WIRELESS PERSONAL LOCAL AREA NETWORK

• US 20090296677A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L., Bunte, Alan G., West, Guy J., Gollnick, Charles D., Luse, Ronald E.
• Application Number:
  US12/541,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296677A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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: H04W 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A transceiver apparatus for creating a wireless personal local area network between a computer terminal and one or more peripheral devices. A separate transceiver is connected to the computer terminal and to each peripheral device. The transceivers can be connected to the terminal or peripheral device either internally or externally. A low power radio is used to communicate information between the computer terminal and peripheral devices. Different transceivers can be used for modifying the carrier frequency and power of the local area network. The microprocessor is located inside each transceiver and controls the information flow of the transceiver including the communication protocol which allows each device to know if other devices are communicating, which devices are being communicated to, and selectively address the peripheral devices. An Idle Sense communication protocol is used for information transfer between the computer terminal and the peripheral devices, increasing efficiency in power management and compensating for transmission collisions.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method of determining a location of a first wireless communication device, comprising:

receiving a wireless communication signal at the device;

determining a strength of the received signal; and

generating an indication of a location of the device based on the strength of the received signal.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing a function based on the indication of the location of the device.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting the determined strength of the received signal to a second wireless communication device, and wherein the second device generates the indication of the location of the first device based on the determined strength of the received signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second device is the device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received at the first device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second device has a fixed location.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second device, and the second device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the first device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first device is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second device.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the second device performing a function based on the indication of the location of the first device.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the second device executing an application that uses the indication of the location of the first device.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein determining the strength of the received signal comprises generating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

20. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting the indication of the location of the first device to a second wireless communication device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the second device is the device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received at the first device.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the second device has a fixed location.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the second device performing a function based on the indication of the location of the first device.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the second device executing an application that uses the indication of the location of the first device.

25. The method of claim 10 wherein the first device is a mobile device.

26. The method of claim 10 further comprising generating an indication of the location of the device using a global navigation satellite system.

27. The method of claim 10 wherein the indication of a location of the device comprises a range value representative of a distance between the first device and a second wireless communication device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received at the first device.

28. A wireless communication device transceiver, comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a wireless communication signal;

a control unit operable to determine a strength of the received signal and operable to generate an indication of a location of the device based on the strength of the received signal.

29. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the control unit is further operable to perform a function based on the indication of the location of the device.

30. The transceiver of claim 28 further comprising a transmitter, wherein the transceiver resides in a first wireless communication device and wherein the control unit is operable to cause the transmitter to transmit the determined strength of the received signal to a second wireless communication device.

31. The transceiver of claim 30 wherein the second device is a device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received by the first device.

32. The transceiver of claim 30 wherein the second device has a fixed location.

33. The transceiver of claim 30 wherein the first device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second device, and the second device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the first device.

34. The transceiver of claim 33 wherein the control unit is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second device.

35. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the control unit is operable to generate a received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

36. The transceiver of claim 28 further comprising a transmitter, wherein the transceiver resides in a first wireless communication device and wherein the control unit is operable to cause the transmitter to transmit the indication of the location of the first device to a second wireless communication device.

37. The transceiver of claim 36 wherein the second device is a device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received by the first device.

38. The transceiver of claim 36 wherein the second device has a fixed location.

39. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the transceiver resides in a mobile device.

40. The transceiver of claim 28 further comprising global navigation satellite system functionality operable to generate an indication of the location of the device.

41. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the indication of a location of the device comprises a range value representative of a distance between the first device and a second wireless communication device that transmitted the wireless communication signal received by the first device.