Method and system for selecting, transmitting, and receiving an unused carrier frequency and transmitting over the unused carrier frequency

• US 7,979,027 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: VanHarlingen, Brian, McGugan, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US12/039,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20090221244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/67.11, 455/150.1, 455/161.1, 455/63.1, 455/66.1, 455/556.1, 455/99, 455/344, 455/345
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency includes: (a) using a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency; (b) selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency; (c) communicating the first transmission frequency to a user; and (d) using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency;

selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the first transmission frequency to a user;

using a transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency;

after communicating the first transmission frequency, selecting a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the second transmission frequency to the user; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tuning the transmitter of the first electrical device to the first transmission frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

communicating the first transmission frequency to the user comprises;

using the first electrical device to visually display the first transmission frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information using a radio broadcast data system standard.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

using the receiver to receive the information further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a subcarrier frequency of a frequency signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the subcarrier frequency is a 57 kilohertz signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

selecting the first transmission frequency comprises;

using the first electrical device to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to automatically receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to automatically broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency.

10. A method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency;

selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the first transmission frequency to a user;

using a transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive information identifying at least one unused second frequency;

selecting a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused second transmission frequency;

communicating the second transmission frequency to the user; and

using the transmitter in the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a subcarrier frequency of a frequency signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the subcarrier frequency is a 57 kilohertz signal.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a paging network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

selecting the first transmission frequency comprises;

using the first electrical device to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to automatically receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to automatically broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency.

17. An electrical device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information regarding at least one unused frequency;

a transmitter electrically configured to transmit data over a first transmission frequency;

and a selection module electrically coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, wherein;

the selection module is configured to select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused frequency and automatically tune the transmitter to the first transmission frequency;

the selection module is further configured to select a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused frequency and automatically tune the transmitter to the second transmission frequency after selecting the first transmission frequency and after automatically tuning the transmitter to the first transmission; and

the receiver is configured to receive the information identifying the at least one unused frequency over a carrier frequency from a radio broadcast device.

18. The electrical device of claim 17, further comprising:

a display coupled to the selection module and configured to visually display the first transmission frequency.

19. The electrical device of claim 17, further comprising:

a user input component coupled to the selection module and configured to allow a user to select a new transmission frequency from the at least one unused frequency, wherein;

when the user selects the new transmission frequency using the user input component, the selection module is configured to select the new transmission frequency and automatically tune the transmitter to the new transmission frequency.

20. The electrical device of claim 17, wherein:

the receiver is configured to receive the information identifying the at least one unused frequency over a subcarrier frequency of the carrier frequency from the radio broadcast device.

21. The electrical device of claim 20, wherein:

the subcarrier frequency is a 57 kilohertz signal.

22. The electrical device of claim 17, wherein:

the receiver is configured to receive the information identifying the at least one unused frequency over a subcarrier frequency of the carrier frequency from the radio broadcast device using a radio broadcast data system standard.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the selection module is further configured to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused frequency.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the receiver is configured to automatically receive the information regarding the at least one unused frequency.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the transmitter is electrically configured to automatically transmit the data over the first transmission frequency.

26. A method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency;

selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the first transmission frequency to a user;

using a transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency;

after communicating the first transmission frequency, selecting a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the second transmission frequency to the user; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a paging network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

selecting the first transmission frequency comprises;

using the first electrical device to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to automatically receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to automatically broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a first portion of the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a second portion of the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein the second portion of the electrical signals are different from the first portion of the electrical signals.

31. A method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency;

selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the first transmission frequency to a user;

using a transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency;

after communicating the first transmission frequency, selecting a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the second transmission frequency to the user; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein;

using the receiver to receive the information comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a subcarrier frequency of a frequency signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

the subcarrier frequency is a 57 kilohertz signal.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein:

selecting the first transmission frequency comprises;

using the first electrical device to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to automatically receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to automatically broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a first portion of the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a second portion of the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein the second portion of the electrical signals are different from the first portion of the electrical signals.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the subcarrier frequency is a 57 kilohertz signal.

37. A method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency;

selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency;

communicating the first transmission frequency to a user;

using a transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive information identifying at least one unused second frequency;

selecting a second transmission frequency from the at least one unused second transmission frequency;

communicating the second transmission frequency to the user; and

using the transmitter in the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency using a radio broadcast data system standard.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency over a subcarrier frequency of a frequency signal.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein:

selecting the first transmission frequency comprises;

using the first electrical device to automatically select the first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein:

using the receiver of the first electrical device to receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency further comprises;

using the receiver of the first electrical device to automatically receive the information identifying the at least one unused first frequency.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to automatically broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein:

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a first portion of the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency; and

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency further comprises;

using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast a second portion of the electrical signals over the second transmission frequency, wherein the second portion of the electrical signals are different from the first portion of the electrical signals.