COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT OF A PLURALITYOF OBJECTS AND METHOD THEREFOR.

• US 20040203377A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Eaton, Eric T., Mock, Von, Tahernia, Omid
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,944 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A communication system (100) dynamically manages a plurality of objects (105). Each object (120) has a communication device (145) placed within or in close proximity to the object (120) for communicating a plurality of object information (245). A group controller (220) communicates with the communication device (145) and takes over responsibility for communication within the communication system (100) for the communication device (145) when the object location (130) comes within a communication range of the group controller (220).

Claims

1. A communication system for dynamic management of a plurality of objects, wherein each object of the plurality of objects includes an object content and an object location, the communication system comprising:

the plurality of objects;

a plurality of communication devices, wherein at least one communication device is placed in proximity to each object of the plurality of objects, and further wherein the at least one communication device transmits information regarding the object content and the object location;

a plurality of transceivers for receiving the information regarding the object content and the object location and transmitting the information to a central server;

the central server for storing the information regarding the object;

at least one group controller, wherein the at least one group controller communicates with the at least one communication device in proximity to the object and manages communication with the plurality of transceivers for the at least one communication device.

2. A communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one group controller further determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object prior to managing the communication for the at least one communication device.

3. A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the object has an associated object location, and further wherein the at least one group controller determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object when the object location is within a communication range of the at least one group controller.

4. A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one group controller has a group controller destination, wherein the object has an object destination, and further wherein the at least one group controller determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object when the group controller destination and the object destination are substantially similar.

5. A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one group controller determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object in response to receiving an instruction from the central server.

6. A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one group controller determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object in response to receiving an instruction from the object.

7. A communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one group controller has a group controller priority, wherein the object has an object priority, and further wherein the at least one group controller determines it is responsible for communication between the central server and the at least one communication device about the object when the group controller priority and the object priority are substantially similar.

8. A communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the information stored by the central server regarding the object comprises:

an object content, and

an object location.

9. A communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a wide area communication network, wherein the plurality of transceivers communicates with the central server via the wide area communication network.

10. A communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a customer communication device for interrogating the central server about the information stored by the central server regarding the at least one object.

11. A communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one dynamic group associated with the group controller, wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more of the plurality of objects for which the group controller is responsible for communicating with the plurality of transceivers.

12. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects located within the coverage range of the group controller.

13. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects located within a communication range of the group controller.

14. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the group controller has a group controller destination, and further wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects having an object destination substantially similar to the group controller destination.

15. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects identified in an instruction sent from the central server to the group controller.

16. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein one or more objects send an instruction to the group controller, and further wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects identified in the instruction.

17. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the group controller has a group controller priority, and further wherein the dynamic group comprises one or more objects having an object priority that is substantially similar to the group controller priority.

18. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein group controller is located with a transceiver coverage area and further wherein at least one object of the one or more objects is located within the transceiver coverage area.

19. A communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein group controller is located within a transceiver coverage area and further wherein at least one object of the one or more objects is located outside the transceiver coverage area.

20. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the group controller further comprises:

a group controller network address, and further wherein at least one of the plurality of transceivers communicate all information with each of the objects within the dynamic group using the group controller network address.

21. A communication system as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one dynamic group comprises:

a first dynamic group for a first group controller, and

a second dynamic group for a second group controller, and

further wherein the communication device of the at least one object communicates within the first dynamic group at a first object location, and further wherein the communication device of the at least one object communicates within the second dynamic group at a second object location.

22. A communication system as recited in claim 21, wherein the communication device of the at least one object further communicates directly with the plurality of transceivers at a third object location.

23. A method within a communication system for dynamic management of a plurality of objects, the method comprising:

within a communication device;

identifying a dynamic group for communication within a wireless local area network;

identifying a group controller operating within the dynamic group;

obtaining permission from the group controller to become a member of the dynamic group with which the group controller is operating; and

transferring a plurality of information to the group controller; and

within the group controller;

communicating within the communication system on behalf of the communication device.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

within the communication device;

indicating that the communication device has been grouped

25. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the plurality of information comprises information about an object in which the communication device is proximately located selected from a group consisting of an object content, an object location, an object sensor data, and an object method of contact.

26. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the identifying of the group controller step comprises:

determining an object destination;

comparing the object destination to a plurality of group controller destinations associated with a plurality of group controllers; and

identifying the group controller having a group controller destination that is substantially similar to the object destination.

27. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

within the group controller;

receiving an instruction from the central server identifying the object prior to the transferring step.

28. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein the identifying of the group controller step comprises:

determining an object priority;

comparing the object priority to a plurality of group controller priorities associated with a plurality of group controllers; and

identifying the group controller having a group controller priority that is substantially similar to the object priority.

29. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

within the communication device;

modifying one or more receiving algorithms.

30. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein the modifying the one or more receiving algorithms within the communication device comprises:

monitoring the wireless local area network at a reduced duty cycle;

detecting the group controller;

detecting an instruction from the group controller to leave the dynamic group; and

resuming normal receive mode operation.

31. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the monitoring step further comprises monitoring the wireless local area network utilizing a short address.

32. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein the modifying the one or more receiving algorithms within the communication device comprises:

monitoring the wireless local area network at a reduced duty cycle;

determining that the communication device is out of range of detection of the group controller;

calculating the length of time the communication device has been out of contact with the group controller;

comparing the length of time to a timer; and

returning to normal receiving algorithms when the length of time exceeds the timer.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein the monitoring step further comprises monitoring the wireless local area network utilizing a short address.

34. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein a length of time of the timer is negotiated between the communication device and the group controller.

35. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein the modifying the one or more receiving algorithms within the communication device further comprises:

modifying the receiver algorithm to monitor the wide area network at a reduced rate.

36. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein the modifying the one or more receiving algorithms within the communication device further comprises:

modifying the receiver algorithm to stop the monitoring of the wide area network.