Method and system for indicating wireless interconnectivity

• US 20070076640A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joshi, Avinash, Muthuswamy, Sivakumar, Matson, Peggy, Bonta, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US11/240,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system for indicating wireless interconnectivity between at least two electronic devices is useful for configuring wireless networks. The method includes activating at each device a wireless networking communication interface (step 305). At least one other device is then identified at each device (step 310). It is then determined at each device whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device (step 315). An alarm is then triggered at each device that does not have a wireless communication channel operative with an identified at least one other device (step 320).

Claims

1. A method for indicating wireless interconnectivity between at least two electronic devices, the method comprising:

activating at each device a wireless networking communication interface;

identifying at each device at least one other device;

determining at each device whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device; and

triggering an alarm at each device that does not have a wireless communication channel operative with an identified at least one other device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices are selected from the group consisting of:

computers, televisions, stereo receivers, digital recorders, speakers, amplifiers, keyboards, monitors, home appliances, and office appliances.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises a light, an LED, a speaker, or a display screen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless networking communication interface conforms to a standard chosen from a group comprising an 802.11 standard, and a Bluetooth standard.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying at each device at least one other device comprises programming in each device an address of at least one other device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at each device whether a wireless communication channel is operative comprises detecting at each device a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) transmitted from an identified at least one other device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device comprises receiving a repetitive communication from the identified at least one other device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein an output of the alarm changes based on a wireless signal quality.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a rate of flashing of an alarm indicator changes, a color of an alarm indicator changes, or a tone of an audible alarm indicator changes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm indicates an identity of at least one other device.

11. A system for indicating wireless interconnectivity, comprising:

at least two electronic devices, each device comprising;

a processor;

a memory operatively connected to the processor;

a wireless networking communication interface operatively connected to the processor; and

an alarm subsystem operatively connected to the processor for alerting the status of a wireless communication channel associated with at least one other device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory of each device comprises a computer useable medium having computer readable program code components configured to cause each device, respectively, to:

activate its wireless communication interface;

identify at least one other device;

determine whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device; and

trigger the alarm subsystem when a wireless communication channel is not operative with an identified at least one other device.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the devices are selected from the group consisting of:

computers, televisions, stereo receivers, digital recorders, speakers, amplifiers, keyboards, monitors, home appliances, and office appliances.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the alarm subsystem comprises a light, an LED, a speaker, or a display screen.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the wireless networking communication interface conforms to a standard chosen from a group comprising an 802.11 standard, and a Bluetooth standard.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein identifying at each device at least one other device comprises programming in each device an address of at least one other device.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein determining at each device whether a wireless communication channel is operative comprises detecting at each device a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) transmitted from an identified at least one other device.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein determining whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device comprises receiving a repetitive communication from the identified at least one other device.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein an output of the alarm subsystem changes based on a wireless signal quality.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein a rate of flashing of an alarm indicator changes, a color of an alarm indicator changes, or a tone of an audible alarm indicator changes.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein the alarm subsystem indicates an identity of at least one other device.

22. A system for indicating wireless interconnectivity between at least two electronic devices, the system comprising:

means for activating at each device a wireless networking communication interface;

means for identifying at each device at least one other device;

means for determining at each device whether a wireless communication channel is operative with an identified at least one other device; and

means for triggering an alarm at each device that does not have a wireless communication channel operative with an identified at least one other device.