BEACON HAVING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION INTERFACES

• US 20170230782A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Inventors: RANDJELOVIC, Zoran
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/009 specially adapted for networks, e.g. wireless sensor networks, ad-hoc networks, RFID networks or cloud networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/48 using secure binding, e.g. securely binding identity modules to devices, services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• 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 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A communication beacon including a calculation unit associated with a memory unit for data backup and with a clock circuit and a communication circuit, the beacon being supplied with power by a power supply unit. The communication circuit includes a first interface unit using a first protocol, at least one second interface unit using a second protocol, and an antenna connected to each of the interface units.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A communication beacon comprising:

a calculation unit associated with a memory unit for data backup;

a clock circuit;

a communication circuit;

a power supply unit to supply the beacon with power;

wherein the communication circuit comprises a first interface unit using a first protocol, at least one second interface unit using a second protocol, and at least one antenna allowing the interface units to communicate, the first protocol being exclusively used to receive data whereas the second protocol is exclusively used to send data.

19. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the first protocol is a protocol of which a range is less than a range of the second protocol meter.

20. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the first protocol is a protocol of which the range is less than 1 meter.

21. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the second protocol is a protocol of which the range is greater than 1 meter.

22. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the first protocol is a near field communication protocol.

23. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the second protocol is a Bluetooth™

communication protocol.

24. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the first protocol used by the first interface unit also allows transmission of data.

25. A beacon according to claim 18, further comprising at least one sensor providing data representative of a physical quantity, the data representative of a physical quantity being broadcast by the second interface unit.

26. A beacon according to claim 25, wherein the sensor is a location sensor.

27. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein data items originating from the at least one sensor are recorded in the memory unit of the beacon.

28. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein data can be downloaded by the first interface unit and stored in the memory unit.

29. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the first interface unit is connected to a first antenna and the second interface unit is connected to a second antenna.

30. A beacon according to claim 18, further comprising an energy recovery system for supplying the beacon with power.

31. A beacon according to claim 30, wherein the first interface unit is used as an energy recovery system for supplying the beacon with power.

32. A beacon according to claim 18, wherein the communication circuit further comprises a third interface unit using a third protocol.

33. A beacon according to claim 32, wherein the third protocol is a protocol of which a range is greater than the range of the second protocol.

34. A beacon according to claim 32, wherein the third protocol enables communication with other beacons of which the communication circuit also comprises a third interface unit using a third protocol to create a network between the beacons.