Power-scavenging receiver to generate a signal to be used to control operational state

• US 8,180,291 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Burr, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/956,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,784 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/574, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 340/10.1, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/10.42, 340/7.32, 340/7.33
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for selectively powering an electronic device based on signals from a power-scavenging receiver circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

wireless transceiver circuitry to provide IEEE 802-compliant wireless communication for an electronic device; and

a power-scavenging receiver coupled with the wireless transceiver circuitry to invoke a pre-selected signal to cause the wireless transceiver circuitry to change operational state in response to a signal received by the power-scavenging receiver, wherein the power-scavenging receiver causes the wireless transceiver circuitry to transition to a low-power state when exiting an environment in which selected wireless communications are enabled as detected by the power-scavenging receiver and causes the wireless transceiver circuitry to transition out of a low-power state and begin a discovery protocol for identifying network access points when entering the environment as detected by the power-scavenging receiver, the power-scavenging receiver receives an indication of wireless frequencies that are authorized for communication, and wireless frequencies that are not authorized, further wherein the signal from the power-scavenging receiver does not cause a change in operational state for components of the apparatus other than the wireless transceiver, the environment defined by a plurality of readers to communicate with the power-scavenging receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power-scavenging receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory coupled with the power-scavenging receiver; and

a power-scavenging transmitter coupled with the memory to transmit a value received from the memory in response to the signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a first antenna coupled with the wireless transceiver circuitry; and

a second antenna coupled with the power-scavenging receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an antenna structure coupled with the wireless transceiver circuitry and with the power-scavenging receiver.

6. A system comprising:

one or more IEEE 802-compliant wireless network transceivers to operate in an environment having a coverage boundary according to a wireless network protocol; and

one or more transmitters operating according to a power-scavenging communication protocol positioned to indicate an approximate boundary of a wireless network conforming to the wireless network protocol

a mobile electronic device having a power-scavenging receiver and a wireless network transceiver to operate according to the wireless network protocol, wherein the one or more power-scavenging receivers cause the one or more wireless network transceivers to transition to a low-power state when exiting the environment as detected by the one or more power-scavenging receivers and cause the one or more wireless network transceivers to transition out of the low-power state and begin a discovery protocol for identifying network access points when entering the environment as detected by the one or more power-scavenging receivers, the power-scavenging receiver receives an indication of wireless frequencies that are authorized for communication, and wireless frequencies that are not authorized, further wherein the signal from the power-scavenging receiver does not cause a change in operational state for components of the mobile electronic device other than the wireless network transceiver, the environment defined by a plurality of readers to communicate with the power-scavenging receiver.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a transmitter in the mobile electronic device to operate according to the power-scavenging communication protocol to transmit identification information corresponding to the mobile electronic device;

one or more power-scavenging receivers coupled with the one or more transmitters to communicate with the transmitter in the mobile electronic device according to the power-scavenging protocol to receive the identification information; and

an authentication agent coupled to communicate with the one or more power-scavenging receivers to authenticate the mobile electronic device based, at least in part, on the identification information.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the authentication agent comprises an authentication circuit.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the authentication agent comprises authentication firmware.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the authentication agent comprises authentication software.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more substantially omni-directional antennae;

IEEE 802-compliant wireless communication circuitry coupled with at least one of the one or more substantially omni-directional antennae to operate according to a wireless communication protocol in an environment having a coverage boundary; and

a power-scavenging receiver coupled with the wireless transceiver circuitry to invoke a pre-selected signal to cause the wireless transceiver circuitry to change operational state in response to a signal received by the power-scavenging receiver, wherein the power-scavenging receiver causes the wireless transceiver circuitry to transition to a low-power state when exiting an environment in which selected wireless communications are enabled as detected by the power-scavenging receiver and causes the wireless transceiver circuitry to transition out of a low-power state and begin a discovery protocol for identifying network access points when entering the environment as detected by the power-scavenging receiver, the power-scavenging receiver receives an indication of wireless frequencies that are authorized for communication, and wireless frequencies that are not authorized, further wherein the signal from the power-scavenging receiver does not cause a change in operational state for components of the apparatus other than the wireless transceiver, the environment defined by a plurality of readers to communicate with the power-scavenging receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the power-scavenging receiver comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a memory coupled with the power-scavenging receiver; and

a power-scavenging transmitter coupled with the memory to transmit a value received from the memory in response to the signal received by the power-scavenging receiver.