METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOPERATIVE MULTIFUNCITIONAL COMMUNICATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20110134832A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Soliman, Samir S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• 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

The described apparatus and methods may include a controller configured to determine capabilities of at least one remote access terminal, and delegate at least one task to the at least one remote access terminal based on the capabilities.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a controller configured to;

determine capabilities of at least one remote access terminal; and

delegate at least one task to the at least one remote access terminal based on the capabilities.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to discover the at least one remote access terminal.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to delegate the at least one task based on power sensitivity of the remote access terminal.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver having a low power requirement, wherein the controller is further configured to establish a communication link with the at least one remote access terminal via the low power transceiver.

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to power down all transceivers except the low power transceiver.

6. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 5, wherein the low power transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals within a personal area network (PAN).

7. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to delegate different tasks to a plurality of remote access terminals, respectively.

8. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to delegate a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to receive navigation signals from a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) network.

9. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 8, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to receive navigation signals from the GNSS further requires the remote access terminal to determine geographical coordinates on behalf of the controller.

10. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to delegate a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within a Wide Area Network (WAN).

11. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within the WAN further requires the remote access terminal to monitor signals from a base station on behalf of the controller.

12. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to delegate a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within a Local Area Network (LAN).

13. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 12, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within the LAN further requires the remote access terminal to search for available networks on behalf of the controller.

14. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein a task delegated to the remote access terminal is data processing.

15. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein a task delegated to the remote access terminal is optical, acoustical, or chemical sensing.

16. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining capabilities of at least one remote access terminal; and

delegating at least one task to the at least one remote access terminal based on the capabilities.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising discovering the at least one remote access terminal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein delegating the at least one task further comprises delegating the at least one task based on power sensitivity of the remote access terminal.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing a communication link with the at least one remote access terminal via a transceiver having a low power requirement.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising powering down all transceivers except the low power transceiver.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the low power transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals within a personal area network (PAN).

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising delegating different tasks to a plurality of remote access terminals, respectively.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein delegating the at least one task further comprises delegating a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to receive navigation signals from a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to receive navigation signals from the GNSS further requires the remote access terminal to determine geographical coordinates.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein delegating the at least one task further comprises delegating a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within a Wide Area Network (WAN).

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within the WAN further requires the remote access terminal to monitor signals from a base station.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein delegating the at least one task further comprises delegating a task to the remote access terminal requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within a Local Area Network (LAN).

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the task requiring the remote access terminal to communicate within the LAN further requires the remote access terminal to search for available networks.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein a task delegated to the remote access terminal is data processing.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein a task delegated to the remote access terminal is optical, acoustical, or chemical sensing.

31. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining capabilities of at least one remote access terminal; and

means for delegating at least one task to the at least one remote access terminal based on the capabilities.

32. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for determining capabilities of at least one remote access terminal; and

code for delegating at least one task to the at least one remote access terminal based on the capabilities.