RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20150029924A1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitor Technologies AS
• Original Assignee: Sonitor Technologies AS
• Inventors: Booij, Wilfred Edwin, Olsen, ystein Haug
• Granted Patent: US 9,313,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/25 with rate being modified by the source upon detecting a change of network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• 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 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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

A network has wireless access points, each configured for bi-directional communication, using a first radio protocol, with a communication device that has been associated with the access point by an association data exchange. Each access point is also configured to receive, at a first data rate using the first radio protocol, a multicast radio message and to forward the multicast message onto the network. A radio transmitter is configured to send data at a second data rate, using a second radio protocol different from the first radio protocol. A wireless communication unit transmits a multicast radio message at the first data rate using the first radio protocol. It also receives data from the radio transmitter at the second data rate using the second radio protocol and decodes the data.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a network comprising a plurality of first access points, each access point being configured for bi-directional communication, using a first radio protocol, with a communication device that has been associated with the access point by an association data exchange, wherein each access point is further configured to receive, at a first data rate using the first radio protocol, a multicast radio message from a wireless communication unit that is not associated with the access point and to forward the multicast message onto the network;

a first radio transmitter configured to send data comprising a control message, addressed to one or more specific wireless communication units, at a second data rate, using a second radio protocol different from the first radio protocol; and

a wireless communication unit comprising a further radio transmitter configured to transmit a multicast radio message at the first data rate using the first radio protocol, and further comprising a radio receiver configured to receive and decode a control message from said first radio transmitter received at the second data rate using the second radio protocol, and being configured to execute a function in response to receiving the control message.

2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second data rate is lower than the first data rate.

4. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first radio protocol conforms to, or is compatible with, one of the IEEE 802.11 standards.

6. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first access points and the first radio transmitter are connected to one another by a wired network.

7. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second radio protocol conforms to, or is compatible with, the physical layer defined in one of the IEEE 802.15.4 standards.

8. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a maximum data rate supported by the second protocol is less than a minimum data rate supported by the first protocol.

9. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an effective transmission range of the first radio transmitter is greater than effective transmission ranges of the first access points when each access point is communicating with a communication device associated with the access point.

11. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of radio transmitters configured to send data at the second data rate using the second radio protocol, and arranged to form a network of second access points for devices communicating using the second protocol, wherein each of the second access points also comprises a radio receiver, for two-way communication using the second protocol, and wherein the network of second access points is configured as a tree or mesh network.

12. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a server configured to receive and process a multicast message forwarded by one of the first access points, and to control the sending of data from the first radio transmitter.

15. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to have a sleep mode and a wake mode, whereby at least some circuitry in a processor of the unit or in the radio receiver of the unit or in the radio transmitter of the unit is inactive in the sleep mode, so as to reduce the power consumption of the unit, and is further configured to switch from sleep mode to wake mode on receiving a wake signal using the second radio protocol.

17. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to be carried by, worn by or attached to a movable object.

19. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit information relating to the position of the unit, or information from which the position of the unit can be derived, in a multicast radio message.

21. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless unit comprises an ultrasound receiver, and is configured to respond to ultrasound signals transmitted by an ultrasound transmitter positioned in an area.

22. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless unit comprises a clock, wherein the first radio transmitter is configured to send clock synchronisation information at the second data rate using the second radio protocol, and wherein the wireless unit is configured to use the clock synchronisation information to synchronise its clock.

23. A communication system as claimed in claim 22, comprising an ultrasound transmitter configured to access time information synchronised with the wireless unit and further configured to transmit an ultrasound signal containing coded information relating to the time of transmission of the ultrasound signal, wherein the wireless unit is configured to receive the ultrasound signal and to transmit information relating to the time of transmission and the time of arrival of the ultrasound signal in a multicast radio transmission.

24. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a power amplifier and an antenna and is configured to use the antenna and power amplifier for transmitting a multicast message using the first radio protocol and for receiving data using the second protocol.

42. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second radio protocols operate in the same, or overlapping, radio spectrum ranges.

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A wireless communication unit comprising radio transmitter configured to transmit a multicast radio message at a first data rate using a first radio protocol, and further comprising a radio receiver configured to receive and decode a control message, addressed to the wireless communication unit, from a remote radio transmitter at a second data rate, using the second radio protocol, different from the first radio protocol, the wireless communication unit being configured to execute a function in response to receiving the control message.

37. A wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 26, configured to transmit information relating to the position of the unit, or information from which the position of the unit can be derived, in the multicast radio message.

40. A wireless communication unit as claimed in claim 26, comprising a clock, being configured to receive clock synchronisation information from the radio transmitter at the second data rate using the second radio protocol, and being further configured to use the clock synchronisation information to synchronise the clock.

27-36. -36. (canceled)

38-39. -39. (canceled)

41. (canceled)