Methods and apparatus for communicating using a gateway communications device having alert generation capability
First Claim
1. A method of operating a gateway communications device, the method comprising:
- receiving on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device;
powering down said first interface after said identifier is received;
receiving, while said first interface is powered down, a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol;
determining if the received signal matches the identifier;
powering on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier; and
generating an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and a gateway apparatus for facilitating communication between communications devices which support different communications protocols are described. The gateway device may receive an identifier of interest from a first device which supports a first communications protocol but not a second communications protocol. The gateway monitors signals corresponding to the second communications protocol to detect signals corresponding to the identifier of interest. An externally perceivable alert is generated by the gateway device when a signal corresponding to the identifier of interest is detected. Communications is established between the first communications device and a second communications device with the gateway device performing protocol conversion to the extent required. The first device may power down its interface after sending the identifier of interest to the gateway and then power up the interface in response to sensing of the alert or input from a user responding to the alert.
16 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a gateway communications device, the method comprising:
-
receiving on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device; powering down said first interface after said identifier is received; receiving, while said first interface is powered down, a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol; determining if the received signal matches the identifier; powering on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier; and generating an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A gateway communications device, comprising:
-
first receiving means for receiving an identifier from a first communications device, the first receiving means supporting a first communications protocol; means for powering down said first receiving means after said identifier is received; second receiving means for receiving, while said first receiving means is powered down, a signal, the second receiving means supporting a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol; means for determining if the received signal matches the identifier; means for powering on said first receiving means after determining that the received signal matches the identifier; and means for generating an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert.
-
-
12. A gateway communications device, comprising:
-
at least one processor configured to; receive on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol an identifier from a first communications device; power down said first interface after said identifier is received; receive, while said first interface is powered down, a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol; determine if the received signal matches the identifier; power on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier; and generate an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert; and a memory coupled to said at least one processor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer program product, for use in a gateway communications device, comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to receive, on a first interface which supports a first communications protocol, an identifier from a first communications device; code for causing said at least one computer to power down said first interface after said identifier is received; code for causing said at least one computer, while said first interface is powered down, to receive a signal on a second interface which supports a second communications protocol, the second communications protocol being different from the first communications protocol; code for causing said at least one computer to determine if the received signal matches the identifier; code for causing said at least one computer to power on said first interface after determining that the received signal matches the identifier; and code for causing said at least one computer to generate an externally perceivable alert in response to a determination that the received signal matches the identifier, said externally perceivable alert being one of an audio, vibratory or visual alert.
Specification