Radio network initialization method and apparatus

• US 6,069,911 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Kramer, John W., Sealander, Wanda
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US09/038,195
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 375/130, 375/259, 375/295, 375/316, 375/140, 375/145, 375/146, 375/147, 375/149, 370/457, 370/453, 379/910, 235/439
• US Class Current: 375/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/91 Bar code or optical character reader with telephone

Abstract

A packet data transmission system is disclosed in which remote units, such as remote hand-held data gathering units, which normally communicate with remote base stations via a spread spectrum RF communications, are initialized via spread spectrum RF communications. A network chipping sequence is provided for encoding normal communications and an universal chipping sequence is provided for encoding communications relating to initialization of the remote units. The network chipping sequence is adjustable and must be initialized in each of the remote units to enable normal communications. The universal chipping code is fixed for all remote devices and base stations. Since the universal chipping code is fixed, spread spectrum RF communications of the initialization data, using the universal chipping code, can be effected even if the network chipping sequence is not initially set in the remote units. The initialization data communicated to the remote includes the network chipping code which is then stored in the remote units and used for subsequent normal communications.

Claims

1. A remote unit having a bar code reader for reading a bar code label and a spread spectrum RF radio link for communicating with a base station by exchanging data packets encoded with a network chipping code, said remote unit comprising:

a) means for storing the network chipping code;

b) means for forming an initialization request;

c) means for encoding said initialization request using a universal chipping code;

d) means for transmitting said encoded initialization request to the base station;

e) means for receiving from the base station a spread spectrum RF encoded initialization data packet which is encoded by the universal chipping code;

f) decoding means for decoding said received encoded initialization data packet using said universal chipping code;

g) means for updating said network chipping code stored in said means for storing the network chipping code responsive to decoded initialization data packets;

h) scanning means for scanning a bar code label containing an item of information; and

i) means for transmitting to the base station said item of information using the network chipping code.

2. A spread spectrum RF data communications system comprising:

a) a plurality of remote units, with each one of said plurality of remote units comprising;

i) remote unit transmitting means for transmitting via a spread spectrum RF link one of two signals, said first one of two signals being a data packet encoded in the alternative with a network chipping code and a universal chipping code, and said second one of two signals being an initialization request packet encoded with the universal chipping code;

ii) remote unit receiving means for receiving via the spread spectrum RF link, a base station data packet encoded in the alternative with a network chipping code and a universal chipping code;

iii) remote unit detecting means for detecting whether the received base station data packet is encoded with said network chipping code or said universal chipping code; and

iv) remote unit decoding means for decoding said received base station data packet; and

b) at least one base station comprising;

i) receiving means for receiving said one of two signals transmitted by said remote units;

ii) detecting means for detecting whether the received signal is encoded with said network chipping code or said universal chipping code;

iii) decoding means for decoding said received signal;

iv) means for encoding the base station data packet using said network chipping code or said universal chipping code depending upon the result of the detecting means; and

v) means for transmitting via the spread spectrum RF link the base station data packet to said remote units.

3. A method of setting a remote unite having a bar code reader for reading a bar code label and a spread spectrum RF radio link for communication with a base station by transmitting a plurality of data packets which are encoded in accordance with a network chipping code, the method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting an initialization request data packet encoded by a universal chipping code from said remote unit to said base station via the spread spectrum RF link, said universal chipping code being different than said network chipping code;

b) receiving at said remote unit an initialization data packet transmitted by said base station;

c) scanning the bar code label containing an item of information with the bar code reader;

d) transmitting to the base station said item of information using the network chipping code.