Method for closing a communication link

• US 20070141985A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Parkkinen, Jukka, Hyvarinen, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of a remote device via wireless communication. The remote device includes resources for communication via at least two different short-range wireless mediums with different operational ranges. The sensing of a scanning communication signal from a first wireless medium may trigger the disconnection of the remote device from an already established connection, through a second wireless communication medium, to the scanning device. The remote device may provide a remote device ID to the scanning device. As a result of this transaction, one or both devices may experience a mode change, which may be signaled by a audible, visual or tactile confirmation to a user.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the mode of a remote device, comprising:

receiving a wireless communication inquiry from a primary wireless communication device using a first wireless medium, the first wireless medium having a substantially shorter transmission range than a second wireless medium;

the wireless communication inquiry triggering a mode change in the remote device, wherein the remote device is disconnected from communicating with the primary wireless communication device over the second wireless medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode change in the remote device is triggered in response to sensing an induced voltage and/or current in an antenna located in the remote device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the antenna is connected to a communication module that returns a remote device identification of the remote device to the primary wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication module is a transponder.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the primary wireless communication device uses the remote device identification to disconnect the remote device from the second wireless medium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a second wireless communication inquiry from the primary wireless communication device to the remote device using the first wireless medium further triggers another mode change in the remote device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mode change includes at least one of an activity level change, a visibility to other devices change, or a power level maintenance change.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second wireless communication inquiry triggers the formation of a new connection between the remote device and the primary wireless communication device using the second wireless medium.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the remote device.

12. A method for disconnecting a remote device from a primary wireless communication device, comprising:

sensing the remote device via scanning with a first wireless medium;

receiving remote device identification information from the remote device in response to the scanning; and

if the remote device is connected to the primary wireless communication device via a second wireless medium, triggering a mode change in the primary wireless communication device wherein the primary wireless communication device terminates the connection with the remote device over the second wireless medium.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the receipt of the remote device identification triggers a mode change in the primary wireless communication device including at least one of changing from a master polling mode to a receiving mode, changing from a telephone communication mode to another active mode and changing from an active polling mode to a power saving mode.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the primary wireless communication device.

17. A remote device comprising:

a first communication module for receiving a wireless communication inquiry over a first wireless medium;

a sensor, connected to said first communication module, for detecting an induced property in the first communication module;

a second communication module for communicating via a second wireless medium, and;

a computing device, connected to at least said sensor, first communication module and second communication module, for triggering a mode change in the remote device in response to detection information received from said sensor, wherein the remote device is disconnected from communicating with a primary wireless communication device via the second wireless medium.

18. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

19. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

20. The remote device of claim 17, wherein the first communication module is a transponder, and the induced property is a voltage and/or current induced in an antenna of a transponder.

21. The remote device of claim 20, wherein the transponder returns a device identification of the remote device to the primary wireless communication device.

22. The remote device of claim 17, wherein a second wireless communication inquiry from the primary wireless communication device to the remote device using the first wireless medium further triggers another mode change in the remote device.

23. The remote device of claim 22, wherein the mode change includes at least one of an activity level change, a visibility to other devices change, or a power level maintenance change.

24. The remote device of claim 17, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the remote device.

25. A primary wireless communication device, comprising:

a scanner for reading machine-readable information via a first wireless medium;

a transmitter and receiver for communicating via a second wireless medium; and

a computing device, connected to at least the scanner, transmitter and receiver, for determining if the remote device is actively connected to the primary wireless communication device via the second wireless medium, and if so, for triggering the disconnection of the remote device from the primary wireless communication device in response to the scanning of the remote device identification.

26. The primary wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

27. The primary wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

28. The primary wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the receipt of the remote device identification triggers a mode change in the primary wireless communication device including at least one of changing from a master polling mode to a receiving mode, changing from a telephone communication mode to another active mode, changing from an active polling mode to a power saving mode.

29. The primary wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the primary wireless communication device.

30. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium for controlling the mode of a remote device, comprising:

a computer readable program code for receiving a wireless communication inquiry from a primary wireless communication device using a first wireless communication medium, the first wireless communication medium having a substantially shorter transmission range than a second wireless communication medium;

the wireless communication inquiry triggering a mode change in the remote device, wherein the remote device is disconnected from communicating with the primary wireless communication device over the second wireless medium.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

32. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the mode change in the remote device is triggered in response to sensing an induced voltage and/or current in an antenna located in the remote device.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the antenna is connected to a communication module that returns a device identification of the remote device to the primary wireless communication device.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the communication module is a transponder.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the primary wireless communication device uses the remote device identification to disconnect the remote device from the second wireless medium.

37. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein a second wireless communication inquiry from the primary wireless communication device to the remote device using the first wireless medium further triggers another mode change in the remote device.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the mode change includes at least one of an activity level change, a visibility to other devices change, or a power level maintenance change.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the second wireless communication inquiry triggers the formation of a new connection between the remote device and the primary wireless communication device using the second wireless medium.

40. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the remote device.

41. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium for disconnecting a remote device from a primary wireless communication device, comprising:

a computer readable program code for sensing the remote device via scanning with a first wireless medium;

a computer readable program code for receiving remote device identification information from the remote device in response to the scanning; and

a computer readable program code for, if the remote device is connected to the primary wireless device communication device via a second wireless medium, triggering a mode change in the primary wireless communication device wherein the primary wireless communication device terminates the connection with the remote device over the second wireless medium.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

43. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium employing at least one of radio frequency (RF), Infrared (IR), optical character recognition (OCR), bar code, capacitive, magnetic and conductive communication to scan the remote device from the primary wireless communication device.

44. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the receipt of the remote device identification triggers a mode change in the primary wireless communication device including at least one of changing from a master polling mode to a receiving mode, changing from a telephone communication mode to another active mode and changing from an active polling mode to a power saving mode.

45. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein an audible, visible or tactile indicator is activated to confirm the mode change in the primary wireless communication device.

46. A system for controlling a remote device, comprising:

a remote device;

a primary wireless communication device;

the primary wireless communication device communicating with the remote device via a second wireless medium, and further communicating with the remote device by scanning using a first wireless communication medium;

the remote device sensing the scan from the primary communication device through an induced property in the antenna of a transponder located within the remote device, the remote device further entering a mode change in response to the sensing;

the primary wireless communication device receiving, from the transponder of the remote device, a remote device identification, the primary wireless communication device disconnecting the remote device from communicating with the primary wireless communication device via the second wireless medium in response to the receipt of the remote device identification; and

the primary wireless communication device entering a mode change in response to the receipt of the remote device identification.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the remote device is a slave device, the primary wireless communication device is a master device, and the second wireless communication medium is a Bluetooth™

piconet.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the first wireless medium is a machine-readable medium including at least one of radio frequency (RF) and Infrared (IR) communication.