Short range RF network
First Claim
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1. A short range RF network for providing wireless communication of data in a local environment to a wireless user terminal, comprising:
- a host device connectable to an external network;
first primary beacon having a first operating range and disposed at a distance from said host within said operating range, said first primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a first identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a first wireless communication link between said first primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said first wireless communication link;
a second primary beacon having a second operating range and disposed at a distance from said host within said second operating range, said second primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a second identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a second wireless communication link between said second primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said second wireless communication link; and
a secondary beacon having a secondary beacon operating range and disposed at a distance from said first and said second primary beacons so that said first and said second primary beacons are within said secondary beacon operating range, said secondary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a secondary beacon identification code recognizable by said host for establishing wireless communication links with said first primary beacon and said second primary beacon, said secondary beacon including means for determining whether to communicate with said host via communication with one of said first and second primary beacons depending on criteria associated with said first and said second primary beacons.
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Abstract
A network including a host device and a plurality of transceiver beacons for communicating data from terminal devices interacting with the beacons, to the host. The beacons include identification codes used by the host for establishing wireless communication links either between a beacon and the host, or between two or more beacons. A routing mechanism is included in the beacons for selecting a most favorable transmission path among available paths for communicating data to the host.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A short range RF network for providing wireless communication of data in a local environment to a wireless user terminal, comprising:
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a host device connectable to an external network;
first primary beacon having a first operating range and disposed at a distance from said host within said operating range, said first primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a first identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a first wireless communication link between said first primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said first wireless communication link;
a second primary beacon having a second operating range and disposed at a distance from said host within said second operating range, said second primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a second identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a second wireless communication link between said second primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said second wireless communication link; and
a secondary beacon having a secondary beacon operating range and disposed at a distance from said first and said second primary beacons so that said first and said second primary beacons are within said secondary beacon operating range, said secondary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a secondary beacon identification code recognizable by said host for establishing wireless communication links with said first primary beacon and said second primary beacon, said secondary beacon including means for determining whether to communicate with said host via communication with one of said first and second primary beacons depending on criteria associated with said first and said second primary beacons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of wirelessly communicating data in a local environment between a host device and a wireless terminal device, comprising the steps of:
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disposing a first primary beacon having a first operating range at a distance from the host within said first operating range, said first primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a first identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a first wireless communication link between said first primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said first wireless communication link;
disposing a second primary beacon having a second operating range at a distance from the host within said second operating range, said second primary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a second identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a second wireless communication link between said second primary beacon and said host for facilitating transmission of the data along said second wireless communication link;
disposing a secondary beacon having a secondary beacon operating range at a distance from said first and said second primary beacons within said secondary beacon operating range, said secondary beacon having a processor, a transceiver and a secondary beacon identification code recognizable by the host for establishing a first secondary beacon wireless communication link with said first primary beacon and a second secondary beacon communication link with said second primary beacon; and
determining, based on criteria associated with said first and said second primary beacons, which of said first secondary beacon wireless communication link and said second secondary beacon wireless communication link to use for transmission of the data from said beacon to the host via communication with one of said first and said second primary beacons. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification