Wireless communication device interconnectivity

• US 20060290474A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., Horrell, Peter Robert George
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A wireless communication device that is attached or included in an electronic object, such as a portable computer, having its own separate communication system. The separate communication system has an antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless communications, and is powered by a power supply included in the object. Since the separate communication system can only communicate when powered, a separate passive wireless communication device is provided for wireless communication that does not require power from the power supply to communicate. The wireless communication device is interfaced with the existing antenna of the separate communication system so that the wireless communication device and separate communication system share a common antenna to reduce cost. The antenna may also be interconnected to a controller associated with the object so that the controller can directly communicate to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A system comprising:

a first wireless communication device having an antenna for wireless communications wherein said antenna is adapted to receive communication signals having a defined operating frequency for processing by said first wireless communication device; and

a second wireless communication device coupled to said antenna of said first wireless communication device, said second wireless communication device adapted to receive communication signals from said antenna when a wireless communication module of said first wireless communication device is inoperable.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said wireless communication module of said first wireless communication device is inoperable when said first wireless communication device is powered off.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said first wireless communication device is a portable computing device.