Method and apparatus for establishing a data link between a portable data communications device and an interface circuit
First Claim
1. A data communication system for establishing and retaining a data link between an interface circuit and a communication device having a wireless port for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, the system comprising:
- an interface circuit;
a plurality of transceivers in communication with the interface circuit, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal within a transceiver space associated with the respective transceiver; and
a control circuit in communication with the interface circuit and the plurality of transceivers, the control circuit configured to scan the plurality of transceivers in a scanning sequence to detect presence of a wireless signal within any one of the plurality of transceiver spaces;
wherein, when the wireless port transmits a wireless signal within one of the plurality of transceiver spaces, the control circuit automatically locks onto the transceiver associated with the transceiver space in which the wireless signal was detected, thereby enabling the data link between the interface circuit and the communication device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless data communication system for establishing a data link between a portable communication device and an interface circuit, such as an interface circuit to a LAN, includes a plurality of transceivers in communication with a control circuit. Each of the transceivers is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals within a defined transceiver space. The plurality of transceiver spaces combine to define a communication space. The control circuit detects the presence of a wireless signal within the communications space by sequentially scanning the transceivers to determine which transceiver is receiving the signal. Once the signal is detected, the control circuit automatically locks onto the transceiver receiving the signal, thereby enabling establishment of a wireless data link between the communication device and the interface circuit. The control circuit continues to monitor the established data link to determine whether data communications are disrupted. Upon detection of a disruption, the control circuit automatically attempts to retain the data link by re-initiating the scanning sequence.
128 Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A data communication system for establishing and retaining a data link between an interface circuit and a communication device having a wireless port for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, the system comprising:
-
an interface circuit;
a plurality of transceivers in communication with the interface circuit, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal within a transceiver space associated with the respective transceiver; and
a control circuit in communication with the interface circuit and the plurality of transceivers, the control circuit configured to scan the plurality of transceivers in a scanning sequence to detect presence of a wireless signal within any one of the plurality of transceiver spaces;
wherein, when the wireless port transmits a wireless signal within one of the plurality of transceiver spaces, the control circuit automatically locks onto the transceiver associated with the transceiver space in which the wireless signal was detected, thereby enabling the data link between the interface circuit and the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for establishing and retaining a data link between a communication device having a wireless communication port and an interface circuit in communication with a plurality of transceivers, each of the transceivers configured to receive and transmit wireless signals within a transceiver space associated with the respective transceiver, the plurality of transceiver spaces defining a communication space, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a wireless signal within the communication space from the wireless communication port of the communication device;
sequentially scanning each of the plurality of transceivers;
detecting presence of the wireless signal within at least one of the transceiver spaces defining the communication space; and
locking onto the transceiver associated with the at least one transceiver space in which the wireless signal is present to establish the data link between the communication device and the interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
detecting presence of a second wireless signal within at least one of the transceiver spaces defining the communication space, the second infrared signal being transmitted from a wireless communication port of a second communication device; and
terminating the data link if the second communication device is not removed within a predetermined time period.
-
-
26. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the interface circuit is in communication with a LAN.
-
27. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the data link is a line-of-sight infrared data link.
-
28. An infrared data communications system for establishing and retaining a data link between a network and a communication device disposed in a work space, the system comprising:
-
an article of furniture disposed in the work space;
a plurality of infrared transceivers disposed at discrete locations associated with the article of furniture such that the plurality of infrared transceivers transmit and receive infrared signals within a communication space; and
a control circuit in communication with the plurality of infrared transceivers and the network and configured to detect presence of a line-of-sight infrared signal within the communication space, the line-of-sight infrared signal being transmitted by the communication device;
wherein the control circuit locks onto one of the plurality of infrared transceivers upon detection of the infrared signal in the communication space, thereby enabling the data link between the network and the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A data communication system for establishing a data link between an interface circuit and a communication device having a wireless port for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, the system comprising:
-
an interface circuit;
a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal within a transceiver space associated with the respective transceiver; and
a control circuit in communication with the interface circuit and the plurality of transceivers, the control circuit configured to scan the plurality of transceivers in a scanning sequence to detect presence of a wireless signal within any one of the plurality of transceiver spaces;
wherein, when the wireless port transmits a wireless signal within one of the plurality of transceiver spaces, the control circuit automatically locks onto the transceiver associated with the transceiver space in which the wireless signal was detected, thereby enabling the data link between the interface circuit and the communication device;
wherein the control circuit monitors the data link established between the wireless port and the interface circuit to detect disruption of data flow on the data link; and
wherein if the disruption of the data flow is detected for greater than a predetermined time period, the control circuit recommences the scanning sequence. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A method for establishing a data link between a communication device having a wireless communication port and an interface circuit in communication with a plurality of transceivers, each of the transceivers configured to receive and transmit wireless signals within a transceiver space associated with the respective transceiver, the plurality of transceiver spaces defining a communication space, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a wireless signal within the communication space from the wireless communication port of the communication device;
sequentially scanning each of the plurality of transceivers;
detecting presence of the wireless signal within at least one of the transceiver spaces defining the communication space;
locking onto the transceiver associated with the at least one transceiver space in which the wireless signal is present to establish the data link between the communication device and the interface circuit;
monitoring the data link to detect disruption of receipt of the wireless signal; and
recommencing sequentially scanning the plurality of transceivers if the detected disruption occurs for greater than a first predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
detecting presence of a second wireless signal within at least one of the transceiver spaces defining the communication space, the second infrared signal being transmitted from a wireless communication port of a second communication device; and
terminating the data link if the second communication device is not removed within a predetermined time period.
-
-
58. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the interface circuit is in communication with a LAN.
-
59. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the data link is a line-of-sight infrared data link.
-
60. An infrared data communications system for establishing a data link between a network and a communication device disposed in a work space, the system comprising:
-
an article of furniture disposed in the work space;
a plurality of infrared transceivers disposed at discrete locations associated with the article of furniture such that the plurality of infrared transceivers transmit and receive infrared signals within a communication space; and
a control circuit in communication with the plurality of infrared transceivers and the network and configured to detect presence of a line-of sight infrared signal within the communication space, the line-of-sight infrared signal being transmitted by the communication device;
wherein the control circuit locks onto one of the plurality of infrared transceivers upon detection of the infrared signal in the communication space, thereby maintaining the data link between the network and the communication device;
wherein the control circuit detects the presence of the infrared signal by scanning the plurality of transceivers in a scanning sequence to determine whether one of the plurality of transceivers is receiving the infrared signal; and
wherein the control circuit monitors the data link to detect disruption of data flow and recommences the scanning sequence if the disruption occurs for greater than a first period of time. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
-
Specification