MULTI-LEVEL HIERARCHICAL RADIO-FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090175318A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1992
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alan G. Bunte, Arvin D. Danielson, George E. Hanson, Guy J. West, Keith K. Cargin Jr, Phillip Miller, Ronald L. Mahany, Steven E. Koenck, Steven H. Salvay
• Inventors: Cargin, Keith K. JR., Mahany, Ronald L., Danielson, Arvin D., Bunte, Alan G., West, Guy J., Hanson, George E., Salvay, Steven H., Miller, Phillip, Koenck, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.

Claims

1-64. -64. (canceled)

65. A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a first radio network and a second radio network having a shorter range than the first radio network, the network device comprising:

a first radio unit configured to communicate with the first radio network; and

a second radio unit configured to communicate with the second radio network, wherein the second radio unit is configured to communicate with the second radio network using spread spectrum transmission;

wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.

66. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is operable to synchronize communications of the second network device participating on the second radio network.

67. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of the second network device with the first radio network.

68. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is operable to facilitate communications of the second network device with the first radio network.

69. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of the second network device with a third network device participating on the second radio network.

70. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is operable to serve as a master device on the second radio network.

71. The network device of claim 65 further comprising a processor configured to control the communications of the first radio unit with the first radio network and the communications of the second radio unit with the second radio network.

72. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is a mobile device.

73. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.

74. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is portable.

75. The network device of claim 65, further comprising a keyboard.

76. The network device of claim 65, further comprising a graphical display.

77. The network device of claim 65 wherein the first radio unit is configured to communicate with the first radio network according to a first communication protocol and the second radio unit is configured to communicate with the second radio network according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol.

78. The network device of claim 65 wherein the first radio unit is configured to communicate with the first radio network using a first operating band and the second radio unit is configured to communicate with the second radio network using a second operating band different than the first operating band.

79. The network device of claim 65 wherein the network device is an integrated circuit.

80. The network device of claim 65 wherein the first radio unit is configured to communicate with the first radio network using spread spectrum transmission.

81. The network device of claim 65 wherein at least one of the first and second radio units is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with its corresponding radio network.

82. A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a first radio network and a second radio network having a shorter range than the first radio network, the network device comprising:

a first radio unit configured to communicate with the first radio network using spread spectrum transmission utilizing a first spreading code; and

a second radio unit configured to communicate with the second radio network using spread spectrum transmission utilizing a second spreading code;

wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.

83. The network device of claim 82 wherein at least one of the first and second radio units is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with its corresponding radio network.

84. A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a first radio network and a second radio network having a shorter range than the first radio network, the network device comprising:

transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first radio network and to transmit signals on the second radio network; and

receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first radio network and to receive signals from the second radio network;

wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network, and wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the second radio network using spread spectrum transmission.

85. The network device of claim 84 wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first network and second transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the second radio network, and wherein the receiver circuitry comprises first receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first radio network and second receive circuitry configured to receive radio signals from the second radio network.

86. The network device of claim 84 further comprising a processor operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the second radio network.

87. The network device of claim 86 wherein the processor is operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the first radio network.

88. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is a mobile device.

89. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network according to a first communication protocol and to communicate with the second radio network according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol.

90. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network using a first operating band and to communicate with the second radio network using a second operating band different than the first operating band.

91. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.

92. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is portable.

93. The network device of claim 84, further comprising a keyboard.

94. The network device of claim 84, further comprising a graphical display.

95. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is operable to synchronize communications of the second network device participating on the second radio network.

96. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of the second network device with the first radio network.

97. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is operable to facilitate communications of the second network device with the first radio network.

98. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of the second network device with a third network device participating on the second radio network.

99. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is an integrated circuit.

100. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network using spread spectrum transmission.

101. The network device of claim 84 wherein the network device is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with at least one of the first and second radio networks.

102. A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a first radio network and a second radio network having a shorter range than the first radio network, the network device comprising:

transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first radio network and to transmit signals on the second radio network; and

receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first radio network and to receive signals from the second radio network;

wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network, wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network using spread spectrum transmission utilizing a first spreading code and wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the second radio network using spread spectrum transmission utilizing a second spreading code.

103. The network device of claim 102 wherein the network device is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with at least one of the first and second radio networks.

104. A transceiver for use in a wireless network device that operates in a communication system that includes a radio network, the transceiver comprising:

a radio unit configured to communicate with the radio network, wherein the radio unit is configured to communicate with the radio network using spread spectrum signals;

wherein the transceiver is operable to enable the wireless network device to manage communications of a second wireless network device participating on the radio network.

105. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the communication system further comprises a main communication network and wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with the main communication network.

106. The transceiver of claim 105 further comprising a processor operable to control the communications of the radio unit with the radio network and capable of communicating with the main communication network.

107. The transceiver of claim 105 wherein the main communication network comprises a wired communication network.

108. The transceiver of claim 105 wherein the main communication network comprises a wireless communication network.

109. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the transceiver comprises an integrated circuit.

110. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the wireless network device is sized to be held by a user.

111. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the transceiver enables the wireless network device to synchronize communications of the second wireless network device participating on the radio network.

112. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the transceiver enables the wireless network device to manage communications of the second wireless network device with a third wireless network device participating on the radio network.

113. The transceiver of claim 108 wherein the transceiver enables the wireless network device to manage communications of the second wireless network device with the wireless communication network.

114. The transceiver of claim 108 wherein the transceiver enables the wireless network device to facilitate communications of the second wireless network device with the wireless communication network.

115. The transceiver of claim 104 wherein the radio unit is configured to communicate with the radio network using spread spectrum signals.

116. The network device of claim 104 wherein the radio unit is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with the radio network.

117. A wireless communication device for operating in a communication system that includes first and second wireless networks, the device comprising:

transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first wireless network according to a first communication protocol and to transmit signals on the second wireless network according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol, wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the second wireless network; and

receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first wireless network according to the first communication protocol and to receive signals from the second wireless network according to the second communication protocol, wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the second wireless network.

118. The device of claim 117 wherein the first wireless network has a longer range than the second wireless network.

119. The device of claim 117 wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the first wireless network using a first operating band and to transmit signals on the second wireless network using a second operating band different than the first operating band, and wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive signals in the first operating band from the first wireless network and to receive signals in the second operating band from the second wireless network.

120. The device of claim 117 wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the first wireless network, and wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the first wireless network.

121. The device of claim 120 wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the first wireless network using a spread spectrum transmission that uses a first spreading code and to transmit signals on the second wireless network using a spread spectrum transmission that uses a second spreading code different than the first spreading code.

122. The device of claim 121 wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive and decode spread spectrum signals from the first wireless network using the first spreading code and to receive and decode spread spectrum signals from the second wireless network using the second spreading code.

123. The device of claim 117 wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first network according to the first communication protocol and second transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the second network according to the second communication protocol, and wherein the receiver circuitry comprises first receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first wireless network according to the first communication protocol and second receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the second wireless network according to the second communication protocol.

124. The device of claim 123 wherein the first transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the first wireless network using a first operating band and the second transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the second wireless network using a second operating band different than the first operating band, and wherein the first receive circuitry is configured to receive signals in the first operating band from the first wireless network and the second receive circuitry is configured to receive signals in the second operating band from the second wireless network.

125. The device of claim 123 wherein the first transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the first wireless network, and wherein the first receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the first wireless network.

126. The device of claim 125 wherein the first transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the first wireless network using a spread spectrum transmission that uses a first spreading code and the second transmit circuitry is configured to transmit signals on the second wireless network using a spread spectrum transmission that uses a second spreading code different than the first spreading code.

127. The device of claim 126 wherein the first receive circuitry is configured to receive and decode spread spectrum signals from the first wireless network using the first spreading code and the second receive circuitry is configured to receive and decode spread spectrum signals from the second wireless network using the second using the second spreading code.

128. The device of claim 117 wherein the wireless communication device is operable to use frequency hopping in communicating with at least one of the first and second wireless networks.

129. The device of claim 117 further comprising a processor operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry with the first and second networks and to control the communications of the receive circuitry with the first and second networks.

130. The device of claim 117 wherein the device is a mobile device.

131. The device of claim 117 wherein the device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.

132. The device of claim 117 wherein the device is portable.

133. The device of claim 117, further comprising a keyboard.

134. The device of claim 117, further comprising a graphical display.

135. The device of claim 117 wherein the device is an integrated circuit.

136. The device of claim 117 wherein the device comprises a PCMCIA card containing the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry.