System and method for managing communication links
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a consumer electronic device adapted for two-way, wireless communications; and
at least one peripheral device adapted for two-way, wireless communications with the consumer electronic device;
wherein the consumer electronic device includes programming for assigning communication slots to each peripheral device to facilitate communications in the communication slots between each peripheral device and the consumer electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for managing a communication link between a consumer electronic device adapted for two-way, wireless communications with at least one peripheral. The communication link is managed using a controller that is associated with the consumer electronic device that functions to assign communication slots to the peripheral to facilitate communications between the peripheral and the consumer electronic device.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a consumer electronic device adapted for two-way, wireless communications; and
at least one peripheral device adapted for two-way, wireless communications with the consumer electronic device;
wherein the consumer electronic device includes programming for assigning communication slots to each peripheral device to facilitate communications in the communication slots between each peripheral device and the consumer electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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2. (canceled)
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10. In a peripheral device adapted to communicate with a consumer electronic device, a method for facilitating communications via a wireless communications link, comprising:
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monitoring the communications link for activity;
if it is determined that the communications link is active;
monitoring the communications link to find an idle slot;
transmitting to the consumer electronic device a request in the next occurrence of the idle slot to request that the consumer electronic device secure the idle slot for use by the peripheral device to communicate with the consumer electronic device;
monitoring for a response to the request message transmitted by the consumer electronic device that assigns the idle slot as a communication slot for use by the peripheral device; and
using the communication slot to communicate with the consumer electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In a consumer electronic device adapted to communicate with one or more peripheral devices, a method for facilitating communications via a wireless communications link, comprising:
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monitoring for communications transmitted from the one or more peripheral devices and, if no communication transmissions occur within a specified period after a start of a communication slot, transmitting an end of slot marker pulse;
assigning, in response to a request received from a peripheral device, an unused communication slot for use by the peripheral device to transmit a data packet to the consumer electronic device; and
issuing the end of slot marker pulse when a data packet has been transmitted from the requesting peripheral device in the assigned communication slot. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 26)
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23. A method for communicating data to a plurality of peripheral devices from a consumer electronic device, comprising:
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transmitting from the consumer electronic device a packet which indicates slots in a forthcoming protocol cycle that will contain one or more outbound data packets and which of the plurality of peripheral devices are intended to receive the one or more outbound data packets; and
transmitting the outbound data packets from the consumer electronic device to the plurality of peripheral devices in the indicated slots. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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27. A method for receiving data at a consumer electronic device from a plurality of peripheral devices, comprising:
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(a) broadcasting from the consumer electronic device a message which indicates a time slot and a numerical identifier of a peripheral device;
(b) causing the peripheral device assigned the numerical identifier to transmit data to the consumer electronic device during the time slot;
(c) causing the peripheral device assigned the next sequentially highest numerical identifier to transmit data to the consumer electronic device during the next sequentially higher time slot; and
(d) repeating step (c) until each of the plurality of peripheral devices has transmitted data to the consumer electronic device or no further time slots are available in which data may be transmitted.
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28. In a peripheral device adapted to communicate with a consumer electronic device, a readable media having instructions for facilitating communications via a wireless communications link, the instructions performing steps comprising:
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monitoring the communications link for activity;
if it is determined that the communications link is active;
monitoring the communications link to find an idle slot;
transmitting a request to the consumer electronic device in the next occurrence of the idle slot to request that the consumer electronic device secure the idle slot for use by the peripheral device to communicate with the consumer electronic device;
monitoring for a response to the request message transmitted by the consumer electronic device that assigns the idle slot as a communication slot for use by the peripheral device; and
using the communication slot to communicate with the consumer electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. In a consumer electronic device adapted to communicate with one or more peripheral devices, a readable media having instructions for facilitating communications via a wireless communications link, the instructions performing steps comprising:
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monitoring for communications transmitted from the one or more peripheral devices and, if no communication transmissions occur within a specified period after a start of a communication slot, transmitting an end of slot marker pulse;
assigning, in response to a request received from a peripheral device, an unused communication slot for use by the peripheral device to transmit a data packet to the consumer electronic device; and
issuing the end of slot marker pulse when a data packet has been transmitted from the requesting peripheral device in the assigned communication slot. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification