Establishing a communication link

• US 7,577,459 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tuomela, Urpo, Ronkainen, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/127,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 455/568, 455/517, 455/100, 455/552.1, 455/574, 455/41, 455/419, 455/426.1, 455/553.1, 455/572, 455/573, 455 411- 413, 455418-420, 455/426.2, 379/40
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless communication is provided between a mobile telephone handset and a headset worn by a person that uses the handset, through a first, wireless link such as Bluetooth. A second communication link is established by passing electrical currents between the handset and the headset through the body of the person. Communication through the second link is used to control operation of the first link.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a first communications device to establish a first, wireless communication link with a remote unit, and a second communications device to establish a second communication link with the remote unit through the body of a person, and

a controller to control operation, of the first and second communications devices;

wherein the controller, when in operation, instructs the second communication device to send a challenge through the second communication link to the remote unit, and based on a received response to the challenge over the second communication link that comprises an indication of whether the remote unit is in an operational state to communicate through the first, wireless communication link, the controller instructs the remote unit through the second communication link to switch between operational and non operational states regarding communication through the first wireless communication link.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first communication device is to provide a short-range wireless link with the remote unit.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device includes a transmitter to apply an electrical current to the skin of the person.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transmitter includes an electrode to apply the current to the skin of the person.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electrode is to apply the current by direct contact with the skin.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electrode is to induce the current in the body electrostatically without direct contact between the electrode and the skin.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transmitter includes a pulse generator and a modulator to modulate a pulse generated by the pulse generator with an identification code corresponding to said mobile communication apparatus.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device includes a receiver to receive a signal current from said remote unit through the body of the person.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the receiver includes an electrode to receive the current from the skin of the person.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the electrode is to receive the current by direct contact with the skin.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the electrode is to have the signal induced electrostatically therein by the current in the body, without direct contact between the electrode and the skin.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the receiver includes a demodulator to demodulate a pulse modulated with an identification code corresponding to said remote unit.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a transceiver for providing a telecommunications link with a cellular mobile network.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second communication device is to transmit and receive pairing information to establish pairing with the remote device, the pairing information including an identification code for the apparatus and the remote unit respectively.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device is operable to signal to the remote unit through the second communication link to place the first, wireless communication link in an operational state.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second communication device is operable to signal to the remote unit that the first communication device of the apparatus is to be powered off, such as to enable the remote unit to power down its connection to the first, wireless communication link.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an acoustic transducer to provide an audible output, a processor operable to provide an audio signal for the transducer to produce an audible output, the second communication device being operable through said second communication link to determine whether the remote unit is in an operational condition to process the audio signal at an acoustic transducer at the remote unit, and the processor being operable to route the audio signal selectively to at least one of said acoustic transducers depending on said determined operational condition of the remote unit.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the routing of the audio signal to the acoustic transducer of the remote unit occurs through the first, wireless communication link.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a headset.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mobile telephone handset.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to instruct the remote unit to be operational for the first link based on a selective user input.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is operable to instruct the remote unit to be operational for the first link in response to an incoming call.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a battery to power the first and second communications devices.

24. A method comprising:

establishing, with a first communications device of a mobile communication apparatus, a first, wireless communication link between the mobile communication apparatus and a remote unit;

establishing, with a second communications device of the mobile communication apparatus a second communication link between the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit through the body of the person, and sending a challenge from the mobile communication apparatus through the second communication link to the remote unit;

based on a response received with the second communications device over the second communication link to the challenge that comprises an indication of whether the remote unit is operable to communicate with the mobile communication apparatus through the first, wireless communication link, instructing the remote unit, with the second communications device through the second communication link, to switch between operational and non operational states regarding communication through the first, wireless communication link.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 including communicating pairing information between mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit through the second communication link, and storing the pairing information in the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit for authentication of further communications between the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 including switching on the remote unit for communication with the mobile communication apparatus through the second communication link, and if the checking through the second communication link to determine if the mobile communication apparatus is configured to communicate through the first, wireless communication link reveals that the mobile communications apparatus is so configured, commencing communication between the remote unit and the mobile communication apparatus through the first, wireless communication link.

27. The method according to claim 26 including sending an instruction through the second communication link from the remote unit to instruct the mobile communication apparatus to enable the first, wireless communication link.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24 including sending an instruction through the second communication link from one of the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit, to the other thereof that communication through the first, wireless communication link is to be discontinued.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 including powering down the first communication link at said other one of the mobile communication apparatus and the remote unit, upon receipt of said instruction.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mobile communication apparatus includes a controller, the method including providing an audio signal for an acoustic transducer in the mobile communication apparatus to provide an audible output, determining, at the mobile communication apparatus through said second communication link, whether the remote unit is in an operational condition to process the audio signal at an acoustic transducer at the remote unit, and the controller of the mobile communication apparatus routing the audio signal selectively to at least one of said acoustic transducers depending on said determined operational condition of the remote unit.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the routing of the audio signal by the controller includes selectively routing the audio signal to the acoustic transducer of the remote unit through the first, wireless communication link.

32. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program executable by at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

establishing, with a first communication device, a first wireless communication link with a remote unit; and

establishing, with a second communication device, a second communication link with the remote unit through a body of a person, and

controlling, with a controller, an operation of the first and second communications devices;

wherein the controller, when in operation, instructs the second communication device to send a challenge through the second communication link to the remote unit, and

based on a received response over the second communication link to the challenge that comprises an indication of whether the remote unit is in an operational state to communicate through the first wireless communication link, the controller instructs the remote unit through the second communication link to switch between operational and non operational states regarding communication through the first communication link.

33. An integrated circuit comprising:

a first circuit to establish a first, wireless communication link with a remote unit; and

a second circuit to establish a second, communication link with the remote unit through a body of a person, and

a third circuit to control an operation of a first and second communications devices;

wherein the third circuit, when in operation, instructs the second circuit to send a challenge through the second communication link to the remote unit, and

based on a received response over the second communication link to the challenge that comprises an indication of whether the remote unit is in an operational state to communicate through the first, wireless communication link, the third circuit to instruct the remote unit through the second communication link to switch between operational and non operational states regarding communication through the first communication link.

34. A mobile communication system for use by a person, comprising:

a mobile communication apparatus and a remote unit, the mobile communication apparatus including a first communications device to establish a first, wireless communication link with a remote unit, and a second communications device to establish a second communication link with the remote unit through the body of the person,

the remote unit including a first communications device to establish said first wireless communication link with the first communications device of the mobile communications apparatus, and a second communications device to establish said second communication link through the body of the person, a battery to power said first and second communications devices of the remote unit, and a switch operable by the person to control operation of the first communication device of the remote unit,

wherein the second communication device of the mobile communication apparatus is to send a challenge through the second communication link to the remote unit, and

based on a received response over the second communication link to the challenge that comprises an indication of whether the remote unit is in an operational state to communicate through the first, wireless link, the mobile communication apparatus instructs the remote unit through the second communication link to switch between operational and non-operational states regarding communication through the first wireless communication link.

35. The system claimed in claim 34 wherein the mobile communication apparatus includes a controller operable to control operation of the first communications device of the mobile communication apparatus in dependence on the outcome of communication performed by the second communication devices through the body of the person.