Method for establising a connection in a wireless communication system

• US 20040203376A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Quentin Phillipps
• Original Assignee: John Quentin Phillipps
• Inventors: Phillipps, John Quentin
• Application Number:
  US10/312,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203376A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

Communication between two devices, e.g. a PDA (10) and a mobile phone (12), is initially established using a point-to-point channel, such as by infrared signalling, before switching to a broadcast rf channel for the transfer of data. Consequently, devices can be added to a wireless network easily in an environment containing many devices which are available to join a wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a wireless connection between two devices, the method comprising:

sending a first signal from a first device (10) to a second device (11, 12) by means of a point-to-point channel using other than radio frequency waves; and

sending a second signal from the first device (10) to the second device (11, 12),

characterised in that the first signal communicates set up information for a broadcast wireless rf channel (rf) to the second device (11, 12) and said broadcast channel is used for said second signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the point-to-point channel uses an optical carrier (IR).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set up information includes data defining a frequency hopping scheme.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first signal includes an encryption key.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the second signal comprises data encrypted using said key.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, including sending a third signal from the second device (11, 12) to the first device, the third signal comprising data encrypted using said key.

7. A method of establishing a wireless network connection between two devices (10, 11, 12), the method comprising:

, comprising;

sending a network admission request signal from the second device (11, 12) to the first device (10);

determining whether the second device (11, 12) should be admitted to a network including the first device (10); and

if it is determined that the second device (11, 12) should be admitted to the network, performing a method according to any preceding claim,

wherein the network admission request signal is sent in said point-to-point channel (IR).

8. A device having a communications facility, the device including an rf transceiver (7), a non-radio point-to-point transceiver means (8) and control means (2) for controlling the rf and point-to-point transceiver means (7, 8), processing data for transmission thereby and processing data received thereby, wherein the control means (2) is programmed such the device is configured to serve as the first device (10) or the second device (11, 12) in a method according to any preceding claim.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the point-to-point transceiver means (8) is an optical transceiver means.

10. A computer according to claim 8 or 9.

11. A mobile phone according to claim 8 or 9.

12. A printer according to claim 8 or 9.