Personal area network apparatus

• US 8,582,571 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tri-County Excelsior Foundation (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Donaghey, Robert J
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, M.
• Application Number:
  US13/763,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 370230-313, 370338-347, 370403-449, 709224-229, 710 17- 29
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/38 Information transfer, e.g. on bus G06F13/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2612 Arrangements for wireless medium access control, e.g. by allocating physical layer transmission capacity H04B7/2615 - H04B7/2643 take precedence; provision for broadband connection H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A peripheral device comprises a first entity and a second entity. In operation, the first/second entities are configured to respectively: receive a first/second entity-related message from at least one other device to indicate the availability of the at least one other device for attachment, send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related message indicating the availability for communication with the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related signal including a first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier, send a first/second entity-related response to the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related device response, and send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related second peripheral response including the first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier.

Claims

1. A device for use within a network, comprising:

circuitry; and

a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to;

receive a sent message from another device to indicate the availability of the another device for attachment,

send, to the another device, a message indicating the availability of the device for communication with the another device,

receive, from the another device, a communication including a first one of a plurality of addresses in a header thereof for identification of the device, during an initial attachment, and

communicate, with the another device, data utilizing a second one of the addresses in a related header for identification of the device, in association with an initial data transfer after the initial attachment;

wherein the device is configured to communicate utilizing a communications protocol that includes a plurality of frames, at least a part of at least one of the plurality of frames including;

a starting portion thereof, at least one identification portion that identifies the device, and at least one data transfer portion including information associated with communication of a block.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the at least one identification portion identifies the device utilizing the second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that a first entity of the device is configured for the send and receive capabilities, and a second entity of the device is configured to communicate utilizing the communications protocol.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is of a separate class of address with respect to the second one of the addresses, and a value of the first one of the addresses and a value of the second one of the addresses are capable of being the same.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the communication includes the first one of the addresses in the header thereof and further includes additional information, where the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with a first attachment therebetween, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with a first attachment therebetween, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is of a separate class of address with respect to the second one of the addresses, and the device is further operable such that the first one of the addresses has a first one or more channels associated therewith with a capability of transferring a first amount and the second one of the addresses has a second one or more channels associated therewith with a capability of transferring a second amount different than the first amount.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operable such that at least one of the following operabilities is included:

the device is operable such that the starting portion includes a unique identifier;

the device is operable such that the starting portion marks a start of the at least one frame;

the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses includes a MAC address;

the device is operable such that the second one of the addresses is generated by the device;

the device is operable such that the at least one identification portion is included in at least one of a token or the block;

the device is operable such that the information includes resource information;

the device is operable such that the information describes a size or a direction;

the device is operable such that the data transfer portion indicates a size of the block;

the device is operable such that the data transfer portion indicates a direction of transfer;

the device is operable such that the data transfer portion is for scheduling purposes;

the device is operable such that the data transfer portion permits communication of the block;

the device is operable such that the data transfer portion positively indicates availability for communication of the block;

the device is operable such that the at least one frame includes the block;

the device is operable such that the communication includes at least one of sending or receiving;

the device is operable such that a plurality of portions of the at least one frame are transmitted together;

the device is operable such that the group only includes the device and the another device;

or

the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is selected by the another device.

10. A device, comprising:

circuitry, and

a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to

receive a sent message from another device to indicate the availability of the another device for attachment,

send, to the another device, a message indicating the availability of the device for communication with the another device, and

receive, from the another device, a signal,

wherein the device is configured such that an address is dictated by the device in connection with a first attachment to the another device for intended use in identifying the device in connection with a first data transfer in a group controlled by the another device;

wherein the device is configured to communicate utilizing a communications protocol that includes a plurality of frames, at least a part of at least one of the plurality of frames including;

a starting portion thereof, at least one identification portion for identification purposes, and at least one data transfer portion including information associated with communication of a block.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is operable such that the at least one identification portion identifies the device utilizing the address for identification in association with the device, and the device is configured to process the block which has an associated size, the device further configured to process the block, such that the block is sent utilizing resource information that corresponds to the associated size of the at least one block.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is operable such that a first entity of the device is configured for the send and receive capabilities, and a second entity of the device is configured to communicate utilizing the communications protocol, where the device is further operable such that the first entity has a first one of a plurality of addresses with a first one or more channels associated therewith with a capability of transferring a first amount and the second entity has a second one of the addresses with a second one or more channels associated therewith with a capability of transferring a second amount different than the first amount.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is operable such that the address includes a device address used in a header of related communications.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is operable such that the address is one of a plurality of addresses used for identification in association with the device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is operable such that each of the addresses is used by a link layer embodied on a computer readable medium of the device that resides between a physical layer and a network layer embodied on the computer readable medium.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is operable such that at least one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with a first attachment therebetween, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is operable such that at least one of the addresses includes a first device address that is used in a plurality of pre-attachment communications without use of another one of the addresses and that is further used in at least one pre-attachment communication that communicates the another one of the addresses, and the another one of the addresses includes a second device address that is used in a plurality of post-attachment data transfer communications without use of the at least one address.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is operable such that each of the addresses is of a separate class of addresses each for different purposes including attachment purposes and data transfer purposes, where flexibility is provided to the device in connection with variably designating at least one of the addresses.

19. A device for use within a network, comprising:

circuitry; and

a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to;

send a message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device,

receive, from the another device, a message indicating the availability of the another device for communication with the device,

send, to the another device, a signal including a first one of a plurality of addresses for unique identification in association with the another device, prior to initially joining the another device in a group controlled by the device, and

send, to the another device, data utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with the group after the joining;

wherein the device is configured to process at least one block having an associated size, the device further configured to process the at least one block to generate at least one data transfer message, such that the at least one block is sent utilizing resource information that corresponds to the associated size of the at least one block.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are used by a link layer embodied on a computer readable medium of the device that resides between a physical layer and a network layer embodied on the computer readable medium.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that at least one of the addresses is dictated by the another device, and the device is configured to communicate utilizing a communications protocol that includes a plurality of frames, at least a part of at least one of the plurality of frames including:

a starting portion thereof, at least one identification portion for identification purposes, and at least one data transfer portion including information associated with block communication.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that the signal is for attachment purposes and includes the first one of the addresses in its entirety in a header thereof and further includes additional information, where the first one of the addresses includes a device address that identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that the signal includes the first one of the addresses in its entirety in a header thereof and further includes additional information, where the first one of the addresses is a first device address used in a plurality of pre-attachment communications without use of the second one of the addresses and is further used in at least one pre-attachment message that communicates the second one of the addresses, and where the second one of the addresses is a second device address used in a plurality of post-attachment data transfer communications without use of the first one of the addresses, and where the first one of the addresses is a unique device address that uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with a first attachment therebetween, and uniquely identifies the another device on a shared wireless communication medium.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that the first one of the addresses is of a separate class of address with respect to the second one of the addresses, and at least one of the addresses is capable of being variable.

26. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is operable such that at least one of the following operabilities is included:

the device is configured to process the at least one block utilizing at least one hardware layer;

the device is configured to process the at least one block utilizing at least one software layer;

the device is operable such that the data is included in the at least one block;

the device is operable such that the at least one block includes a data block;

the device is operable such that the at least one block includes a snippet;

the device is operable such that the at least one block is preceded by a token;

the device is operable such that a token is provided that includes a MAC address and a stream number;

the device is operable such that the at least one data transfer message includes the at least one block;

the device is operable such that the at least one data transfer message includes a token;

the device includes a hub device and the another device includes a peripheral device;

the device is operable such that the size relates to a block size;

the device is operable such that the resource information is included in a token;

the resource information is included with the at least one data transfer message;

or

the device is operable such that the at least one block is sent with the resource information.

27. A device, comprising:

circuitry, and

a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the device configured to cause the transceiver to receive a sent message from another device to indicate the availability of the another device for attachment,

send, to the another device, a message indicating the availability of the device for communication with the another device, and

receive, from the another device, a signal including a device identifier,

wherein the device is configured such that an address is operable for being assigned by the device prior to a completion of attachment to the another device for use in identifying the device in connection with a group controlled by the another device;

wherein the device is configured to process at least one block having an associated size, the device further configured to process the at least one block to generate at least one data transfer message, such that the at least one block is sent utilizing resource information that corresponds to the associated size of the at least one block.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is operable such that the address is one of a plurality of addresses used for identification in association with the device, and the device is further operable such that each of the addresses includes a device address used in a header of associated communications, where each of the addresses is of a separate class of addresses.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is operable such that the address is one of a plurality of addresses used for identification in association with the device, and the device is further operable such that at least one of the addresses includes a unique device address that existed during an initial communication between the device and the another device in connection with a first attachment therebetween, and uniquely identifies the device on a shared wireless communication medium.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is operable such that the address is one of a plurality of addresses used for identification in association with the device, and the device is further operable such that at least one of the addresses includes a first device address that is utilized for attachment purposes without the other, and another one of the addresses includes a second device address utilized for data transfer purposes.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is operable such that each of the addresses is of a separate class of addresses.