DYNAMIC CELL SIZE VARIATION VIA WIRELESS LINK PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT

• US 20070159301A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Brown, David, Hirt, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a wireless network, a cell'"'"'s transmission power and reception sensitivity may be dynamically adjusted along with those of a client device detected in the cell. Thus, in other words, when a client device is in proximity of a particular reader device, the transmission power levels and reception sensitivities of the reader device and the client device may be adjusted in an effort to require the client device to be “drawn in” towards the reader device to conduct a data transaction between the reader device and the client device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a client device configured for wireless communication; and

a reader device configured for wireless communication and having an adjustable wireless coverage range, and further configured to dynamically adjust the wireless coverage range in response to an initiation of a wireless transaction between the reader device and the client device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to command the client device to adjust a transmission power of the client device in response to the initiation of the wireless transaction.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to command the client device to adjust a reception sensitivity of the client device in response to the initiation of the wireless transaction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to adjust an RF transmission power of the reader device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to adjust a reception sensitivity of the reader device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to adjust the wireless coverage range in response to a termination of the wireless transaction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the client device is further configured to adjust at least one of a transmission power level of the client device and a reception sensitivity of the client device in response to a termination of the wireless transaction.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device is further configured to adjust a transmission power of the client device dependent on at least one of a bit error rate and a detected signal strength of the client device.

9. A method of facilitating wireless data exchange, comprising:

determining whether a portable wireless client device is present in a wireless cell; and

in response to a positive determination, adjusting a transmission power of the client device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to a positive determination, decreasing a size of the wireless cell.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein decreasing the size of the wireless cell comprises:

decreasing a transmission power level used to establish the wireless cell.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the positive determination, wirelessly commanding the client device to reduce a transmission power level of the client device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the positive determination, wirelessly commanding the client device to reduce a reception sensitivity of the client device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

increasing the size of the wireless cell in response to a termination of a data exchange session with the client device.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless transceiver arranged to output identification information in response to being located in a wireless coverage area of a reader device; and

processing circuitry arranged to adjust a transmission power of the wireless transceiver dependent on a wirelessly received command generated in response to an initiation of a data exchange session between the wireless transceiver and the reader device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power of the wireless transceiver dependent on a signal strength of the wireless transceiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power of the wireless transceiver dependent on a bit error rate detected in a signal transmitted from the wireless transceiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to increase the transmission power of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of the data exchange session with the reader device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to decrease a reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver dependent on the wirelessly received command.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to increase the reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of the data exchange session with the reader device.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless transceiver having a wireless coverage area, wherein the wireless transceiver is arranged to detect for presence of a portable client device in the wireless coverage area; and

processing circuitry arranged to adjust a transmission power level of the wireless transceiver in response to an initiation of a wireless data exchange with a portable client device detected in the wireless coverage area.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust a reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver in response to the initiation of the wireless data exchange.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless transceiver is further arranged to transmit a command instructing the client device to adjust a transmission power level of the client device.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless transceiver is further arranged to transmit a command instructing the client device to adjust a reception sensitivity of the client device.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power level of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of the wireless data exchange with the client device.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the initiation of the wireless data exchange comprises a detection of a request to transmit sensitive data.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the initiation of the wireless data exchange comprises a detection of a request for a predetermined type of transaction.