Method, system and device for initiating wireless communication

• US 8,249,499 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Waung, William Yih Yuan, Waung, Matthew Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan
• Application Number:
  US12/533,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/15, 455/67.11, 455/436, 455/405, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/517, 455/16, 455/73, 455/435.1, 455/63.1, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 709/227, 730/237, 730/252, 730/338, 730/329, 730/315, 730/349, 730/309, 730/350, 730/401, 730/473, 730/241, 714/750, 370/237, 370/252, 370/338, 370/329, 370/315, 370/349, 370/309, 370/350, 370/401, 370/473, 370/241
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless device configured relay wireless communication between a computing device and one or more broadband wireless networks. In this manner the wireless device can act as an access point, hotspot or the like, for the computing device. The wireless device comprises a network interface system configured for communication with a wireless network and one or more broadband wireless networks. The wireless device further includes a control system operatively coupled to the network interface system, wherein the control system is configured to control communication between the network interface system and the wireless network. The control system is further configured to activate communication with one or more of the broadband wireless networks upon receipt of a predetermined communication from the computing device via the wireless network.

Claims

1. A wireless device configured to relay wireless communication between a computing device and one or more broadband wireless networks, the wireless device comprising:

a) a network interface system configured for communication with a wireless network and the one or more broadband wireless networks, wherein communication with the wireless network is characterized by a lower power consumption than communication with the one or more broadband wireless networks; and

b) a control system operatively coupled to the network interface system and configured to control communication between the network interface system and the wireless network, the control system further configured to activate communication with one or more of the broadband wireless networks upon receipt of a predetermined communication from the computing device via the wireless network.

2. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein a first broadband wireless network is a cellular network, satellite network, UMTS network, 2G network, 3G network, GSM network, CDMA network, WCDMA network, GPRS network, iBurst network, WiBro network, WiMAX network, UMTS-TDD network, HSPA network, EVDO network or LTE network.

3. The wireless device according to claim 2, wherein a second broadband wireless network is a WiFi network or a WLAN network, said second broadband wireless network communicatively linking the computing device and the wireless device.

4. The wireless device according to claim 3, wherein the first broadband wireless network is activated prior to the second broadband wireless network.

5. The wireless device according to claim 3, wherein the second broadband wireless network is activated prior to the first broadband wireless network.

6. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a personal area network (PAN), Bluetooth network, ZigBee network, Wireless USB network, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network.

7. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the wireless network and the broadband wireless networks are configured as a packet switched network.

8. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the control system is further configured to perform one or of routing, port forwarding, masquerading and network address translation.

9. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication is configured as a request message or an activation code.

10. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein a user of the computing device directly or indirectly initiates transmission of the predetermined communication.

11. A method for relaying wireless communication between a computing device and one or more broadband wireless networks, the method comprising:

a) activating a wireless network connection between the computing device and a wireless device using a wireless network, wherein the wireless network connection is characterized by a lower power consumption than communication with the one or more broadband wireless networks;

b) providing, by the computing device, a predetermined communication to the wireless device via the wireless network;

c) activating, by the wireless device, communication with one or more of the broadband wireless networks in response to the predetermined communication.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a first broadband wireless network is a cellular network, satellite network, UMTS network, 2G network, 3G network, GSM network, CDMA network, WCDMA network, GPRS network, iBurst network, WiBro network, WiMAX network, UMTS-TDD network, HSPA network, EVDO network or LTE network.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a second broadband wireless network is a WiFi network or a WLAN network, said second broadband wireless network communicatively linking the computing device and the wireless device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein activating communication includes activating the first broadband wireless network prior to activating the second broadband wireless network.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein activating communication includes activating the second broadband wireless network prior to activating the first broadband wireless network.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the wireless network is a personal area network (PAN), Bluetooth network, ZigBee network, Wireless USB network, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined communication is configured as a request message or an activation code.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein a user of the computing device directly or indirectly initiates providing the predetermined communication.

19. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

a) a computing device configured for communication with a wireless network; and

b) a wireless device configured to relay wireless communication between the computing device and one or more broadband wireless networks, the wireless device including;

i) a network interface system configured for communication with the wireless network and the one or more broadband wireless networks, wherein communication with the wireless network is characterized by a lower power consumption than communication with the one or more broadband wireless networks; and

ii) a control system operatively coupled to the network interface system and configured to control communication between the network interface system and the wireless network, the control system further configured to activate communication with one or more of the broadband wireless networks upon receipt of a predetermined communication from the computing device via the wireless network.

20. The system for wireless communication according to claim 19, wherein a first broadband wireless network is a cellular network, satellite network, UMTS network, 2G network. 3G network, GSM network, COMA network, WCDMA network, GPRS network, iBurst network, WiBro network, WiMAX network, UMTS-TDD network, HSPA network, EVDO network or LTE network and wherein a second broadband wireless network is a WiFi network or a WLAN network, said second broadband wireless network communicatively linking the computing device and the wireless device.

21. The system for wireless communication according to claim 20, wherein the first broadband wireless network is activated prior to the second broadband wireless network.

22. The system for wireless communication according to claim 20, wherein the second broadband wireless network is activated prior to the first broadband wireless network.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein the wireless network is a personal area network (PAN), Bluetooth network, ZigBee network, Wireless USB network, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network.

24. The system for wireless communication according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined communication is configured as a request message or an activation code.

25. The system for wireless communication according to claim 19, wherein a user of the computing device directly or indirectly initiates sending of the predetermined communication.