SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SHORT-RANGE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN A MOBILE WIRELESS DEVICE AND AN AUXILIARY SYSTEM

• US 20100227555A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Zinn, Scotte, Wilson, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary device. The wireless device includes a short-range transceiver for communicating with an auxiliary device; a signal module for providing a mode control signal; and, a control module for controllably shifting a short-range transceiver between a power saver mode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received from the signal module. When in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith. When in a power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is not operable to search for the auxiliary device.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a short-range transceiver for communicating with an auxiliary device;

a signal module for providing a mode control signal; and

a control module for controllably shifting the short-range transceiver between a power saver mode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received from the signal module;

wherein

when in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith, and when in the power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is inactive and not operable to search for the auxiliary device.

2. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the signal module comprises a user input means for instructing the signal module to send the mode control signal to the control module in response to a user input.

3. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the signal module comprises a single-action user input means for, in response to performance of only a single action, instructing the signal module to send the mode control signal to the control module.

4. The wireless device as defined in claim 3 wherein the single-action user input means comprises an audible signal receiver and the single action comprises creating the audible signal.

5. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the mode control signal sent from the signal module comprises first and second signals;

and

the control module is operable to shift the short-range transceiver;

(i) from the power saver mode to the search mode when the first signal is received from the signal module, and

from the search mode to the power saver mode when the second signal is received from the signal module.

6. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the control module comprises a storage module for storing at least one communication profile for communication with the auxiliary device;

the signal module is operable to identify an associated communication profile in the mode control signal sent to the control module; and

the control module is operable to select the associated communication profile for communication with the auxiliary device.

7. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the wireless device has telephony capabilities.

8. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the wireless device has data messaging capabilities.

9. The wireless device as defined in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is one of the group consisting of a two-way pager, a wireless e-mail device, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, and a wireless Internet appliance.

10. A method of controlling short-range wireless communication using a short-range transceiver between a wireless device and an auxiliary device, the short-range transceiver providing a power saver mode and a search mode, the method comprising:

searching for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith when in the search mode, and

being inactive and not operable to search for the auxiliary device when in the power saver mode.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to change modes in response to a user input means.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to change modes in response to a single-action user input means.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the single-action user input means comprises an audible signal receiver and the single action comprises creating the audible signal.

15. The wireless system as defined in claim 13 wherein the wireless device is one of the group consisting of a two-way pager, a wireless e-mail device, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, and a wireless Internet appliance.

16. The wireless system as defined in claim 13 wherein the user input means comprises a single-action user input means for, in response to performance of only a single action, controllably shifting the short-range transceiver from the power saver mode to the search mode.

17. The wireless system as defined in claim 15 wherein the single-action user input means comprises an audible signal receiver and the single action comprises creating the audible signal.

18. The wireless system as defined in claim 13 wherein:

the control module comprises a storage module for storing at least one communication profile for communication with the short-range communication module of the auxiliary device; and

the control module is operable to select an associated communication profile for communication with the short-range communication module of the auxiliary device.

19. The wireless system as defined in claim 13 wherein the wireless device has telephony capabilities and the auxiliary device comprises a speaker and a microphone, wherein the telephony capabilities of the wireless device are useable via the speaker and the microphone of the auxiliary device.

20. The wireless system as defined in claim 13 wherein the wireless device has data messaging capabilities.

14. A wireless system comprising:

an auxiliary device having a short-range communication module; and

a wireless device having;

(i) a short-range transceiver for communicating with the auxiliary device;

(ii) a user input means; and

a control module for controllably shifting the short-range transceiver from a power saver mode to a search mode in response to a user input;

wherein, when in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the short-range communication module of the auxiliary device to communicate therewith, and when in the power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is inactive and not operable to search for the short-range communication module of the auxiliary device.