Apparatus, method and system for a remote-page device

• US 20040009748A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Perala, Timo K., Ginman, Tommy, Laitinen, Timo M., Heinonen, Tomi
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and system for a remote-page devices. Communications are made more efficient with a connectivity tool. Remote-page enabled clients allow a short-range RF device to communicate beyond its coverage area or that of a nearby access point. Such a remote-page enabled client may issue remote-page messages and send them to remote-page enabled access points, which will ultimately route the message to a desired target client beyond the coverage area of the original client. The disclosure further teaches a remote-page enabled access point that may accept remote-page messages from clients and pass them on to remote access points that are communicating with the desired target device. The disclosure also teaches a remote-page server that tracks specified remote-page enabled access points and all clients disposed in communication with the access points. The remote-page server allows access points to query it for the existence of desired target devices and provides information relating to the existence of any such target devices. Information provided from a remote-page server to an access point allows the access point to establish a communications channel with a remote access point and act as a conduit for communications between an original client and a desired target client. This allows for client devices to not only communicate with devices outside of their given RF coverage area, but to also communicate across a communications network with other types of devices.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication between short-range radio-frequency devices, comprising:

sending an inquiry signal;

receiving an inquiry response signal from a client;

sending a notification to a central server of a client'"'"'s changed presence status, wherein the notification includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response;

effecting the storage of client presence information in a routing database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices are Bluetooth enabled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client'"'"'s presence is observed from an inquiry response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client'"'"'s absence is observed from a lack of response to an inquiry signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing database is in a central server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein client presence information includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein client presence information is an observed lack of response to an inquiry signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

111. The medium of claim 110, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

157. The apparatus of claim. 150, wherein client presence information is an observed lack of response to an inquiry signal.

10. A method of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency dec comprising:

sending a remote paging signal to an access point from an originating device to a remote target device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of the remote target device;

receiving a paging response signal from the access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

establishing a communications link with the remote target device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the establishment of a communications link with the remote target device includes establishing a communications link with the access point by employing the paging response signal.

16. A method of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency device, comprising:

receiving a remote paging signal from an originating device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of a remote target device;

querying a routing database to determine if the remote target device is present;

if a central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, receiving identifying information of a remote access point from the central server and sending a link creation signal to the remote access point;

receiving a communication channel reservation signal from the remote access point, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information, wherein the reservation signal includes a paging response signal from the remote access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

reserving a communications channel for the remote access point by employing the remote access point information received with the reservation signal;

sending a paging response signal to the originating device, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the routing database is accessible by a central server.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the originating device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the identifying information is a network address.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

27. The method of claim 25, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

establishing a communications link with the originating device by employing the received remote-paging response signal.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a communications for the originating device with the remote target device through the reserved communications channel.

31. A method of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency device, comprising:

receiving a link creation signal with identifying information from an originating access point at a remote access point, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information, target device information, and originating access point information;

sending a paging signal to a target device, wherein the paging signal includes an address of the target device;

receiving a paging response signal from the target device;

establishing a communications link with the target device by employing the paging response signal;

sending a communication channel reservation signal to an originating access point, wherein the reservation signal includes the paging response signal from the target device;

reserving a communications channel for the originating access point by employing the received link creation signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

35. The method of claim 34, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the target device address is provided from the received link creation signal.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifying information from the originating access point includes addresses.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the addresses are Bluetooth addresses.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the addresses are network addresses.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the target device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

44. A method of wireless communications of a remote, short-range, radio-frequency, wireless communication enabling device, comprising:

receiving a routing database query at a central server to determine if a remote target device is present;

if the central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, sending information responsive to the query to an originating access point, wherein responsive information includes identifying information of a remote access point;

if the central server is itself handling link creation, sending a link creation signal to a remote access point identified as a query result, wherein the link creation signal includes identifying information of an originating access point.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the target device is an Internet device.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the identifying information includes target device information.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the identifying information includes originating access point information.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

effecting the establishment of a communications link between the originating device and target device.

50. A medium readable by a processor of wireless communication between Bluetooth devices, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to access;

an operation command identifier;

a command group identifier;

a total parameter length identifier;

a Bluetooth address of an originating access point;

a packet type identifier;

a page-scan-repetition-mode identifier;

a page-scan-mode identifier;

a difference in time between a master and slave clock identifier;

an allow-role-switches identifier;

a Bluetooth address of the remote device identifier; and

wherein the access of said instruction signals may effect a response from a desired target device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium are transient.

52. A system of wireless communication between short-range radio-frequency devices, comprising:

means to send an inquiry signal;

means to receive an inquiry response signal from a client;

means to send a notification to a central server of a client'"'"'s changed presence status, wherein the notification includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response;

means to effect the storage of client presence information in a routing database.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the devices are Bluetooth enabled.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the client'"'"'s presence is observed from an inquiry response.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the client'"'"'s absence is observed from a lack of response to an inquiry signal.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

57. The system of claim 52, wherein the routing database is in a central server.

58. The system of claim 52, wherein client presence information includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response.

59. The system of claim 52, wherein client presence information is an observed lack of response to an inquiry signal.

60. The system of claim 52, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

61. A system of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency device, comprising:

means to send a remote paging signal to an access point from an originating device to a remote target device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of the remote target device;

means to receive a paging response signal from the access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

means to establish a communications link with the remote target device.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein the establishment of a communications link with the remote target device includes establishing a communications link with the access point by employing the paging response signal.

67. A system of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency device, comprising:

means to receive a remote paging signal from an originating device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of a remote target device;

means to query a routing database to determine if the remote target device is present;

if a central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, means to receive identifying information of a remote access point from the central server and to send a link creation signal to the remote access point;

means to receive a communication channel reservation signal from the remote access point, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information, wherein the reservation signal includes a paging response signal from the remote access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

means to reserve a communications channel for the remote access point by employing the remote access point information received with the reservation signal;

means to send a paging response signal to the originating device, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

71. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

72. The system of claim 67, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

73. The system of claim 67, wherein the routing database is accessible by a central server.

74. The system of claim 67, wherein the originating device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

75. The system of claim 67, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

76. The system of claim 67, wherein the identifying information is a network address.

77. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

78. The system of claim 76, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

79. The system of claim 67, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

80. The system of claim 67, further comprising:

means to establish a communications link with the originating device by employing the received remote-paging response signal.

81. The system of claim 67, further comprising:

means to provide a communications for the originating device with the remote target device through the reserved communications channel.

82. A system of wireless communication of a short-range radio-frequency device, comprising:

means to receive a link creation signal with identifying information from an originating access point at a remote access point, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information, target device information, and originating access point information;

means to send a paging signal to a target device, wherein the paging signal includes an address of the target device;

means to receive a paging response signal from the target device;

means to establish a communications link with the target device by employing the paging response signal;

means to send a communication channel reservation signal to an originating access point, wherein the reservation signal includes the paging response signal from the target device;

means to reserve a communications channel for the originating access point by employing the received link creation signal.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

84. The system of claim 82, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

85. The system of claim 82, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

86. The system of claim 85, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

87. The system of claim 82, wherein the target device address is provided from the received link creation signal.

88. The system of claim 82, wherein the identifying information from the originating access point includes addresses.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the addresses are Bluetooth addresses.

90. The system of claim 88, wherein the address es are network addresses.

91. The system of claim 82, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

92. The system of claim 82, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

93. The system of claim 82, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information.

94. The system of claim 82, wherein the target device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

95. A system of wireless communications of a remote, short-range, radio-frequency, wireless communication enabling device, comprising:

means to receive a routing database query at a central server to determine if a remote target device is present;

if the central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, means to send information responsive to the query to an originating access point, wherein responsive information includes identifying information of a remote access point;

if the central server is itself handling link creation, means to send a link creation signal to a remote access point identified as a query result, wherein the link creation signal includes identifying information of an originating access point.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein the target device is an Internet device.

97. The system of claim 95, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information.

98. The system of claim 95, wherein the identifying information includes target device information.

99. The system of claim 95, wherein the identifying information includes originating access point information.

100. The system of claim 95, further comprising:

means to effect the establishment of a communications link between the originating device and target device.

101. A medium readable by a processor to wirelessly communicate between short-range radio-frequency devices, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to;

send an inquiry signal;

receive an inquiry response signal from a client;

send a notification to a central server of a client'"'"'s changed presence status, wherein the notification includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response;

effect the storage of client presence information in a routing database.

102. The medium of claim 101, wherein the devices are Bluetooth enabled.

103. The medium of claim 101, wherein the client'"'"'s presence is observed from an inquiry response.

104. The medium of claim 101, wherein the client'"'"'s absence is observed from a lack of response to an inquiry signal.

105. The medium of claim 101, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

106. The medium of claim 101, wherein the routing database is in a central server.

107. The medium of claim 101, wherein client presence information includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response.

108. The medium of claim 101, wherein client presence information is an observed lack of response to an inquiry signal.

109. The medium of claim 101, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

110. A medium readable by a processor of a short-range radio-frequency wireless communication device, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to;

send a remote paging signal to an access point from an originating device to a remote target device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of the remote target device;

receive a paging response signal from the access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

establish a communications link with the remote target device.

112. The medium of claim 110, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

113. The medium of claim 110, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

114. The medium of claim 110, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

115. The medium of claim 110, wherein the establishment of a communications link with the remote target device includes establishing a communications link with the access point by employing the paging response signal.

116. A medium readable by a processor of a short-range radio-frequency wireless communication device, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to;

receive a remote paging signal from an originating device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of a remote target device;

query a routing database to determine if the remote target device is present;

if a central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, receive identifying information of a remote access point from the central server and to send a link creation signal to the remote access point;

receive a communication channel reservation signal from the remote access point, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information, wherein the reservation signal includes a paging response signal from the remote access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

reserve a communications channel for the remote access point by employing the remote access point information received with the reservation signal;

send a paging response signal to the originating device, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device.

117. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

118. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

119. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

120. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

121. The medium of claim 116, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

122. The medium of claim 116, wherein the routing database is accessible by a central server.

123. The medium of claim 116, wherein the originating device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

124. The medium of claim 116, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

125. The medium of claim 116, wherein the identifying information is a network address.

126. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

127. The medium of claim 125, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

128. The medium of claim 116, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

129. The medium of claim 116, further comprising:

to establish a communications link with the originating device by employing the received remote-paging response signal.

130. The medium of claim 116, further comprising:

to provide a communications for the originating device with the remote target device through the reserved communications channel.

131. A medium readable by a processor of a short-range radio-frequency wireless communication device, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to;

receive a link creation signal with identifying information from an originating access point at a remote access point, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information, target device information, and originating access point information;

send a paging signal to a target device, wherein the paging signal includes an address of the target device;

receive a paging response signal from the target device;

establish a communications link with the target device by employing the paging response signal;

send a communication channel reservation signal to an originating access point, wherein the reservation signal includes the paging response signal from the target device;

reserve a communications channel for the originating access point by employing the received link creation signal.

132. The medium of claim 131, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

133. The medium of claim 131, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

134. The medium of claim 131, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

135. The medium of claim 134, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

136. The medium of claim 131, wherein the target device address is provided from the received link creation signal.

137. The medium of claim 131, wherein the identifying information from the originating access point includes addresses.

138. The medium of claim 137, wherein the addresses are Bluetooth addresses.

139. The medium of claim 137, wherein the addresses are network addresses.

140. The medium of claim 131, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

141. The medium of claim 131, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

142. The medium of claim 131, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information.

143. The medium of claim 131, wherein the target device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication

144. A medium readable by a processor of a short-range radio-frequency wire communication device, comprising:

instruction signals stored in the processor readable medium, wherein the instruction signals are issuable by the processor to;

receive a routing database query at a central server to determine if a remote target device is present;

if the central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation send information responsive to the query to an originating access point, wherein responsive information includes identifying information of a remote access point;

if the central server is itself handling link creation, send a link creation signal to a remote access point identified as a query result, wherein the link creation signal includes identifying information of an originating access point.

145. The medium of claim 144, wherein the target device is an Internet device.

146. The medium of claim 144, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information.

147. The medium of claim 144, wherein the identifying information includes target device information.

148. The medium of claim 144, wherein the identifying information includes originating access point information.

149. The medium of claim 144, further comprising:

to effect the establishment of a communications link between the originating device and target device.

150. An apparatus to wirelessly communicate between short-range radio-frequency devices, comprising:

a memory, the memory for storing instructions;

a processor that may issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions issue signals to;

send an inquiry signal;

receive an inquiry response signal from a client;

send a notification to a central server of a client'"'"'s changed presence status, wherein the notification includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response;

effect the storage of client presence information in a routing database.

151. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the devices are Bluetooth enabled.

152. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the client'"'"'s presence is observed from an inquiry response.

153. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the client'"'"'s absence is observed from a lack of response to an inquiry signal.

154. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

155. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the routing database is in a central server.

156. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein client presence information includes identifying information received from the client'"'"'s inquiry response.

158. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

159. A short-range radio-frequency wireless-communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory, the memory for storing instructions;

a processor that may issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions issue signals to;

send a remote paging signal to an access point from an originating device to a remote target device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of the remote target device;

receive a paging response signal from the access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

establish a communications link with the remote target device.

160. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

161. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

162. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

163. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

164. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the establishment of a communications link with the remote target device includes establishing a communications link with the access point by employing the paging response signal.

165. A short-range radio-frequency wireless-communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory, the memory for storing instructions;

a processor that may issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions issue signals to;

receive a remote paging signal from an originating device, wherein the remote paging signal includes an address of a remote target device;

query a routing database to determine remote target device is present;

if a central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, receive identifying information of a remote access point from the central server and to send a link creation signal to the remote access point;

receive a communication channel reservation signal from the remote access point, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information, wherein the reservation signal includes a paging response signal from the remote access point, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device;

reserve a communications channel for the remote access point by employing the remote access point information received with the reservation signal;

send a paging response signal to the originating device, wherein the paging response signal is effected from the remote target device.

166. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

167. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

168. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

169. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote target device address is provided from a connectivity tool selection.

170. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the routing database is in an access point.

171. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the routing database is accessible by a central server.

172. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the originating device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

173. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

174. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the identifying information is a Bluetooth address.

175. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

176. The apparatus of claim 174, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

177. The apparatus of claim 165, wherein the remote target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

178. The apparatus of claim 165, further comprising instructions to issue signals to:

establish a communications link with the originating device by employing the received remote-paging response signal.

179. The apparatus of claim 165, further comprising instructions to issue signals to:

provide a communications for the originating device with the remote target device through the reserved communications channel.

180. A short-range radio-frequency wireless-communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory, the memory for storing instructions;

a processor that may issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions issue signals to;

receive a link creation signal with identifying information from an originating access point at a remote access point, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information, target device information, and originating access point information;

send a paging signal to a target device, wherein the paging signal includes an address of the target device;

receive a paging response signal from the target device;

establish a communications link with the target device by employing the paging response signal;

send a communication channel reservation signal to an originating access point, wherein the reservation signal includes the paging response signal from the target device;

reserve a communications channel for the originating access point by employing the received link creation signal.

181. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the remote target device would otherwise be unable to respond to the originating device.

182. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the remote target device is an Internet device.

183. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the remote access point information includes a remote access point address, and content.

184. The apparatus of claim 183, the wherein the remote access point information further includes a communications port.

185. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the target device address is provided from the received link creation signal.

186. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the identifying information from the originating access point includes addresses.

187. The apparatus of claim 186, wherein the addresses are Bluetooth addresses.

188. The apparatus of claim 186, wherein the addresses are network addresses.

189. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

190. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the target device is outside a communication coverage area of the originating device.

191. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the reservation signal includes remote access point information.

192. The apparatus of claim 180, wherein the target device is a Bluetooth enabled device and the short-range radio-frequency communication is Bluetooth communication.

193. A short-range radio-frequency wireless-communication apparatus, comprising:

a memory, the memory for storing instructions;

a processor that may issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions issue signals to;

receive a routing database query at a central server to determine if a remote target device is present;

if the central server is distributing access point-to-access point link creation, send information responsive to the query to an originating access point, wherein responsive information includes identifying information of a remote access point;

if the central server is itself handling link creation, send a link creation signal to a remote access point identified as a query result, wherein the link creation signal includes identifying information of an originating access point.

194. The apparatus of claim 193, wherein the target device is an Internet device.

195. The apparatus of claim 193, wherein the identifying information includes originating device information.

196. The apparatus of claim 193, wherein the identifying information includes target device information.

197. The apparatus of claim 193, wherein the identifying information includes originating access point information.

198. The apparatus of claim 193, further comprising instructions to issue signals to:

effect the establishment of a communications link between the originating device and target device.