Conveying information via auxiliary device selection

• US 10,334,515 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ENK Wireless Inc.
• Original Assignee: ENK Wireless Inc.
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiue, Dong-Chang
• Application Number:
  US15/868,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20180206181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2211/005 Long term evolution [LTE]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2211/006 Single carrier frequency division multiple access [SC FDMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/32 for defining a routing cluster membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A transmitter is configured to convey N bits of information and L bits of information, for a total of N+L bits of information, to a destination device via an auxiliary device. The transmitter is configured to select, from a plurality of auxiliary devices that are respectively associated with different possible states of the L bits of information, an auxiliary device that is associated with a state of the L bits of information to be conveyed. L may be ≥1. The transmitter is also configured to convey the N+L bits of information from the transmitter to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device, without the transmitter transmitting any of the L bits of information to the destination device or the selected auxiliary device, by transmitting a signal to the selected auxiliary device. This signal comprises the N bits of information. N may be ≥0.

Claims

1. A method of conveying N bits of information and L bits of information, for a total of N+L bits of information, the method comprising:

selecting, by a transmitter from a plurality of auxiliary devices that are respectively associated with different possible states of the L bits of information, an auxiliary device that is associated with a state of the L bits of information to be conveyed to a destination device,

wherein the selecting is based on the L bits of information, and

wherein L≥

1; and

transmitting, by the transmitter, a signal to the selected auxiliary device to convey the N+L bits of information to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device, without the transmitter transmitting any of the L bits of information to the destination device or the selected auxiliary device, wherein the signal comprises the N bits of information, and wherein N≥

0.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

refraining by the transmitter from conveying any of the N bits of information and any of the L bits of information directly to the destination device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of auxiliary devices comprises M auxiliary devices that are associated with different respective ones of at least 2^L different possible states of the L bits, wherein M≥

2^L≥

2, and wherein the state of the L bits of information is one of the at least 2^L different possible states.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of auxiliary devices includes the destination device acting as an auxiliary device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more auxiliary devices of the plurality of auxiliary devices are proximate to the destination device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said proximate to the destination device comprises being on a person who is using the destination device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises associating by the transmitter the state of the L bits that the transmitter is to convey to the destination device with an index of the auxiliary device;

and wherein said index of the selected auxiliary device is predetermined to be associated with the state of the L bits.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein conveying the N+L bits of information to the destination device, by transmitting the signal comprising the N bits of information to the selected auxiliary device, is based on the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device augmenting the N bits by appending thereto at least some of the L bits of information upon receiving the signal comprising the N bits of information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein it is predetermined that the destination device and/or the selected auxiliary device is to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at an end of the N bits, beyond the end of the N bits and/or prior to the end of the N bits.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein it is predetermined that the destination device and/or the selected auxiliary device is to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at a beginning of the N bits, prior to the beginning of the N bits and/or beyond the beginning of the N bits.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein it is predetermined that the destination device and/or the selected auxiliary device is to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at a location beyond a beginning but before an end of the N bits.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein it is predetermined that the destination device and/or the selected auxiliary device is to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits and distributing said at least some of the L bits over a plurality of different non-contiguous locations of the N bits.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the N bits and the L bits of information are to be conveyed to the destination device as bits in a predetermined order.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined order comprises the N bits appended by at least some of the L bits at an end of the N bits, beyond the end of the N bits and/or before the end of the N bits.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined order comprises the N bits appended by at least some of the L bits at a beginning of the N bits, beyond the beginning of the N bits and/or prior to the beginning of the N bits.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined order comprises the N bits appended by at least some of the L bits at a location beyond a beginning but before an end of the N bits.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined order comprises:

the N bits appended by at least some of the L bits; and

the at least some of the L bits distributed over a plurality of non-contiguous locations of the N bits.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing privacy, security and/or encryption by conveying by the transmitter, via the selected auxiliary device, to the destination device the N+L bits of information via a transmission by the transmitter to the selected auxiliary device that does not include any of the L bits of information.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein conveying the N+L bits of information from the transmitter to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device comprises conveying N bits of first information and L bits of first information, for a total of N+L bits of first information to the destination device, via a first auxiliary device of the plurality of auxiliary devices that is associated with a state of said L bits of first information, by transmitting a signal comprising the N bits of first information to the first auxiliary device, and wherein the method further comprises conveying N bits of second information and L bits of second information, for a total of N+L bits of second information, to the destination device via a second auxiliary device of the plurality of auxiliary devices that is associated with a state of said L bits of second information, by transmitting a signal comprising said N bits of second information to the second auxiliary device.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein each one of said first and second auxiliary devices is attached to, installed on and/or positioned in/on a building.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein each one of said first and second auxiliary devices is proximate to, attached to and/or situated on a person.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving information indicating that the plurality of auxiliary devices are proximate to and/or capable of communicating with the destination device.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more auxiliary devices of the plurality of auxiliary devices are integrated with the destination device.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is responsive to the state of the L bits of information.

24. A transmitter comprising a processor that is configured to control the transmitter to perform operations comprising:

selecting, from a plurality of auxiliary devices that are respectively associated with different possible states of L bits of information, an auxiliary device that is associated with a state of the L bits of information to be conveyed to a destination device,

wherein the selected auxiliary device is selected based on the L bits of information, and

wherein L≥

1; and

transmitting a signal to the selected auxiliary device to convey N+L bits of information to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device, without the transmitter transmitting any of the L bits of information to the destination device or the selected auxiliary device, wherein the signal comprises the N bits of information, and wherein N≥

0.

25. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

refraining from conveying any of the N bits of information and any of the L bits of information directly to the destination device.

26. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of auxiliary devices comprises M auxiliary devices that are associated with different respective ones of at least 2^L different possible states of the L bits of information, wherein M≥

2^L≥

2, and wherein the state of the L bits of information is one of the at least 2^L different possible states.

27. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of auxiliary devices includes the destination device acting as an auxiliary device.

28. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein at least one auxiliary device of the plurality of auxiliary devices is proximate to the destination device.

29. The transmitter according to claim 28, wherein said proximate to the destination device comprises being on a person who is using the destination device.

30. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein:

the transmitting comprises transmitting the signal to the selected auxiliary device for relay by the selected auxiliary device to the destination device; and

the selecting comprises associating the state of the L bits that the transmitter is to convey to the destination device with an index of the auxiliary device; and

wherein said index of the selected auxiliary device is predetermined to be associated with the state of the L bits.

31. The transmitter according to claim 30, wherein it is predetermined that, responsive to said index of the selected auxiliary device and responsive to said transmitting by the transmitter to the selected auxiliary device, the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by the L bits.

32. The transmitter according to claim 31, wherein it is predetermined that the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at an end of the N bits and/or at a distance from the end of the N bits.

33. The transmitter according to claim 31, wherein it is predetermined that the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at a beginning of the N bits and/or at a distance from the beginning of the N bits.

34. The transmitter according to claim 31, wherein it is predetermined that the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits at a location beyond a beginning but before an end of the N bits.

35. The transmitter according to claim 31, wherein it is predetermined that the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending the N bits by at least some of the L bits and distributing said at least some of the L bits over a plurality of different non-contiguous locations of the N bits.

36. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein it is predetermined that, responsive to said transmitting to the selected auxiliary device, the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by the L bits.

37. The transmitter according to claim 36, wherein the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending thereto the L bits at an end of the N bits.

38. The transmitter according to claim 36, wherein the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending thereto the L bits at a beginning of the N bits.

39. The transmitter according to claim 36, wherein the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending thereto the L bits at a location beyond a beginning but before an end of the N bits.

40. The transmitter according to claim 36, wherein the selected auxiliary device and/or the destination device is/are to augment the N bits by appending thereto the L bits and distributing the L bits over a plurality of different non-contiguous locations of the N bits.

41. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing privacy, security and/or encryption by conveying, via the selected auxiliary device, to the destination device the N bits of information and the L bits of information via a transmission to the selected auxiliary device that is limited to only the N bits of information.

42. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the transmitting comprises:

conveying a first block of N₁+L₁ bits of information to the destination device via a first auxiliary device, by selecting the first auxiliary device and transmitting the N₁ bits of information of the first block to the first auxiliary device; and

conveying a second block of N₂+L₂ bits of information to the destination device via a second auxiliary device, by selecting the second auxiliary device and transmitting the N₂ bits of information of the second block to the second auxiliary device,

wherein the first auxiliary device is selected based on the L₁ bits of information of the first block, and

wherein the second auxiliary device is selected based on the L₂ bits of information of the second block.

43. The transmitter according to claim 42, wherein at least one of said first and second auxiliary devices is attached to, installed and/or positioned in/on a building.

44. The transmitter according to claim 42, wherein at least one of said first and second auxiliary devices is attached to and/or situated/positioned on a person.

45. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving information indicating that the plurality of auxiliary devices are proximate to and/or capable of communicating with the destination device.

46. The transmitter according to claim 24, wherein one or more auxiliary devices of the plurality of auxiliary devices is integrated with the destination device.

50. The transmitter of claim 24,

wherein the transmitter comprises a base station, and

wherein the destination device comprises a smartphone.

51. The transmitter of claim 24, wherein the selected auxiliary device is selected responsive to the state of the L bits of information.

47. A method of operating a transmitter, the method comprising:

selecting, by the transmitter, based on a block of L bits of information that is to be provided to a destination device, an auxiliary device that is associated with the block of the L bits of information, wherein L≥

1; and

transmitting a signal from the transmitter to the selected auxiliary device to provide N+L bits of information to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device, without the transmitter transmitting any of the L bits of information to the destination device or the selected auxiliary device,

wherein the signal comprises the N bits of information, and

wherein N≥

0.

48. The method of claim 47,

wherein the block of the L bits of information comprises a first bit state that is to be provided to the destination device via the selected auxiliary device, and

wherein a non-selected auxiliary device that is wirelessly or physically connected to the destination device is associated with a second bit state of the L bits of information that is different from the first bit state.

49. The method of claim 47,

wherein the transmitter comprises a base station, and

wherein the destination device comprises a smartphone.