Wireless technology bridging system

• US 10,117,082 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chatterton, Geoffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, April G
• Application Number:
  US15/421,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20170142546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 903, 455 902, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer

Abstract

A bridged wireless communication system includes a user device that is configured to perform wireless communications natively using a second wireless technology, and a wireless technology bridging system chassis such as, for example, a user device case, coupled to the user device. The wireless technology bridging system chassis houses a first technology wireless controller that is configured to perform wireless communications using a first wireless technology that is different from the second wireless technology, and a second technology wireless controller that is configured to perform wireless communications using the second wireless technology. A bridging engine receives first wireless communications of the first wireless technology through the first technology wireless controller, converts the first wireless communications from the first wireless technology to the second wireless technology, and sends the first wireless communications of the second wireless technology through the second wireless technology controller and to the user device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a first wireless subsystem that is configured to receive wireless communications of a first wireless technology type;

a second wireless subsystem that is configured to send wireless communications of a second wireless technology type that are different than the wireless communications of the first wireless technology type; and

a bridging engine that is coupled to each of the first wireless subsystem and the second wireless subsystem, wherein the bridging engine is configured to;

convert a first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type, which was received through the first wireless subsystem, to a first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type; and

provide the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to the second wireless subsystem such that the second wireless subsystem sends the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to at least a first device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless device subsystem is configured to send wireless communications of the first wireless technology type, the second wireless subsystem is configured to receive wireless communications of the second wireless technology type, and the bridging engine is configured to:

convert a second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type, which was received through the second wireless subsystem, to a second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type; and

provide the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to the first wireless subsystem such that the first wireless subsystem sends the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to at least a second device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications of the first wireless technology type are Bluetooth wireless technology communications, and wherein the wireless communications of the second wireless technology type are Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless technology communications.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a chassis, wherein each of the first wireless subsystem, the second wireless subsystem, and the bridging engine are housed in the chassis.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the chassis is adhered to the at least one device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one antenna coupled to each of the first wireless subsystem and the second wireless subsystem.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridging engine is configured to:

cause the second wireless subsystem to send the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type at predetermined intervals to the at least the first device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second wireless subsystem that is configured to receive wireless communications of the second wireless technology type, a second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type;

converting the second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to a second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type; and

providing, to the first wireless subsystem that is configured to send wireless communications of the first wireless technology type, the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type in order to cause the first wireless subsystem to send the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to at least a second device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications of the first type are Bluetooth wireless technology communications, and wherein the wireless communications of the second type are Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless technology communications.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first wireless subsystem, the second wireless subsystem, and the bridging engine are housed in a common chassis.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type is received through at least one antenna coupled to the first wireless subsystem, and wherein the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type is received through the at least one antenna coupled to the second wireless subsystem.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

causing the second wireless subsystem to send the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type at predetermined intervals to the at least the first device.

13. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a first wireless subsystem that is configured to receive wireless communications of a first wireless technology type, a first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type;

providing, by the first wireless subsystem to a bridging engine, the first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type;

converting, by the bridging engine, the first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to a first wireless communication of a second wireless technology type;

receiving, from the bridging engine by a second wireless subsystem that is configured to send wireless communications of the second wireless technology type that are different than the wireless communication of the first wireless technology type, the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type; and

sending, by the second wireless subsystem, the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to at least a first device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the second wireless subsystem that is configured to receive wireless communications of the second wireless technology type, a second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type;

providing, by the second wireless subsystem to the bridging engine, the second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type;

converting, by the bridging engine, the second wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to a second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type;

receiving, from the bridging engine by the first wireless subsystem that is configured to send wireless communications of the first wireless technology type, the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type; and

sending, by the first wireless subsystem, the second wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to at least a second device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications of the first wireless technology type are Bluetooth wireless technology communications, and wherein the wireless communications of the second type are Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless technology communications.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the first wireless subsystem, the second wireless subsystem, and the bridging engine are housed in a common chassis.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the chassis is adhered to the at least one device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type is received through at least one antenna coupled to the first wireless subsystem, and wherein the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type is received through the at least one antenna coupled to the second wireless subsystem.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the sending the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to at least one device further comprises:

sending, by the second wireless subsystem, the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type at predetermined intervals to the at least the first device.

20. A non-transitory, machine-readable memory having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless subsystem that is configured to receive wireless communications of a first wireless technology type, a first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type;

converting the first wireless communication of the first wireless technology type to a first wireless communication of a second wireless technology type;

providing, to a second wireless subsystem that is configured to send wireless communications of a second wireless technology type that are different than the wireless communications of the first wireless technology type, the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type that enables the second wireless subsystem to send the first wireless communication of the second wireless technology type to at least a first device.