Data collection device having dynamic access to multiple wireless networks

• US 9,820,142 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US15/161,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 23547201, 23546201, 23546225, 23546246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There is set forth herein a method of providing network connectivity. The method can include introducing a new communication device within a communication range of a portable data collection device, the new communication device comprising a dynamic access module enabling the new communication device to receive data packets from the portable data collection device and route payload data of the data packets to an access point. In one aspect the new communication device can receive data packets from the portable data collection device and route payload data of the data packets to the access point if the new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and the portable data collection device. There is set forth herein a system having a dynamic access module.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, with a data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of an access point and/or a peer data collection device that is in range of the access point;

if the data collection device is in range of the access point, transmitting data, with the data collection device to the access point; and

if the data collection device is not in range of the access point and is in range of a peer data collection device that is in range of the access point, transmitting data, with the data collection device to the peer data collection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collection device comprises a bar code decode unit, an RFID reader unit and/or a credit/debit card reader unit.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising, with the data collection device, wirelessly broadcasting a routing table data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of a peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is not in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an infrastructure mode.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising, if the data collection device is not in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an ad hoc mode.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of a peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in a dynamic switching mode to dynamically switch between an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising, when operating in the dynamic switching mode, dynamically switching, with the data collection device, between the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode at fixed time intervals.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, with a data collection device, data from an access point;

determining, with the data collection device, whether the received data is intended for the data collection device or a peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the received data is intended for the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, transmitting, with the data collection device, the received data directly to the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data collection device comprises a bar code decode unit, an RFID reader unit and/or a credit/debit card reader unit.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising, with the data collection device, wirelessly broadcasting a routing table data packet.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of an access point and/or the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is not in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an infrastructure mode.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of an access point and/or a peer data collection device that is in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is not in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an ad hoc mode.

13. The method of claim 8, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of an access point and/or the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in a dynamic switching mode to dynamically switch between an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising, when operating in the dynamic switching mode, dynamically switching, with the data collection device, between the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode at fixed time intervals.

15. A method, comprising:

determining, with a data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of an access point and/or a peer data collection device that is in range of the access point;

if the data collection device is in range of the access point, transmitting data, with the data collection device to the access point; and

if the data collection device is not in range of the access point and is in range of a peer data collection device that is in range of the access point, transmitting data and a route request, with the data collection device to the peer data collection device for further transmission to the access point.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising, with the data collection device, wirelessly broadcasting a routing table data packet.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of a peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is not in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an infrastructure mode.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising, if the data collection device is not in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is range of the access point, operating the data collection device in an ad hoc mode.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising:

determining, with the data collection device, whether the data collection device is in range of a peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point; and

if the data collection device is in range of the access point and is in range of the peer data collection device that is not in range of the access point, operating the data collection device in a dynamic switching mode to dynamically switch between an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising, when operating in the dynamic switching mode, dynamically switching, with the data collection device, between the infrastructure mode and the ad hoc mode at fixed time intervals.