light camera 24 is off, while the omnidirectional antenna 52 is included for ease of support compound as cellular telephone 10, and possibly also the selected WiFi-device may move.

Preferably, an alternative embodiment of a light-based, as described above, supported omnidirectional antenna 52 the active compound during the procedure, i.e. preferably not switched or the like between the directional antenna and the omnidirectional antenna as occurs in the previously described embodiment. Now, however, the described embodiments may be combined to improve reliability (and safety) in the connection process.

Another alternative embodiment of the present invention uses the contents of the image recorded camera apparatus 24 the cellular phone 10. The content of the recorded image is preferably analyzed in order to identify possible WiFi-around device captured the image. This can be accomplished by changing the precision by essentially any suitable well-known image recognition technology, which for example may compare the current captured image or its representation with a previously stored reference images of various WiFi-devices 10a-10c, or their representations. Well-known examples are the maximum a posteriori Bayesian classifier differences (Bayesian MAP) or the like, or a Bayesian classifier using the maximum likelihood method (Bayesian MP), or the like Reference image or representation may be stored and / or received and stored in the cellular phone 10 in advance. In particular, the camera apparatus 24 the cellular phone 10 can be used to record such reference image-WiFi devices 10a-10c, which are intended for connection to a cellular phone 10. The images and / or representations may then be stored in the cellular phone 10 together with the information about WiFi-device to view images captured by, for example, saved with the connection information such as the name of the network (eg, SSID, SSID) or the like, the identity or the like WiFi-considered apparatus, the frequency range in which the device assumes WiFi-work channel in this range, whether the connection is open or closed, rates to be used, etc. Information about the connection, etc. may for example be introduced by the user with keys on the keyboard 12, the cellular phone 10. In the case where the WiFi-identified device is actually recorded in the current image - for example, WiFi-device 10a, as shown in Figure 4b - possible to connect the cellular phone 10 with the identified device 10a by the information about the identified device 10a, which has been previously stored in the cellular phone 10 together with the image of the identified device 10a.

Before we continue, it should be added that the WiFi-devices 10a-10c, which is to bind the cell phone 10 is preferably provided with a visible information label or similar marks, containing useful information about connection to facilitate the connection WiFi-devices 10a-10c with a cell phone 10. The labels may for example comprise a two-dimensional bar code, or some other pattern, comprising presentation, for example, the names of the network (e.g., a wireless network identifier, SSID), or the like, which belongs to the WiFi-considered apparatus, and / or identical or similar WiFi-considered devices, etc. In these cases, the image recorded camera device 24 may include such tags. Therefore, preferably the control element 40 of short-range cellular phone 10 has been configured to operatively extract any useful information about the connection of the possible labels in the recorded image, to facilitate connection to other WiFi-devices, such as cellular telephone 10. For example, if the template is two-dimensional barcode, this can be done by simply extracting the information contained in the barcode, a well known manner (regardless of the context, for example, conventional cash register in retail stores).

Attention is now directed to the operation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1-3 along with Figures 4a-4c, illustrating two exemplifying structure-WiFi devices, and Figure 5 showing a block diagram of a preferred method according to the embodiment.

As explained earlier, serving as an example in the form of a portable cellular phone 10 according to the embodiment is provided with a block of 50 short-range, adapted to quickly establish a wireless WiFi-connection to the nearby WiFi-device. Furthermore, a cell phone has a substantially omni-directional antenna 52 connected to said unit 50 small range to allow substantially omnidirectional communication with said nearby WiFi-located device. The cellular phone 10 comprises at least one device 54, 24 directional communication adapted to exchange information on an operational connection with said nearby WiFi-positioned device when the apparatus 54, 24 directed to said communication is directed a nearby WiFi-device.

Steps in the example driven by way of establishing a wireless communication between cellular telephone 10 and the nearby WiFi-device will now be described with reference to an example driven block diagram of Figure 5. The method is preferably performed by control element 40 of short-range and the block 50 a small radius.

In a first step S1 exemplifying a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection function 40 initializes the management of short-range, the control unit 50 of small radius. Initialization includes actions such as activation of the cellular phone 10 to search for nearby WiFi-devices 10a-10c through the omnidirectional antenna 52. The search is preferably performed, as is well known to those skilled in the art by listening to the beacon or the like . from possible WiFi-devices 10a-10c in the vicinity of the cell phone 10.

At the second step S2, the exemplified method prepares a list or the like, comprising a WiFi-around device 10a-10c, from which the cellular phone 10 received beacon or the like The list may for example comprise names of nets or the like, which belongs to a certain WiFi-device 10a-10c, and possibly the identity or the like WiFi-considered apparatus. The network name and possibly other such facts are typically contained in the beacon transmission received from a WiFi-device. Prepared list may be presented on the display 22 of the portable communication device (such as cellular telephone 10), as is well known. However, the presentation is not required for the present invention.

At the third step S3 is studied whether the above list more than one WiFi-device, ie I received whether the cellular phone 10 transmit a beacon or the like by more than one-WiFi device. If the list contains one WiFi-device, preferably to the cellular phone 10 has established a connection with that device, as indicated in Figure 5 line extends from the block S3 to the parallelogram-shaped block S6 in a square shape.

At the fourth step S4, it is preferable that the user cellular phone 10 activated channel targeted communications. As described above, this may involve activation of the directional antenna 54 or the directional light sensor 24. However, the invention is not limited to communication through the directional electromagnetic radiation in general, and directional light in particular. Other means, such as, for example, focused ultrasound, or the like, may be used in some embodiments. Activation directional function may, e.g., be performed by the user pressing a button on the keypad 22, is detected by control unit 20 as described above. Activation directional function can also be performed when a specific application is activated, for example, when a user selects a photo or some other multimedia data item or leisure item of data to be transmitted to another nearby WiFi-located device. Selecting, for example, may be performed by the user pressing a button on the keypad 22. Alternatively, activation of the directional function can be performed as soon as the cellular phone 10 detects the set-WiFi devices within range of the directional antenna 54.

At the fifth stage S5 is preferable that the user of the cellular telephone 10 has selected WiFi-device to which the connection should be carried out by directing the cellular phone 10 to said WiFi-device, as described above with reference to Figures 4a-4b.

At the sixth step S6, it is preferable that the cellular phone 10 connected to the selected WiFi-device 10a. For this purpose it is preferred that the selected devices to transmit WiFi-connection information in order to facilitate connection of the selected devices with WiFi-cellular telephone 10. As previously described, the connection information may, for example, include the name of the network or the like, to which WiFi-device belongs, and possibly the identity or the like WiFi-considered apparatus. The transmitted connection information enables cell phone 10 to connect with the selected WiFi-device, for example through a network connection and / or device included in the information about the connection, or by connecting only WiFi-device, which responds to the connection attempts performed by the cellular telephone 10. It should be stressed that the connection information may simply be the light emitted by a light source located in WiFi-device as in one embodiment described above with reference to Figure 4b.

At the seventh stage S7 is preferred that the cellular phone 10 continued communication with the selected device via WiFi-omnidirectional antenna after the connection has been established with the selected device via WiFi-directional communication channel.

It should be emphasized that the method described above is merely an example of the present invention. Other embodiments of the method may include more steps or fewer steps, and the steps may be performed in a different order than above.

Generally, as explained previously, preferably the control element 40 of short-range, adapted to execute the exemplified process described above was presented in the form of one or more processors with corresponding memory containing the appropriate software in the form of program code. However, the code can also be provided in a storage medium such as a disc 46 CD-ROM, as shown in Figure 6, or a memory card is inserted, which can perform the invention when loaded into a computer or a mobile phone having suitable processing capabilities. The code can also be downloaded remotely from a server either outside or inside the cellular network or be downloaded via computer such as PC, to which the phone is temporarily connected.

The present invention has been described with reference to exemplified embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the full extent of the invention is defined only by the scope of the appended claims.