Wireless communications devices, wireless communications systems, and methods of performing wireless communications with a portable device

• US 7,920,047 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Bates, Benjamin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/890,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.1, 340/5.5, 340/5.2, 340/5.7, 340/825.49, 340/5.21, 340/5.61, 340/10.31, 340/7.25, 340/7.29
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

In one aspect, a method of wireless communications includes: storing identification information of a portable wireless communications device in memory coupled to a processing unit of the portable wireless communications device; determining a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS); performing wireless communications with a cellular communications system using a cellular receiver controlled by the processing unit; generating a random number using an identification device controlled by the processing unit; and modulating a carrier provided from an interrogator wirelessly coupled to the identification device to provide the identification information, including the random number.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications using a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining current location information for the mobile device using a location determination unit of the mobile device;

communicating, by the mobile device via a cellular communications system, the location information through a first antenna of the mobile device using a first wireless protocol;

communicating data by the mobile device via wireless communications through a second antenna of the mobile device using a second wireless protocol at a microwave frequency, the second wireless protocol being different than the first wireless protocol, and the second antenna having a range shorter than the first antenna; and

communicating a signal between the mobile device and a handheld device via magnetic coupling using a third wireless protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a cellular receiver for the first wireless protocol;

and the location determination unit uses a Global Positioning System (GPS).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld device comprises a key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an access control signal.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification device further stores an identification code.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing from the identification device the identification code to identify a person associated with the identification device.

6. A method of wireless communications, the method comprising:

providing data enabling determination of a current location of a wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

performing wireless communications with a cellular communications system using a cellular communications device controlled by a processing unit of the wireless communications device;

generating a random number using an identification device coupled to the processing unit;

modulating a carrier provided from an interrogation device wirelessly coupled to the identification device to provide the random number from the identification device; and

communicating with the interrogation device in response to commands containing the random number to address the identification device among identification devices having different random numbers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver coupled to a first antenna for wireless communications with the cellular communications system;

and the identification device is coupled to a second antenna to provide the random number.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second antenna comprises at least one loop.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between transmitting using a carrier provided by an interrogation device and transmitting using a carrier generated by the wireless communications device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between a first mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the interrogation device and a second mode in which the transmitter modulates an RF field generated by the identification device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identification information is transmitted via magnetic field modulation.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the carrier provided from the interrogation device is an unmodulated radio frequency (RF) signal.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

communicating location information using the cellular communications device controlled by the processing unit.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing on the identification device an identification code to identify a person associated with the identification device; and

providing the identification code wirelessly from the identification device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification code is provided by the identification device modulating the carrier provided from the interrogation device.

16. A method, comprising:

generating a random number on a wireless communications device;

determining, by a location information system communicatively coupled to a processing unit of the wireless communications device, a current location of the wireless communications device using a global positioning system (GPS);

communicating, by a first wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, location information using a cellular communications system; and

modulating, by a second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation device to wirelessly provide the random number as an identifier of the wireless communications device;

wherein the second subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information system comprises a GPS receiver;

and the first wireless communications subsystem comprises a cellular receiver coupled to the processing unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the communicating the location information comprises receiving the location information at the wireless communications device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

modulating, by the second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, a radio frequency (RF) field provided by the remote interrogation device to wirelessly provide a unique identification code.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

logging locations determined by the location information system in a memory coupled to the processing unit;

wherein the locations are logged with respect to time.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing an identification code; and

providing the identification code wirelessly from the wireless communications device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the identification code is provided via the second wireless communications subsystem.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification code identifies a person associated with the wireless communications device.

21. A method, comprising:

generating a random number on a portable device as an identifier of the portable device having a processing unit;

determining, by a location information system coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, a current location of the portable device using a global positioning system (GFS);

logging locations determined by the location information system in a memory of the portable device with respect to time;

communicating, by a cellular communications device coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, location information via a first antenna of the portable device using a cellular communications system;

providing the random number, by an identification device coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, via a second antenna of the portable device in a passive mode of operation by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by an interrogation device wirelessly coupled to the identification device; and

communicating, by the identification device, in an active mode of operation in which an RF field is provided by the identification device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing a unique identifier by the identification device in addition to the random number.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the location system comprises a GPS receiver;

and the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the unique identifier is provided by the identification device via the second antenna.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the unique identifier is provided to identify a person associated with the portable device.

31. A mobile apparatus, comprising:

a position determination subsystem to determine a current location of the mobile apparatus using a Global Positioning System (GPS);

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor and the position determination subsystem to log locations determined by the position determination subsystem;

a first antenna;

a first wireless communications subsystem coupled with the first antenna to wirelessly communicate location information using a cellular telecommunications network;

a second antenna;

a second wireless communications subsystem coupled with the second antenna to wirelessly communicate data using a microwave frequency;

a third wireless communications subsystem to communicate, via magnetic coupling, access control information with a handheld device separate from the mobile apparatus; and

wherein the second wireless communications subsystem has a range longer than the third wireless communications subsystem and shorter than the first wireless communications subsystem.

32. The mobile apparatus of claim 31, wherein the handheld device comprises a key.

33. The mobile apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a communication port for a wired connection to provide a signal associated with data received wirelessly by the mobile apparatus.

34. The mobile apparatus of claim 33, wherein the communication port comprises an RS-232-compliant port.

35. The mobile apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wired connection is to connect the communication port to the third wireless communications subsystem.

36. The mobile apparatus of claim 34, wherein the third wireless communications system comprises an electronic controller.

37. The mobile apparatus of claim 36, wherein the third wireless communications system further comprises a lock.

38. The mobile apparatus of claim 31, wherein the mobile apparatus stores a unique identification code to identify a carrier of the mobile apparatus apart from a plurality of carriers.

39. The mobile apparatus of claim 38, wherein the carrier comprises a vehicle.

40. The mobile apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second wireless communications subsystem communicates at the microwave frequency via spread spectrum modulation.

41. The mobile apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first wireless communications subsystem comprises a cellular receiver.

42. A method of wireless communications, the method comprising:

obtaining data enabling determination of a current location of a wireless communications device from a satellite-based positioning system;

performing wireless communications with a cellular communications system using a cellular communications device controlled by a processing unit of the wireless communications device;

generating a random number using an identification device coupled to the processing unit;

modulating a carrier provided from an interrogation device in wireless communication with the identification device to provide the random number from the identification device; and

communicating with the interrogation device in response to commands containing the random number to address the identification device among identification devices having different random numbers.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein;

the cellular communications device comprises a cellular receiver coupled to a first antenna for wireless communications with the cellular communications system; and

the identification device is coupled to a second antenna via which the random number is provided.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the second antenna comprises at least one loop.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the identification device comprises a transmitter switchable between transmitting using a carrier provided by an interrogation device and transmitting using a carrier generated by the wireless communications device.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the carrier provided from the interrogation device is an unmodulated radio frequency (RF) signal.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising communicating location information using the cellular communications device controlled at least in part by the processing unit.

48. A method of wireless communications using a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining current location information for the mobile device using a location determination apparatus of the mobile device;

communicating, by the mobile device via a cellular communications system, the location information through a first antenna of the mobile device using a first wireless protocol;

communicating data by the mobile device via wireless communications through a second antenna of the mobile device using a second wireless protocol at a microwave frequency, the second wireless protocol being different than the first wireless protocol, and the second antenna having a range shorter than the first antenna; and

communicating a signal between the mobile device and a handheld device via magnetic coupling using a third wireless protocol.

49. A method of wireless communications, the method comprising:

providing data enabling determination of a current location of a wireless communications device using a satellite-based positioning system;

performing wireless communications with a cellular communications system using a cellular communications device controlled by a processing unit of the wireless communications device;

generating a random number using an identification device in communication with the processing unit;

modulating a carrier provided from an interrogation device wirelessly coupled to the identification device to provide the random number from the identification device; and

communicating with the interrogation device in response to commands containing the random number to address the identification device among identification devices having different random numbers.

50. A method, comprising:

generating a random number on a wireless communications device;

determining, by a location information system in communication with a processing unit of the wireless communications device, a current location of the wireless communications device using an external positioning system;

communicating, by a first wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, location information using a cellular communications system; and

modulating, by a second wireless communications subsystem coupled to the processing unit, a radio frequency (RF) field provided by a remote interrogation device to wirelessly provide the random number as an identifier of the wireless communications device;

wherein the second subsystem is switchable between transmitting in a passive mode and transmitting in an active mode.

51. A method, comprising:

generating a random number on a portable device as an identifier of the portable device having a processing unit;

determining, by a location information system coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, a current location of the portable device using an external positioning system;

logging locations determined by the location information system in a memory of the portable device with respect to time;

communicating, by a cellular communications device coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, location information via a first antenna of the portable device using a cellular communications system;

providing the random number, by an identification device coupled to the processing unit in the portable device, via a second antenna of the portable device in a passive mode of operation by modulating a radio frequency (RF) field provided by an interrogation device wirelessly coupled to the identification device; and

communicating, by the identification device, in an active mode of operation in which an RF field is provided by the identification device.

52. A mobile apparatus, comprising:

a position determination subsystem to determine a current location of the mobile apparatus using an external positioning apparatus;

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor and the position determination subsystem to log locations determined by the position determination subsystem;

a first antenna;

a first wireless communications subsystem coupled with the first antenna to wirelessly communicate location information using a cellular telecommunications network;

a second antenna;

a second wireless communications subsystem coupled with the second antenna to wirelessly communicate data using a microwave frequency;

a third wireless communications subsystem to communicate, via magnetic coupling, access control information with a handheld device separate from the mobile apparatus; and

wherein the second wireless communications subsystem has a range longer than the third wireless communications subsystem and shorter than the first wireless communications subsystem.