Radio-agnostic message translation service

• US 9,445,248 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rattner, Zachary David
• Primary Examiner(s): CASCA, FRED A
• Application Number:
  US14/341,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/445, 455/456.2, 455/550.1, 455/12.1, 455/444, 370/315, 370/338, 370/492, 342/15, 342/353
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In various aspects, the disclosure provides a hub that is adapted for radio-agnostic message translation. The hub may be configured to establish a connection with a target device using a first network access technology, receive a first message from a first client device through a connection established on a second network access technology, translate the first message from a first transmission format to obtain a second message in a second transmission format, and transmit the second message to the target device and using the first network access technology. The first network technology may employ a first wireless technology having a range that is less than 100 meters. The first client device may be separated from the target device by a distance that is greater than the range of the first wireless technology.

Claims

1. A method of communications by an apparatus, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a first device using a network interface compatible with a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receiving a first command message directed to a plurality of target devices from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

based on a content of the first command message, translating the first command message to obtain a different second command message for each of the plurality of target devices, wherein the translating comprises converting the first command message from a first transmission format to a second transmission format;

transmitting the second command message to the first device using the first communications technology when the first device is one of the plurality of target devices; and

transmitting the second command message to a second device using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, when the second device is one of the plurality of target devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the first communications technology to transmit the second command message to the plurality of target devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third command message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

translating the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

transmitting the second command message and the fourth command message such that the second command message and the fourth command message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or an interleave.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third command message from the first device;

translating the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

providing the fourth command message to the first client.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the translating the third command message comprises:

associating the third command message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

translating the fourth command message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third command message from the first device;

transmitting a fourth command message corresponding to the third command message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the second command message for each device in the plurality of target devices based on the content of the first command message; and

transmitting the second command message to the each of the plurality of target devices using the first communications technology.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of target devices comprises different types of devices, and wherein different second command messages are translated for the different types of devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications technology comprises a Bluetooth technology or a near field communications technology.

11. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

first and second wireless communication interfaces coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receive a first command message directed to a plurality of target devices from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

based on a content of the first command message, translate the first command message to obtain a different second command message for each of the plurality of target devices, wherein the translating comprises converting the first command message from a first transmission format to a second transmission format;

transmit the second command message to the first device using the first communications technology when the first device is one of the plurality of target devices; and

transmit the second command message to a second device using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, when the second device is one of the plurality of target devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

use the first communications technology to transmit the second command message to the plurality of target devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a third command message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

translate the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

transmit the second command message and the fourth command message such that the second command message and the fourth command message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or an interleave.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a third command message from the first device;

translate the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

provide the fourth command message to the first client.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

associate the third command message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

translate the fourth command message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a third command message from the first device; and

transmit a fourth command message corresponding to the third command message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of target devices comprises different types of devices, and

wherein different second command messages are translated for the different types of devices.

19. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

means for receiving a first command message directed to a plurality of target devices from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

means for translating the first command message based on a content of the first command message to obtain a different second command message for each of the plurality of target devices,

wherein the translating comprises converting the first command message from a first transmission format to a second transmission format;

means for transmitting the second command message to the first device using the first communications technology when the first device is one of the plurality of target devices; and

means for transmitting the second command message to a second device using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, when the second device is one of the plurality of target devices.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting the second command message is configured to use the first communications technology to transmit the second command message to the plurality of target devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the means for receiving is configured to receive a third command message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

the means for translating is configured to translate the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the second command message and the fourth command message such that the second command message and the fourth command message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or an interleave.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the means for receiving is configured to receive a third command message from the first device;

the means for translating is configured to translate the third command message to obtain a fourth command message; and

the means for transmitting is configured to provide the fourth command message to the first client.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the means for establishing is configured to associate the third command message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

the means for translating is further configured to translate the fourth command message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the means for receiving is configured to receive a third command message from the first device;

the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a fourth command message corresponding to the third command message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of target devices comprises different types of devices, and

wherein different second command messages are translated for the different types of devices.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising code configured for:

establishing a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receiving a first command message directed to a plurality of target devices from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the limited transmission range of the first communications technology;

based on a content of the first command message, translating the first command message to obtain a different second command message for each of the plurality of target devices, wherein the translating comprises converting the first command message from a first transmission format to a second transmission format;

transmitting the second command message to the first device using the first communications technology when the first device is one of the plurality of target devices; and

transmitting the second command message to a second device using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, when the second device is one of the plurality of target devices.