Apparatus and method for integrating short-range wireless personal area networks for a wireless local area network infrastructure

• US 8,599,814 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ozmo Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Omega Sub Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Vleugels, Katelijn, Peeters, Roel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza, Faruk
• Assistant Examiner(s): Voltaire, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US13/560,917
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/509, 370/349, 370/401, 455/1, 455/41.2, 455/426, 455/562
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A network system comprises a first logic block providing a link to a first network via an access point of a WLAN and a second logic block communicating with a node of a second network (such as a WPAN) and configured to provide a link between the node and the first network via the access point. The network system is configured to maintain continuous connections to both the access point and the node while receiving power. The second logic block can communicate with the node using a modified communication protocol that is only partially compliant with an 802.11x communications protocol. A wireless hub can integrate a WPAN with a WLAN including, in part, a wireless circuit compliant with the WLAN standard (such as an 802.11x standard), a processor, and a memory. The wireless circuit can connect to the WPAN without losing connectivity (such as association and synchronization) to the WLAN.

Claims

1. A network-enabled hub, usable for facilitating data communications between two or more wireless devices that are configured to communicate indirectly with each other via the network-enabled hub, comprising:

an interface to a wireless radio circuit that can send and receive data wirelessly, providing the hub with bi-directional wireless data communication capability;

logic for processing data received via the wireless radio circuit;

logic for generating data to be transmitted by the wireless radio circuit;

logic for initiating and maintaining wireless network connections with nodes of a wireless network external to the network-enabled hub, maintaining at least a first wireless network connection using a first wireless network protocol and a second wireless network connection using a second wireless network protocol, that can be maintained, at times, simultaneously with each other in a common wireless space, wherein the second wireless network protocol is an overlay protocol with respect to the first wireless network protocol in that communications using the second wireless network protocol are partially consistent with the first wireless network protocol and at least some of the communications using the second wireless network protocol impinge on at least some antennae used for the first wireless network; and

data forwarding logic, implemented in the network-enabled hub using hardware and/or software, that forwards data between an originating node and a destination node, wherein the originating node is a node in one of the first and second wireless networks and the destination node is a node in the other of the first and second wireless networks.

2. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, further comprising a routing module for receiving a poll request that contains information required to unambiguously identify a station that is a node in the second wireless network, wherein the routing module coordinates retrieval of information from the station.

3. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network connection provides a link via an access point of a wireless local area network (“

LAN”

) and the second wireless network connection provides a link to a personal area network (“

PAN”

) serving PAN devices, such that network nodes that have access to the wireless LAN can address packets to PAN devices that are nodes on the PAN.

4. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network protocol is an 802.11x wireless protocol and the second wireless network protocol is a modification of the 802.11x wireless protocol that is not entirely compliant with the 802.11x wireless protocol of the first wireless network but can be maintained in a common wireless space as the 802.11x wireless protocol.

5. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the network-enabled hub includes logic to coordinate a mutually agreeable inactivity period between the network-enabled hub and wireless personal area network (“

WPAN”

) devices such that the WPAN devices can enter a sleep mode and occasionally wake up to transmit or receive data and/or control signals, with the network-enabled hub and WPAN devices synchronized so that the network-enabled hub is able to communicate with WPAN devices when WPAN devices wake up.

6. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, further comprising the wireless radio circuit interfaced to the logic for processing data, wherein the wireless radio circuit supports communications on both the first wireless network and the second wireless network.

7. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the wireless radio circuit and the logic for processing data are configured to allow the network-enabled hub to transmit on more than one radio band.

8. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the wireless radio circuit and the logic for processing data are configured to allow the network-enabled hub to alternate connectivity between the first wireless network connection and the second wireless network connection.

9. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the network-enabled hub is embedded into a personal computer, a cellular phone, or home entertainment equipment.

10. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network connection is for a wireless network having a first operating range and the second wireless network is for a wireless network having a second operating range, where the first operating range is larger than the second operating range.

11. The network-enabled hub of claim 1, wherein the data forwarding logic further comprises logic for uniquely identifying the destination node from data received from the originating node such that the network-enabled hub can use that data to transmit data into the second wireless network.

12. The network-enabled hub of claim 11, wherein the data identifying the destination node is a network address of the destination node.

13. The network-enabled hub of claim 11, wherein the data identifying the destination node is an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the destination node.

14. A computing device having therein a network-enabled hub, comprising hardware and software, usable for facilitating data communications between two or more wireless devices that are configured to communicate indirectly with each other via the network-enabled hub, comprising:

a wireless radio circuit that can send and receive data wirelessly, providing the hub with bi-directional wireless data communication capability, the radio circuit configured to handle 802.11x packet transmissions, and wherein the wireless radio circuit supports communications on both a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) and wireless personal area network (“

WPAN”

);

logic for processing data received via the wireless radio circuit;

logic for generating data to be transmitted by the wireless radio circuit;

logic for initiating and maintaining wireless network connections with nodes of the WLAN and WPAN external to the network-enabled hub, maintaining at least a first wireless network connection using a first wireless network protocol, of the WLAN, and a second wireless network connection using a second wireless network protocol, of the WPAN, that can be maintained, at times, simultaneously with each other in a common wireless space, wherein the second wireless network protocol is an overlay protocol with respect to the first wireless network protocol in that communications using the second wireless network protocol are partially consistent, but not entirely consistent, with the first wireless network protocol, and wherein the first wireless network protocol is an 802.11x wireless protocol and the second wireless network protocol is a modification of the 802.11x wireless protocol of the first wireless network but can be maintained with the 802.11x wireless protocol in the common wireless space wherein at least some of the communications using the second wireless network protocol impinge on at least some antennae used for the first wireless network; and

logic for data forwarding between an originating node that is a node in of one of the first and second wireless networks and a destination node that is a node in of the other of the first and second wireless networks;

at least one software module forming a software platform that allows the wireless radio circuit to connect to both the WLAN and the WPAN, and coordinate retrieval of information from the station; and

an operating system that enables operation of the network-enabled hub and execution of user-written application-specific application software for the network-enabled hub,

wherein the first wireless network connection provides a link via an access point of the WLAN and the second wireless network connection provides a link to the WPAN serving PAN devices, such that network nodes that have access to the WLAN can address packets to WPAN devices that are nodes on the WPAN and packets can be conveyed from a WPAN device, through the network-enabled hub, to the access point and from there to a destination over the Internet from the access point, and wherein the WPAN device'"'"'s access to the Internet is via the network-enabled hub.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the WPAN devices are IP addressable.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the WPAN devices are a computer accessory, a telephone accessory, a wearable device, a wireless headset, a wireless mouse, a wireless keyboard, a wireless recorder, or a wireless telephone.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the computing device is a component of a portable computing device, a mobile computing device, a communications device with computing capability, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computing device, a pager, or a cellular telephone.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the logic for data forwarding further comprises logic for uniquely identifying the destination node from data in a data packet received from the originating node and transmit data into the second wireless network using that unique identification of the destination node.

19. An electronic device having an ability to communicate wirelessly and configured to support functions requiring messages to be sent, or data to be received, to destination nodes not directly accessible by wireless communication circuits of the electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

control logic for generating a message based on inputs to the electronic device, wherein the message comprises data that depends on the inputs received and uniquely identifies a destination node on a network that is accessible using a first wireless network protocol but not accessible using a second wireless network protocol used by the electronic device, the first wireless network protocol and the second wireless network protocol being for use over wireless networks in a common wireless space, wherein the second wireless network protocol is an overlay protocol with respect to the first wireless network protocol in that communications using the second wireless network protocol in the common wireless space are partially consistent with the first wireless network protocol such that at least a first wireless network connection using the first wireless network protocol and a second wireless network connection using the second wireless network protocol can have their connections maintained, at times, simultaneously with each other in the common wireless space;

datapath logic for generating addressing information of an address of a network-enabled hub accessible directly by the electronic device using the second wireless network protocol, the address being of a network-enabled hub capable of sending messages to the destination node using the second wireless network protocol;

a wireless radio circuit that can send and receive data wirelessly between the electronic device and the network-enabled hub;

an interface between the processor and the wireless radio circuit for sending and receiving data wirelessly and processing that data.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the data identifying the destination node is a network address of the destination node.

21. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the data identifying the destination node is an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the destination node.

22. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a remote control for a home entertainment accessory.

23. The electronic device of claim 19, further comprising a battery for powering the electronic device and further wherein the electronic device is configured to wirelessly communicate with a network-enabled hub that is powered such that wireless communication power is not a constraint on the network-enabled hub.

24. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first wireless network protocol provides a link via an access point of a wireless local area network (“

LAN”

) and the second wireless network protocol provides a link to a personal area network (“

PAN”

) serving PAN devices including the electronic device.

25. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first wireless network protocol is an 802.11x wireless protocol and the second wireless network protocol is a modification of the 802.11x wireless protocol that is not entirely compliant with the 802.11x wireless protocol but can be maintained in the common wireless space with the 802.11x wireless protocol.

26. The electronic device of claim 19, further comprising logic for entering a sleep mode and synchronizing sleep periods with the network-enabled hub.

27. A network-enabled hub, usable for facilitating data communications between two or more wireless devices that are configured to communicate indirectly with each other via the network-enabled hub, comprising:

an interface to a wireless radio circuit that can send and receive data wirelessly, providing the hub with bi-directional wireless data communication capability;

logic for processing data received via the wireless radio circuit;

logic for generating data to be transmitted by the wireless radio circuit;

logic for initiating and maintaining wireless network connections with nodes of a wireless network external to the network-enabled hub, maintaining at least a first wireless network connection using a first wireless network protocol and a second wireless network connection using a second wireless network protocol, that can be maintained, at times, simultaneously with each other in a common wireless space, wherein the second wireless network protocol is an overlay protocol with respect to the first wireless network protocol in that communications using the second wireless network protocol are consistent with the first wireless network protocol, but the first wireless network and the second wireless network are distinct in that at least one node of the second wireless network is not a node in the first wireless network and at least some of the communications using the second wireless network protocol impinge on at least some antennae used for the first wireless network; and

data forwarding logic, implemented in the network-enabled hub using hardware and/or software, that forwards data between an originating node and a destination node, wherein the originating node is a node in of one of the first and second wireless networks and the destination node is a node in the other of the first and second wireless networks.

28. The network-enabled hub of claim 27, wherein the network-enabled hub is embedded into a personal computer, a cellular phone, or home entertainment equipment.

29. The network-enabled hub of claim 27, wherein the first wireless network connection is for a wireless network having a first operating range and the second wireless network is for a wireless network having a second operating range, where the first operating range is larger than the second operating range.