Beacon channel for frequency hopping wireless devices
First Claim
1. A first device for communicating with other devices using a frequency hopping wireless interface, the first device being arranged to send a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, and being arranged to listen for a response during a subsequent response window, on one or more response frequencies, being a subset of less than all possible response frequencies, and to receive return information from the other devices without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection, the response window having a duration sufficient to receive more than one response.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device for communicating with other devices using a frequency hopping wireless interface such as blue-tooth, sends a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, and listens for a response during a subsequent response window, on one or more response frequencies. It receives information such as location information from the other devices without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection. The response window is long enough to receive more than one response. The overall time for short transactions such as a single request and response for device discovery, can be kept short. This in turn leads to low power consumption by mobile devices and low chance of interference between devices. An interval between sequences of the messages can be increased, thus lowering the total amount of packets broadcast.
46 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A first device for communicating with other devices using a frequency hopping wireless interface, the first device being arranged to send a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, and being arranged to listen for a response during a subsequent response window, on one or more response frequencies, being a subset of less than all possible response frequencies, and to receive return information from the other devices without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection, the response window having a duration sufficient to receive more than one response.
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15. A method of communicating between a first device and other devices having a frequency hopping wireless interface, the method having the steps of:
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sending from the first device a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, listening at the first device on one response frequency or on a subset of less than all possible response frequencies, during a response window having a duration sufficient to receive more than one response, determining at each of the other devices in range, a time of the response window after the sequence of messages, and sending a response during the response window, from each of the other devices in range, to the first device, containing return information without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 20)
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19. A first device for communicating with other devices using a frequency hopping wireless interface, the first device being arranged to send a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, the messages including an indication of a response channel, and being arranged to listen for a response during a subsequent response window, on one response frequency, and to receive return information from the other devices without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection.
Specification