METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING REMOTE PARTICIPANCE IN A COMMUNITY

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for facilitating remote participance in a community. A method may include causing an anchor terminal located at a first location to use a proximity-based wireless communication technology to participate in an ad hoc community formed at least in part by the anchor terminal and one or more further terminals at the first location using the proximity-based wireless communication technology to communicate with each other. The method may further include causing the anchor terminal to maintain a connection to a structured network, thereby enabling a remote terminal to participate in the community. The method may additionally include, in an instance in which the remote terminal participates in the community, causing the anchor terminal to serve as a gateway between the terminals participating in the community at the first location and the remote terminal. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.