Wireless network device with a signal detection function and switching method for the same

• US 20070032272A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z-Com Incorporated (Permanent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Z-Com Incorporated (Permanent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Jui-Lin, Yang, Tsung-Ming, Wu, Chia-Fang
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless network device has a signal detection function and a switching method for the same. A wireless network signal detection module is installed in the wireless network device, and is switched to a wireless network interface card mode or a wireless network signal detection mode after the voltage regulator in the device determines the load voltage. So that the versatile wireless network device is formed to detect the wireless network signal without the PC'"'"'s help. The steps of switching to the signal detection mode are inclusively detecting the load voltage, switching to the wireless network signal detection mode, scanning the wireless network signal, and finally showing a result in a plurality of manners.

Claims

1. A method of switching functions of a wireless network device provided with a signal detection function, comprising steps of:

starting the wireless network device;

detecting a load voltage of the wireless network device;

switching to a wireless network signal detection mode;

scanning a wireless network signal; and

showing a scanning result.

2. The method according to claim 1, after the wireless network device is turned on, the power wherein is supplied by a battery.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network device is supplied with power by a PC.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a voltage regulator in the wireless network device detects the load voltage of the device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein switching to a wireless NIC mode is inclusively in the switching modes.

6. A method of switching the functions of a wireless network device provided with a signal detection function, comprising the steps of:

starting the wireless network device;

detecting a load voltage of the wireless network device;

determining a scale of load voltage with respect to a determination value;

switching to a wireless network signal detection mode;

detecting a wireless network signal, wherein a processor in the wireless network device asks the baseband module to detect the wireless network signal;

scanning the wireless network signal;

detecting feedback packets;

replying to the processor; and

showing a detection result through an indication unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the load voltage is classified for a plurality of ranks, and switching to the wireless NIC mode or the wireless network signal detection mode is implemented with different load voltage types.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein if the load voltage is not less than the determination value, switching to the wireless NIC mode is implemented, and if the load voltage is less than the determination value, switching to the wireless network signal detection mode is implemented.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the wireless network device is supplied with power by a battery.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein if the battery supplies a smaller voltage, an independent operation status is determined and switching to the wireless network signal detection mode is implemented.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the wireless network device is supplied with power by a PC.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein if the PC supplies a larger voltage, switching to the wireless NIC mode is implemented.

13. The method of switching the functions of a wireless network device provided with a signal detection function according to claim 6, wherein a voltage regulator in the wireless network device detects the load voltage of the device.

14. A wireless network device provided with a signal detection function, comprising:

a wireless network communication module;

a processor connected to the wireless network communication module;

an indication unit connected to the processor;

a voltage regulator connected to the processor;

a detection module connected to the wireless network communication module; and

a power module connected to a battery and an interface unit and to the voltage regulator.

15. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the wireless network communication module comprises an antenna module, an RF module, and a baseband module.

16. The wireless network device according to claim 15, wherein the baseband module is connected to the processor and the detection module.

17. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the wireless network device is switched to a wireless network signal detection mode by a network signal detection switch.

18. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the indication unit is one or a plurality of LEDs.

19. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the indication unit is an LCD, an OLED, or a 7-segment display.

20. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the indication unit is implemented by sound, vibration, or a combination thereof.

21. The wireless network device according to claim 14, wherein the interface unit is a USB, IEEE1394, or PCMCIA interface.