Extending personal area networks
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- enabling a plurality of first wireless devices in a first wireless piconet to communicate using a first wireless protocol having a first range;
enabling a plurality of second wireless devices in a second wireless piconet to communicate using a second wireless protocol having a second range;
enabling the first and second wireless piconets to communicate with one another at a distance greater than the first or the second range;
said first wireless piconet including a third device that communicates using said first wireless protocol and a third wireless protocol different from said first wireless protocol, said third wireless protocol having a range greater than said first and second ranges;
said second wireless piconet including a fourth wireless device that communicates using said second wireless protocol and said third wireless protocol; and
using said third and fourth wireless devices to forward communications between first and second wireless devices by automatically appending enumeration data on said communications.
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Abstract
A pair of shorter range radio frequency networks may be linked together using a longer range communication protocol that is not based on the same radio frequency protocol utilized by the shorter range radio frequency networks. Enumeration data from one of the shorter range networks may be exchanged over a longer range network to combine the two shorter range networks using proxy devices such as cellular telephones. This may allow devices in a shorter range network to communicate over a longer range.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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enabling a plurality of first wireless devices in a first wireless piconet to communicate using a first wireless protocol having a first range; enabling a plurality of second wireless devices in a second wireless piconet to communicate using a second wireless protocol having a second range; enabling the first and second wireless piconets to communicate with one another at a distance greater than the first or the second range; said first wireless piconet including a third device that communicates using said first wireless protocol and a third wireless protocol different from said first wireless protocol, said third wireless protocol having a range greater than said first and second ranges; said second wireless piconet including a fourth wireless device that communicates using said second wireless protocol and said third wireless protocol; and using said third and fourth wireless devices to forward communications between first and second wireless devices by automatically appending enumeration data on said communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An article comprising a computer storage medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to:
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enable a plurality of first wireless devices in a first wireless piconet to communicate using a first wireless protocol having a first range; enable a plurality of second wireless devices in a second wireless piconet to communicate using a second wireless protocol having a second range; enable the first and second wireless piconets to communicate with one another at a distance greater than the first or the second range; said first wireless piconet including a third wireless device that communicates using said first wireless protocol and a third wireless protocol different from said first wireless protocol, said third wireless protocol having a range greater than said first and second ranges; said second wireless piconet including a fourth wireless device that communicates using said second wireless protocol and said third wireless protocol; and use said third and fourth wireless devices to forward communications between first and second wireless devices by automatically appending enumeration data on said communications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification