Hierarchical communication system using premises, peripheral and vehicular local area networking

• US 5,949,776 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: West, Guy J., Mahany, Ronald L., Bunte, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Application Number:
  US08/909,927
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/311, 370/315, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/349, 370/401, 455/412, 455/422, 455/426, 455/435, 455/436, 455/440, 455/444, 455/11.1, 455/517, 455/524, 455/343
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/029 : reducing the clock frequency of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 : taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• 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 hierarchical communication system is described in which wireless local area networks (LANs) exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. In a premises LAN, a series of radio base stations and a backbone LAN make up an infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one mobile computing device make up a higher-power LAN, utilizing a frequency hopping protocol. A lower-power LAN allows for radio communication between a mobile computing device and peripheral devices, utilizing a single-frequency spread spectrum protocol. A vehicular LAN provides for short-range communication between a vehicle terminal and a portable terminal. When out of direct RF range of the premises LAN, the vehicle terminal maintains indirect communication when necessary with the premises LAN via one of several alternate RF channels. A microprocessor, located inside radio units which participate in multiple LAN'"'"'s, selects the appropriate protocol, frequency band and power level for communicating through the network.

Claims

1. A communication network comprising:

a first wireless network;

a second wireless network independently operable from the first wireless network;

an access point device operable on the first wireless network;

a first wireless device selectively communicating with the access point device on the first wireless network;

a second wireless device operable on the second wireless network to communicate with the first wireless device; and

the first wireless device selectively communicating with the second wireless device on the second wireless network after communicating an indication of unavailability on the first wireless network to the access point device.

2. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the indication of unavailability comprises sleep mode registration.

3. The communication network of claim 2 wherein the first wireless device also conducts sleep mode registration to enter a power saving state.

4. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the access point device stores messages destined for the first wireless device after receiving the indication of unavailability.

5. The communication network of claim 1 wherein, after participating on the second wireless network, the first wireless device communicates an indication of availability on the first wireless network to resume participation on the first wireless network.

6. The communication network of claim 5 wherein, after resuming participation on the first wireless network, the access point device delivers stored messages to the first wireless device via the first wireless network.

7. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the first wireless device participates as a master on the second wireless network.

8. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the first wireless device participates as a slave on the first wireless network.

9. A communication network comprising:

a first wireless link;

a second wireless link independent from the first wireless link;

an access point device;

a first wireless device selectively communicating with the access point device on the first wireless link;

a second wireless device operable on the second wireless link; and

the first wireless device selectively communicating an indication of unavailability on the first wireless link prior to communicating on the second wireless link with the second wireless device.

10. The communication network of claim 9 wherein the indication of unavailability comprises sleep mode registration.

11. The communication network of claim 10 wherein the first wireless device also conducts sleep mode registration to enter a power saving state.

12. The communication network of claim 9 wherein the access point device stores messages destined for the first wireless device after receiving the indication of unavailability.

13. The communication network of claim 9 wherein, after participating on the second wireless link, the first wireless device communicates an indication of availability on the first wireless link to resume participation on the first wireless link.

14. The communication network of claim 13 wherein, after resuming participation on the first wireless link, the access point device delivers stored messages to the first wireless device via the first wireless link.

15. The communication network of claim 9 wherein the first wireless device participates as a slave on the first wireless link and a master on the second wireless link.

16. In a communication network having an access point device, a first wireless channel, a second wireless channel, and a network device operable on the second wireless channel, a wireless device comprising:

first transceiver circuitry that supports communication with the access point on the first wireless channel and that communicates an indication of unavailability on the first wireless channel; and

second transceiver circuitry coupled to the first transceiver circuitry that communicates with the network device on the second wireless channel after the first transceiver circuitry communicates the indication of unavailability.

17. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the indication of unavailability comprises sleep mode registration.

18. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the access point device stores messages destined for the wireless device after receiving the indication of unavailability.

19. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein, after participating on the second wireless channel, the wireless device communicates an indication of availability on the first wireless channel to resume participation on the first wireless channel.

20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein, after resuming participation on the first wireless channel, the first transceiver circuitry is used to receive stored messages from the access point device via the first wireless channel.