Slave communication device for use in wireless LAN system and control method and control program of slave communication device

• US 7,969,918 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Daita Frontier Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Kiyomatsu, Hisanori, Takatori, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Salman
• Application Number:
  US10/221,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,714 Days
• Field of Search: 370311-313, 370/318, 370/338, 370/349, 370/270, 370/328, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/517
• US Class Current: 370/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A slave communication device in a wireless LAN system uses a single wireless channel. When a telephone apparatus outside the network originates a call to the LAN, the originated call first terminates at a master communication device. A wireless telephone communication can then be established between that telephone apparatus and the slave communication device without relaying through the master communication device, and without requiring particular processing, such as authentication on a host station side. A first state is when a transmission/reception device of the master communication device is turned on and transmission/reception devices of slave communication devices are turned off. A second state is when the transmission/reception device of the master communication device is turned off and only the transmission/reception device of one of the slave communication devices which is a subject of control delegation is turned on.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless transceiver in a master communication device within a wireless local area network (LAN), a call from an originating telephone device outside the LAN;

determining, at a master communication device, a telephone number of the originating telephone device and a slave communication device that the call is directed to;

transmitting a control signal from a short-range wireless transceiver in a master communication device to a short-range wireless transceiver in a slave communication device having a wireless transceiver, the control signal comprising instructions for turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device;

turning off the wireless transceiver in the master communication device, after transmitting the control signal to the slave communication device;

allowing the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to use a wireless telephone line to communicate with the originating telephone device;

receiving a status signal at the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device indicating that communication between the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device and the originating telephone device is complete;

turning on the wireless transceiver in the master communication device;

transmitting a second status signal from the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device to the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is ON; and

completing, at the master communication device, communication between the wireless transceiver in the master communication device and the originating telephone device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is generated by a controller in the master communication device and is transmitted from the short range wireless transceiver of the master communication device to the short-range wireless transceiver of the slave communication device when there is a need for the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to use the wireless telephone line.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, before transmitting the control signal, a request signal at the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to originate a call from the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting, after turning off the wireless transceiver in the master communication device, a second status signal to the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the master device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the master communication device is OFF.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a third status signal at the short-range wireless transceiver in the master device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device is ON.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving information regarding a destination for the call in the request signal.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving information regarding the slave communication device in the request signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information related to the slave communication device includes a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information related to the slave communication device includes a request for the control signal.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the control signal includes information related to an ID number or a telephone number of the master communication device.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the control signal includes instructions for prohibiting receiving a call at the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the control signal includes instructions for limiting origination of a call from the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to predetermined destinations.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes instructions for prohibiting the slave communication device from originating a call.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes information about the telephone number of the originating telephone device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal includes instructions for allowing the slave communication device to receive calls from the telephone number based on the control signal.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a short-range wireless transceiver in a slave communication device in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), a first status signal from a short-range wireless transceiver in a master communication device indicating that the master communication device is in a standby state;

transmitting, from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a request signal to the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device for originating a call to a telephone apparatus outside the LAN;

receiving, at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a control signal from the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device, the control signal comprising instructions for turning on a wireless transceiver in the slave communication device;

extracting, after receiving the control signal, data from the control signal at the slave communication device;

receiving a second status signal at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device indicating that a wireless transceiver in the master communication device is turned OFF;

turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device based on the control signal, to allow the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to use a wireless telephone line; and

transmitting a third status signal from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device to the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device indicating that communication between the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device and the telephone apparatus is complete.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting, after turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a fourth status signal to the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device is ON.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

originating a call to the telephone apparatus from the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

turning off the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device in response to determining that communication between the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device and the telephone apparatus is completed;

transmitting a fifth status signal to the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device is OFF; and

receiving a sixth status signal at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave device from the short-range wireless transceiver in the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the master communication device is ON.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

performing, at the slave communication device, location registration with a base station.

21. A slave communication device comprising:

a short-range wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a master communication device within a wireless Local Area Network (LAN);

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a telephone device outside the LAN; and

a controller configured to control the wireless transceiver;

wherein the slave communication device is configured to;

receive, at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a first status signal from the master communication device indicating that the master communication device is in a standby state;

transmit, from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a request signal to the master communication device for originating a call to a telephone device outside the LAN;

receive, at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, an originating control delegation signal from the master communication device in response to the request signal;

extract, using the controller in the slave communication device, after receiving the originating control delegation signal, data from the originating control delegation signal;

receive, at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a second status signal from the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned OFF;

transmit, from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a third status signal to the master communication device indicating that communication between the slave communication device and the telephone device is complete; and

communicate, using the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, via a wireless telephone line in response to determining that the master communication device is in a second state, in which the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is OFF and the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is ON.

22. The slave communication device of claim 21, wherein the slave communication device is configured to:

turn on, using the controller in the slave communication device, the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device based on the second status signal from the master communication device;

transmit, from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, after turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a fourth status signal to the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device is ON; and

originate, using the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, the call to the telephone device.

23. The slave communication device of claim 22, wherein the slave communication device is further configured to:

turn off, using the controller in the slave communication device, the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device in response to determining that the call to the telephone device is terminated;

transmit, from the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a fifth status signal to the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device is OFF; and

receive, at the short-range wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a sixth status signal from the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the master communication device is ON.

24. A system comprising:

a plurality of slave communication devices within a wireless Local Area Network (LAN),

wherein the plurality of slave communication devices comprise;

a short-range wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a master communication device within the LAN;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a telephone apparatus outside the LAN; and

a controller configured to control the wireless transceiver;

wherein the master communication device comprises a short-range wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of slave communication devices within the LAN, a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a telephone apparatus outside the LAN, and a controller configured to control the wireless transceiver,

wherein the master communication device is configured to use a control signal to switch between a first state, in which the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is ON and at least one wireless transceiver of the plurality of slave communication devices are OFF, and a second state in which the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is OFF and at least one wireless transceiver of the plurality of slave communication devices is ON, to allow the at least one of the plurality of slave communication device to use a wireless telephone line, and

wherein the master communication device is configured to receive a status signal from the slave communication device indicating that communication between the slave communication device and a telephone apparatus outside the LAN is complete.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving at a master communication device within a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) a call from an originating telephone device outside the LAN;

instructions for determining at the master communication device a telephone number related to the originating telephone device;

instructions for determining at the master communication device a slave communication device that the call is directed to;

instructions for receiving a request at the master communication device from the slave communication device requesting to originate a call to the originating telephone device;

instructions for transmitting a control signal from the master communication device to the slave communication device;

instructions for allowing the slave communication device to turn on a wireless transceiver in the slave communication device after transmitting the control signal to the slave communication device;

instructions for turning off a wireless transceiver in the master communication device, after transmitting the control signal to the slave communication device, to allow the slave communication device to use a wireless telephone line;

instructions for transmitting, after turning off the wireless transceiver of the master communication device, a first status signal from the master communication device to the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned OFF;

instructions for receiving a second status signal at the master communication device from the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned ON;

instructions for receiving a third status signal at the master communication device from the slave communication device indicating that communication between the slave communication device and the originating telephone device is complete; and

instructions for transmitting a fourth status signal from the master communication device to the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver in the master communication device is turned OFF; and

instructions for receiving at the master communication device a fifth status signal from the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned ON.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for receiving a sixth status signal at the master communication device from the slave communication device indicating that a wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned OFF;

instructions for turning on the wireless transceiver of the master communication device; and

instructions for transmitting a seventh status signal to the slave communication device from the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned ON.

27. An article of manufacture including a memory having instructions stored thereon, the instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first status signal at a slave communication device in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) from a master communication device indicating that the master communication device is in a standby state;

transmitting a request signal from the slave communication device to the master communication device requesting to originate a call to a telephone device outside the LAN;

receiving, at the slave communication device, a control signal from the master communication device to allow the slave communication device to turn on a wireless transceiver in the slave communication device;

receiving a second status signal at the slave communication device from the master communication device indicating that a wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned OFF;

turning on a wireless transceiver in the slave communication device based on the control signal, to allow the slave communication device to use a wireless telephone line;

transmitting, after turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a status signal from the slave communication device to the master communication device indicating that a wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned ON;

originating a call from the wireless transceiver of the slave communications device to the telephone device; and

transmitting a third status signal from the slave communication device to the master communication device indicating that communication between the slave communication device and the telephone device is complete.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for receiving, before turning on the wireless transceiver, a fifth status signal at the slave communication device from the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned OFF; and

instructions for transmitting, after turning on the wireless transceiver in the slave communication device, a sixth status signal from the slave communication device to the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned on.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the instructions further comprise:

turning off the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device if the call is terminated;

transmitting a fifth status signal to the master communication device from the slave communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the slave communication device is turned OFF; and

receiving a sixth status signal at the slave communication device from the master communication device indicating that the wireless transceiver of the master communication device is turned on.