Network routing using position location and short-range wireless connections

A method comprising:

• receiving a signal as an intended target;
• determining a current location;
• transmitting a location report including identification information and location information indicative of the current location to a sender of the signal;
• and
• transmitting the location report at a transmit power level.

An apparatus comprising:

• an antenna operative to receive and transmit wireless communication signals;
• an antenna controller operative to determine a direction of received signals and to transmit signals in a selected direction or range of directions;
• a memory device operative to store address information and location information associated with a plurality of nodes;
• and
• a routing controller operative to
• receive a signal intended for a node, said signal including address information identifying said node,
• extract the address information from the signal,
• attempt to determine a location of the node,
• transmit the signal to the node in response to determining the location of the node, and
• determine a direction from which the signal was received and transmitting the signal away from said direction in response to not determining the location of the node.

An apparatus comprising:

• an antenna operative to receive and transmit wireless communication signals;
• an antenna controller operative to determine a direction of received signals and to transmit signals in a selected direction or range of directions;
• a memory device operative to store address information and location information associated with a plurality of nodes;
• and
• a routing controller operative to
• receive a signal as an intended target;
• determine a current location of the apparatus;
• and
• transmit a location report including
• identification information and location information indicative of the current location to a sender of the signal.

An article comprising a machine-readable medium which stores machine-executable instructions, said instructions operative to cause the machine to:

• receive a signal intended for a node, said signal including address information identifying said node;
• extract the address information from the signal;
• attempt to determine a location of the node;
• transmit the signal to the node in response to determining the location of the node;
• and
• determine a direction from which the signal was received and transmitting the signal away from said direction in response to not determining the location of the node.

An article comprising a machine-readable medium which stores machine-executable instructions, said instructions operative to cause the machine to:

• receive a signal as an intended target;
• determine a current location;
• transmit a location report including identification information and location information indicative of the current location to a sender of the signal;
• and
• transmit the location report repeatedly.