METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING USING A GATEWAY COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20100322258A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Dynarski, Richard, Parizhsky, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 8,274,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and a gateway apparatus for facilitating communication between communications devices which support different communications protocols are described. The gateway device may receive an identifier of interest from a first device which supports a first communications protocol but not a second communications protocol. The gateway monitors signals corresponding to the second communications protocol to detect signals corresponding to the identifier of interest. An externally perceivable alert is generated by the gateway device when a signal corresponding to the identifier of interest is detected. Communications is established between the first communications device and a second communications device with the gateway device performing protocol conversion to the extent required. The first device may power down its interface after sending the identifier of interest to the gateway and then power up the interface in response to sensing of the alert or input from a user responding to the alert.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gateway communications device, the method comprising:

receiving on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device;

receiving a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;

determining if the received signal matches the identifier; and

generating an externally perceivable alert when it is determined that the received signal matches the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first interface is powered down after said identifier is received;

and

wherein the first interface is powered on after determining that the received signal matches the identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing, using said second communications protocol, a communications link with a second communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link via the first interface using said first communications protocol with the first communications device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a communications service to the first communications device via the communications link established via the first interface, said communications service involving communications with a second communications device via the second interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing a communications service includes serving as a wireless access point to the first communications device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said second interface is a peer to peer interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second communications device is a second gateway communications device providing communications service to a third communications device via said first communications protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications service supports communications between the first communications device and the third communications device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifier is one of a service identifier, an application identifier, a device identifier, a user identifier, a location identifier, and a group identifier.

11. A gateway communications device, comprising:

means for receiving on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device;

means for receiving a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;

means for determining if the received signal matches the identifier; and

means for generating an externally perceivable alert when it is determined that the received signal matches the identifier.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for establishing, using said second communications protocol, a communications link with a second communications device.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for establishing a communication link via the first interface using said first communications protocol with the first communications device.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing a communications service to the first communications device via the communications link established via the first interface, said communications service involving communications with a second communications device via the second interface.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the second communications device is a second gateway communications device providing communications service to a third communications device via said first communications protocol.

16. A gateway communications device, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device;

receive a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;

determine if the received signal matches the identifier; and

generate an externally perceivable alert when it is determined that the received signal matches the identifier; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least processor is further configured to:

establish, using said second communications protocol, a communications link with a second communications device.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least processor is further configured to:

establish a communication link via the first interface using said first communications protocol with the first communications device.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least processor is further configured to:

provide a communications service to the first communications device via the communications link established via the first interface, said communications service involving communications with a second communications device via the second interface.

20. A computer program product, for use in a gateway communications device, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive, on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol, an identifier from a first communications device;

code for causing said least one computer to receive a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;

code for causing said at least one computer to determine if the received signal matches the identifier; and

code for causing said at least one computer to generate an externally perceivable alert when it is determined that the received signal matches the identifier.