Multi-purpose bridge for wireless communications

• US 6,937,615 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Chênes, Pierre, Sommer, René, Lazzarotto, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/507,768
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/401, 370/535, 370/538, 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/445, 370/344, 370/343, 455/168.1, 455/150.1, 455/179.1
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A dual-purpose bridge for wireless communication allows both a low frequency (e.g., below 1 GHz) wireless communication standard and a high frequency (e.g., above 1 GHz) wireless communication standard to operate for a particular wireless communications device. Resources existing between the bridged standards can be shared to reduce the cost of implementing any one communication standard. The output signal of each communication system is coupled with a processor. The wireless communication standard that was used to transmit the output signal is determined and then the corresponding protocol is employed. Processing is performed in the processor and the resulting data can then be applied to a data port.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an output signal from one of a first wireless communication device operating in a first frequency range or a second wireless communication device operating in a second frequency range, the method comprising:

receiving the output signal at a processor;

identifying whether the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device sent the output signal based on information included in the output signal; and

implementing a protocol that corresponds to the identified wireless communication device, wherein in response to identifying the first wireless communication device, a first protocol is implemented, and in response to identifying the second wireless communication device, a second protocol is implemented.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the output signal is one of a baseband signal and a broadband signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first frequency range is from about 100 KHz to about 1 GHz.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first frequency range is from about 26 MHz to about 28 MHz, or from about 800 MHz to about 1 GHz.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1 GHz to about 10 GHz.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1.8 GHz to about 2.0 GHz, or from about 2 GHz to about 4 GHz.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the processor has a first process for detecting and processing an output signal from the first wireless communication device, and a second process for detecting and processing an output signal from the second wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

decoding a set of MAC information associated with the output signal.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

decoding and formatting data associated with the output signal.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

verifying data associated with the output signal is valid; and

responsive to the data being valid, transmitting the data to a data port that is operatively coupled to the processor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is implemented by at least one of software, firmware, or hardware.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying includes determining a device type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device type is one of a mouse, a keyboard, or a cell phone.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein in response to determining the type of the wireless communications device to be a mouse, implementing the corresponding protocol includes formatting payload data in the output signal as cursor position data.

15. A system for receiving an output signal from one of a first wireless communication device operating in a first frequency range or a second wireless communication device operating in a second frequency range, the system comprising:

a processor for receiving the output signal, wherein the processor is adapted to;

identify whether the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device sent the output signal based on information included in the output signal; and

implement a protocol that corresponds to the identified wireless communication device, wherein in response to identifying the first wireless communication device, a first protocol is implemented, and in response to identifying the second wireless communication device, a second protocol is implemented.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor has access to a memory that is configured to receive the output signal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the memory has a first section and a second section, wherein the first section has a first process for detecting and processing an output signal from the first wireless communication device, and the second section has a second process for detecting and processing an output signal from the second wireless communication device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the output signal is one of a baseband signal and a broadband signal.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the first frequency range is from about 100 KHz to about 1 GHz.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the first frequency range is from about 26 MHz to about 28 MHz, or from about 800 MHz to about 1 GHz.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1 GHz to about 10 GHz.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1.8 GHz to about 2.0 GHz, or from about 2 GHz to about 4 GHz.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is adapted to:

decode a set of MAC information associated with the output signal.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is adapted to:

decode and format data associated with the output signal.

25. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is adapted to:

verify data associated with the output signal is valid; and

responsive to the data being valid, transmit the data to a data port that is operatively coupled to the processor.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is a component of one of the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device.

27. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying whether a first wireless communication device operating in a first frequency range or a second wireless communication device operating in a second frequency range sent an output signal received by the processor, wherein the identifying is based on information included in data packets comprising the output signal; and

implementing a protocol that corresponds to the identified wireless communication device, wherein in response to identifying the first wireless communication device, a first protocol is implemented, and in response to identifying the second wireless communication device, a second protocol is implemented.

28. A receiver apparatus for receiving wireless communications from a number of wireless communication devices, the apparatus comprising:

a first I/O port for receiving communication information from a first wireless device operating in a first frequency range;

a second I/O port for receiving communication information from a second wireless device operating in a second frequency range; and

a processor for effecting upon received communication information a protocol that corresponds to one of the first or second wireless communication devices in response to determining which wireless communication device sent the communication information.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a third I/O port for receiving communication information from a third wireless device operating in the first frequency range.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first wireless communication device has a communication channel for a wireless keyboard and the third wireless communication device has a communication channel for a wireless mouse, and communication information from the wireless keyboard is received by the first I/O port, and communication information from the wireless mouse is received by the third I/O port.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a data port operatively coupled to the processor for providing an interface between the apparatus and a host system.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the communication information from the second wireless communication device is provided to the second I/O port by a media access control module associated with the second wireless communication device.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, further including a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine from which wireless communication device communication information was received, and to effect a protocol corresponding to that wireless communication device.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the I/O ports and the processor are included in a microcontroller unit.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the I/O ports and the processor are components of one of the first wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device.

36. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the output signal is one of a baseband signal and a broadband signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first frequency range is from about 100 KHz to about 1 GHz.

38. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first frequency range is from about 26 MHz to about 28 MHz, or from about 800 MHz to about 1 GHz.

39. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1 GHz to about 10 GHz.

40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the second frequency range is from about 1.8 GHz to about 2.0 GHz, or from about 2 GHz to about 4 GHz.

41. A method for receiving an output signal from one of a first wireless computer peripheral device operating in a first frequency range or a second wireless computer peripheral device operating in a second frequency range, the method comprising:

receiving the output signal at a processor;

identifying whether the first wireless computer peripheral device or the second wireless computer peripheral device sent the output signal based on information included in the output signal; and

implementing a protocol that corresponds to the identified wireless computer peripheral device, wherein in response to identifying the first wireless computer peripheral device, a first protocol is implemented, and in response to identifying the second wireless computer peripheral device, a second protocol is implemented.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the first and the second wireless computer peripheral devices each includes one of a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wireless personal digital assistant, or a wireless printer.