RF wireless device including an infrared beacon for presence detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wireless communication system comprising:
- (a) a portable wireless device (41) that further comprises(i) a radio frequency digital transceiver (415),(ii) an infrared beacon transmitter (413) adapted to transmit a low baud rate infrared beacon signal (400) at a data rate greater than 400 baud and less than 9600 baud, and(iii) a control switch (414);
(b) a wireless communication access point (48) configured to determine whether it is collocated in a room with the portable wireless device, the wireless communication access point comprising(i) a radio frequency digital transceiver (485) adapted to communicate with said radio frequency digital transceiver of said portable wireless device, and(ii) an infrared sensor (483) adapted to receive said low baud rate infrared beacon signal; and
(c) wherein the wireless communication access point is configured to manage radio frequency digital communications based on said low baud rate infrared beacon signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable RF wireless device (41), such as a microphone, is provided with an infrared beacon in order to signal a connection request to a wireless communication access point (48) using a first IR code (401). In response to this first IR code, the wireless communication access point broadcasts an RF inquiry message (101) that is responded (102) to by the portable RF wireless device in order to establish an RF communication link. After the RF communication link is established, the portable RF wireless device conditionally transmits a second IR code to verify that it is still collocated in the local vicinity of the wireless communication access point, such as being in the same room.
37 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A wireless communication system comprising:
-
(a) a portable wireless device (41) that further comprises (i) a radio frequency digital transceiver (415), (ii) an infrared beacon transmitter (413) adapted to transmit a low baud rate infrared beacon signal (400) at a data rate greater than 400 baud and less than 9600 baud, and (iii) a control switch (414); (b) a wireless communication access point (48) configured to determine whether it is collocated in a room with the portable wireless device, the wireless communication access point comprising (i) a radio frequency digital transceiver (485) adapted to communicate with said radio frequency digital transceiver of said portable wireless device, and (ii) an infrared sensor (483) adapted to receive said low baud rate infrared beacon signal; and (c) wherein the wireless communication access point is configured to manage radio frequency digital communications based on said low baud rate infrared beacon signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for selectively communicating with a portable wireless device as it moves throughout a predefined area, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing said portable wireless device; (b) providing a plurality of a wireless communication access points located throughout the predetermined area, with each one of said wireless communication access points (i) being located at a corresponding predetermined position, (ii) being capable of wireless reception and transmission on multiple RF communication channels, and (iii) being capable of receiving IR codes; (c) transmitting (step 701) a first IR code from the portable wireless device to a first wireless communication access point using RC-5 infrared protocol, said first IR code comprising an infrared signal at a data rate of between 400 and 9600 baud; (d) selecting a specific RF communication channel based on the contents of the first IR code; (e) establishing communication (step 702) between the portable wireless device and said first wireless communication access point on the specific RF communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification