Wireless network device with a signal detection function and switching method for the same

• US 7,536,202 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z-Com Incorporated (Permanent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Z-Com Incorporated (Permanent Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Jui-Lin, Yang, Tsung-Ming, Wu, Chia-Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D
• Application Number:
  US11/195,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/574, 455/67.11, 455/73, 455/344, 341/176
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless network device has a signal detection function and a switching method for the same. A wireless network signal detection module is installed in the wireless network device, and is switched to a wireless network interface card mode or a wireless network signal detection mode after the voltage regulator in the device determines the load voltage. So that the versatile wireless network device is formed to detect the wireless network signal without the PC'"'"'s help. The steps of switching to the signal detection mode are inclusively detecting the load voltage, switching to the wireless network signal detection mode, scanning the wireless network signal, and finally showing a result in a plurality of manners.

Claims

1. A wireless network device provided with a signal detection function that is equipped with a battery and is selectively connected to a PC, said wireless network device comprising:

a wireless network communication module for transceiving a wireless network signal;

a detection module connected to the wireless network communication module;

a processor connected to the wireless network communication module to convert the wireless network signal received by the network communication module into a digital signal and then transmit the digital signal to the PC, or transmit the digital signal to the wireless network device from the PC;

a power module connected to the battery for selectively receiving a power from the PC or the battery to generate a load voltage according to the source of the received power;

a voltage regulator connected to the processor;

wherein the wireless network device is arranged such that when the power module receives the power only from the battery, the load voltage is less than a determination value, and the voltage regulator switches the device into a wireless network signal detection mode in which the detection module connected detects and scans the wireless network signal;

wherein the device is arranged such that when the power module receives the power from the PC, the load voltage is higher than the determination value, the voltage regulator switches the device into a wireless NIC mode in which the wireless network communication module converts the wireless signal received by the wireless network communication module into a digital signal and then transmit the digital signal to the PC.

2. The wireless network device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a network signal detection switch for starting the wireless network signal detection mode.

3. The wireless network device according claim 1, further comprising:

an indication unit connected to the processor, for showing a detection result of the detection module.

4. The wireless network device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator switches into a wireless NIC mode when the load voltage is not less than a determine value.

5. The wireless network device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a wireless network detection software, which is executed in the wireless NIC mode.

6. The wireless network device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery connected to the power module, for supplying the power.

7. The wireless network device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interface unit connected the power module for supplying the power from a computer to the power module.

8. A method of switching functions of a wireless network device with a signal detection function, comprising steps of:

starting the wireless network device;

receiving a power from a PC or a battery, to generate a load voltage according to the source of the received power; and

switching the wireless network device into a wireless network signal detection mode which comprises detecting a feedback packet, receiving the feedback packet, processing the feedback packet to generate a detection result, when receiving the power from the battery to have the load voltage to be less than a determination value;

switching the wireless network device into a wireless NIC mode which comprises converting the wireless signal received into a digital signal and then transmit the digital signal, when receiving the power from the battery to have the load voltage to be higher than the determination value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of receiving the power comprising receiving the power comprising receiving the power from one of a battery and a computer.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of switching into the wireless network signal detection mode further comprises:

detecting a feedback packet;

receiving the feedback packet;

processing the feedback packet to generate a detection result.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of switching into the wireless NIC mode further comprises:

executing a wireless network detection software.