Dual mode wireless communications device

• US 8,644,892 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maguire, Yael
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US13/118,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/66.1, 455/73, 455/127.1, 455/522, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 4553431-3436, 320/106, 320/108, 320/109, 320/110, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/124, 320/139, 320/140, 307/104, 307/106, 307/149
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave

Abstract

A wireless communications device includes a battery, a processing section coupled to the battery, and an RF interface. The battery is configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation. The processing section is configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation. The RF interface is configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communication device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation. The wireless communications device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communications device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation;

wherein the wireless communications device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, and configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory.

2. A wireless communications device comprising:

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communications device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the RF interface is configured to receive data from the RF signal in the second mode of operation and the wireless communications device is configured to store the data in the memory;

wherein the wireless communications device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, and configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory.

3. A wireless communications device comprising:

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communications device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation;

wherein the wireless communications device is configured to read data from the memory and provide an output message to a source of the RF signal by modulating the RF signal, configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, and configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory.

4. A wireless communications device comprising:

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive an RF signal and generate operating power for the wireless communications device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the RF interface is configured to receive data from the RF signal in the second mode of operation and the wireless communications device is configured to store the data in the memory;

wherein the wireless communications device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory, and configured to read data from the memory and provide an output message to a source of the RF signal by modulating the RF signal.

5. A method of communicating with a wireless communications device comprising:

operating the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation using operating power supplied by a battery contained in the wireless communications device, and wherein the wireless communications device is operated as one of a cellular telephone, a tablet computer and a notebook computer;

detecting presence of an RF signal, and in response, operating the wireless communications device in a second mode of operation using operating power derived from the RF signal;

detecting that a storage level of a memory has reached a limit; and

changing a processor of the wireless communications device from an inactive state to an active state.

6. A method of communicating with a wireless communications device comprising:

operating the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation using operating power supplied by a battery contained in the wireless communications device, and wherein the wireless communications device is operated as one of a cellular telephone, a tablet computer and a notebook computer;

detecting presence of an RF signal, and in response, operating the wireless communications device in a second mode of operation using operating power derived from the RF signal;

extracting data from the RF signal in the wireless communications device in the second mode of operation;

storing the data in the memory in the wireless communications device;

detecting that a storage level of a memory has reached a limit; and

changing a processor of the wireless communications device from an inactive state to an active state.

7. A method of communicating with a wireless communications device comprising:

operating the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation using operating power supplied by a battery contained in the wireless communications device, and wherein the wireless communications device is operated as one of a cellular telephone, a tablet computer and a notebook computer;

detecting presence of an RF signal, and in response, operating the wireless communications device in a second mode of operation using operating power derived from the RF signal;

extracting data from the RF signal in the wireless communications device in the second mode of operation;

storing the data in the memory in the wireless communications device;

detecting that a storage level of a memory has reached a limit;

changing a processor of the wireless communications device from an inactive state to an active state; and

moving data from the memory using the processor.

8. A method of communicating with a wireless communications device comprising:

operating the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation using operating power supplied by a battery contained in the wireless communications device, and wherein the wireless communications device is operated as one of a cellular telephone, a tablet computer and a notebook computer;

detecting presence of an RF signal, and in response, operating the wireless communications device in a second mode of operation using operating power derived from the RF signal;

detecting that a storage level of a memory has reached a limit;

changing a processor of the wireless communications device from an inactive state to an active state; and

reading data from the memory and providing an output message from the wireless communications device by modulating the RF signal.

9. A method of communicating with a wireless communications device comprising:

operating the wireless communications device in a first mode of operation using operating power supplied by a battery contained in the wireless communications device, and wherein the wireless communications device is operated as one of a cellular telephone, a tablet computer and a notebook computer;

detecting presence of an RF signal, and in response, operating the wireless communications device in a second mode of operation using operating power derived from the RF signal;

extracting data from the RF signal in the wireless communications device in the second mode of operation;

storing the data in the memory in the wireless communications device;

detecting that a storage level of a memory has reached a limit;

changing a processor of the wireless communications device from an inactive state to an active state; and

reading data from the memory and providing an output message from the wireless communications device by modulating the RF signal.

10. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a base station having at least one network connection and an RF transceiver configured to generate an RF signal and communicate with the wireless device using backscatter communication;

wherein the wireless device includes;

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive the RF signal from the base station and generate operating power for the wireless device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation;

wherein the wireless device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, and configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory.

11. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a base station having at least one network connection and an RF transceiver configured to generate an RF signal and communicate with the wireless device using backscatter communication;

wherein the wireless device includes;

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive the RF signal from the base station and generate operating power for the wireless device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the RF interface is configured to receive data from the RF signal in the second mode of operation and the wireless device is configured to store the data in the memory;

wherein the wireless device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory.

12. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a base station having at least one network connection and an RF transceiver configured to generate an RF signal and communicate with the wireless device using backscatter communication;

wherein the wireless device includes;

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive the RF signal from the base station and generate operating power for the wireless device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation;

wherein the wireless device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory, and configured to read data from the memory and provide an output message to the base station by modulating the RF signal.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless device; and

a base station having at least one network connection and an RF transceiver configured to generate an RF signal and communicate with the wireless device using backscatter communication;

wherein the wireless device includes;

a battery configured to provide power to operate the wireless device in a first mode of operation;

a processing section coupled to the battery and configured to operate on battery power in the first mode of operation; and

an RF interface configured to receive the RF signal from the base station and generate operating power for the wireless device from the RF signal in a second mode of operation, wherein the RF interface is configured to receive data from the RF signal in the second mode of operation and the wireless device is configured to store the data in the memory;

wherein the wireless device is configured to detect available RF power and enter the second mode of operation from the first mode of operation, configured such that the processing section enters a sleep mode in the second mode of operation, configured to detect a fill state of a memory and based on the fill state change the processing section from the sleep mode to an active mode and conduct data transfer with the memory, and configured to read data from the memory and provide an output message from the wireless device by modulating the RF signal.