Connectionless broadcast signalling
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising at least one beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast messages using a first protocol which provides a series of inquiry messages, different inquiry messages in the series being provided on different carrier frequencies, and wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast additional data using a spread spectrum transmission technique.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system comprises a beacon and at least one portable device for receiving data from the beacon. The beacon broadcasts messages using a first protocol which provides a series of inquiry messages which hop frequencies (such as Bluetooth). Additional data is broadcast using a spread spectrum transmission technique. These two modes enable the spread spectrum transmission technique to be used to enable an unsynchronized receiver to establish communication in a short time, so that data can be sent to the receiver as quickly as possible. The frequency hopping technique may require a longer call set-up procedure, but provides a more appropriate communications protocol for bi-directional transfer of larger quantities of data.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A communications system comprising at least one beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast messages using a first protocol which provides a series of inquiry messages, different inquiry messages in the series being provided on different carrier frequencies, and wherein the beacon is arranged to broadcast additional data using a spread spectrum transmission technique.
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16. A beacon device capable of wireless message transmission and for use in a communications system comprising said beacon device and at least one portable device capable of receiving such a message transmission, wherein the beacon device is configured to broadcast a series of inquiry messages arranged according to a first protocol, and to broadcast additional data using a spread spectrum transmission technique.
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20. A method of communicating between a beacon device and a portable communications device, comprising:
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transmitting a series of inquiry messages arranged according to a first protocol, different inquiry messages in the series being provided on different carrier frequencies, and broadcasting additional data using a spread spectrum transmission technique, wherein the portable device receives the additional data and determines therefrom whether or not to communicate with the beacon device using the first protocol. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification