Real-time wireless exchange of objects

• US 7,181,199 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARY, ERIKA A
• Application Number:
  US10/783,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/00 Transference of modulation from one carrier to another, e.g. frequency-changing H03D9/00, H03D11/00 take precedence; dielectric amplifiers, magnetic amplifiers, parametric amplifiers used as a frequency-changers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically exchanging objects in a wireless mobile environment. The invention operates by transmitting a request for objects to a source, receiving at least some of the requested objects from the source, and processing the received objects. The invention uses a frequency down-conversion module that comprises a switch, a capacitor coupled to the switch, and a pulse generator coupled to the switch. The pulse generator outputs pulses to the switch, where the pulses have apertures and cause the switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over the apertures. Energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using the capacitor during the apertures of the pulses, and a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy. The invention also uses a frequency up-conversion module that comprises an energy transfer signal generator, a switch module controlled by the energy transfer signal generator, and a storage module coupled to the switch module.

Claims

1. A method for automatically exchanging objects in a wireless mobile environment, comprising:

(1) initiating communication with a compatible element;

(2) transmitting a request for objects to said compatible element;

(3) receiving at least some of said requested objects from said compatible element; and

(4) processing said received objects;

wherein said compatible element includes at least one of an interrogator and a source within a wireless communication range of operation;

wherein step (3) is performed using a frequency down-conversion module comprising a switch, a capacitor coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and

wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch, wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over said apertures, and wherein energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using said capacitor during said apertures of said pulses, and wherein a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a user at least one of user preferences, profile, and instructions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating said request based on at least one of said user preferences, profile, and instructions.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (4) further comprises:

providing said received objects to said user based on at least one of said user preferences, profile, and instructions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said objects comprise at least one of audio files, video files, multimedia files, software, and skins.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (1), (2), (3), and (4) are performed without human involvement.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing payment for said requested objects.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises:

verifying that said compatible element has a sharing mode enabled; and

determining a set of objects said compatible element is sharing.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for objects from said compatible element; and

transmitting at least some of said requested objects to said compatible element.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at least some of said requested objects from at least one of a content provider, a functionality provider, and an interface provider.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with a security device of a user.

12. An apparatus for automatically exchanging objects in a wireless mobile environment, comprising:

means for identifying a source;

means for transmitting a request for objects to said source;

means for receiving at least some of said requested objects from said source; and

means for processing said received objects;

wherein said source is within a wireless communication range of operation;

wherein said receiving means comprises a frequency down-conversion module comprising a switch, a capacitor coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and

wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch, wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over said apertures, and wherein energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using said capacitor during said apertures of said pulses, and wherein a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving from a user of the apparatus at least one of user preferences, profile, and instructions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for generating said request based on at least one of said user preferences, profile, and instructions, and a local storage of objects.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said processing means provides said received objects to said user based on at least one of said user preferences, profile, and instructions.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said objects comprise at least one of audio files, video files, multimedia files, software, and skins.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for providing payment for said requested objects.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for securing the apparatus, wherein a user engages said security means to interact with the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus includes a first vehicle, and wherein said means for securing the apparatus includes a key chain within a wireless communication range of operation of the first vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said identifying means identifies said source based on a wireless communication range of operation of said source.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for objects; and

means for transmitting at least some of said requested objects.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving at least some of said requested objects from at least one of a content provider, a functionality provider, and an interface provider.

23. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus includes a first vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said source includes a second vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said source includes a service station.

26. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus includes a personal data assistant (PDA).

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said source includes at least one of a restaurant, a store, and an information portal.

28. A system for automatically exchanging objects in a wireless mobile environment, comprising:

a first element having a first wireless access point and a first controller; and

a second element having a second wireless access point and a second controller, wherein said second wireless access point is capable of transmitting at least one object to said first element;

wherein said first wireless access point is capable of receiving the at least one object from said second element, and wherein said first element provides the at least one object to a user;

wherein said first wireless access point comprises a frequency down-conversion module comprising a switch, a capacitor coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and

wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch, wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over said apertures, and wherein energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using said capacitor during said apertures of said pulses, and wherein a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said first wireless access point is capable of transmitting the at least one object to said second element, and wherein said second wireless access point is capable of receiving the at least one object from said first element.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said first and second wireless access points include at least one of a receiver, a transmitter, and a transceiver.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said first and second controllers include at least one of a hardware state machine and a processor operating according to software.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein said second wireless access point is within a wireless communication range of operation of said first wireless access point.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one object includes at least one of audio files, video files, multimedia files, software, and skins.

34. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a security device having a third wireless access point and a third controller, wherein the user interacts with said security device to control access to said first element.

35. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

at least one of a content provider, a functionality provider, and an interface provider, wherein said second device is capable of receiving the at least one object from said at least one content provider, functionality provider, and interface provider.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein said first element receives from the user at least one of user preferences, profile, and instructions.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein said first element includes a first vehicle.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said second element includes a second vehicle within a wireless communication range of operation of said first vehicle.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein said second element includes a service station within a wireless communication range of operation of said first vehicle.

40. A method for a first vehicle to automatically exchange objects with a second vehicle in a wireless mobile environment, comprising:

(1) approaching the second vehicle;

(2) initiating communication with the second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle is within a wireless communication range of the first vehicle;

(3) transmitting a request for objects to the second vehicle;

(4) receiving at least some of the requested objects from the second vehicle; and

(5) processing the received objects;

wherein step (4) is performed using a frequency down-conversion module comprising a switch, a capacitor coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and

wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch, wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over said apertures, and wherein energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using said capacitor during said apertures of said pulses, and wherein a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

performing steps (2)–

(5) without human involvement.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein step (3) comprises:

transmitting a request to the second vehicle for at least one of audio files, video files, multimedia files, software, and skins.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a request for objects from the second vehicle; and

transmitting at least some of the requested objects to the second vehicle.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a request for payment information from the second vehicle for the requested objects; and

providing the payment information to the second vehicle.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving at least one of user preferences, user profile, and instructions from a user of the first vehicle.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

providing the received objects to the user of the first vehicle.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

communicating with a security device of the user of the first vehicle.

48. A method for automatically exchanging objects between a vehicle and a service station in a wireless mobile environment, comprising:

(1) approaching the service station;

(2) initiating communication with the service station, wherein the service station is within a wireless communication range of the vehicle;

(3) transmitting a request for objects to the service station;

(4) receiving at least some of the requested objects from the service station; and

(5) processing the received objects;

wherein step (4) is performed using a frequency down-conversion module comprising a switch, a capacitor coupled to said switch, and a pulse generator coupled to said switch; and

wherein said pulse generator outputs pulses to said switch, wherein said pulses have apertures and cause said switch to close and sub-sample a carrier signal over said apertures, and wherein energy is transferred from the carrier signal and stored using said capacitor during said apertures of said pulses, and wherein a lower frequency signal is generated from the transferred energy.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

performing steps (2)–

(5) without human involvement.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein step (3) comprises:

transmitting a request to the service station for at least one of audio files, video files, multimedia files, software, and skins.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a request for objects from the service station; and

transmitting at least some of the requested objects to the service station.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a request for payment information from the service station for the requested objects; and

providing the payment information to the service station.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving at least one of user preferences, user profile, and instructions from a user of the first vehicle.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

providing the received objects to the user of the first vehicle.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

communicating with a security device of the user of the first vehicle.