Methods of communicating identification information and a responsive command via short-range communications, and related devices

• US 10,448,125 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ljung, Peter, Wadman, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N
• Application Number:
  US15/728,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412, 4554042, 455 413, 4554142, 455415, 455418-420, 455423, 455425, 4554321, 4554351, 455440, 4554563, 455461
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/79 Radio fingerprint
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Methods of operating a short-range Radio Frequency (RF) device are provided. The methods may include transmitting identification information that identifies the short-range RF device and/or sensor information generated by a sensor associated with the short-range RF device, using a short-range RF communication protocol. The methods may include receiving a command, responsive to the identification information and/or the sensor information, from a server via a first device using the short-range RF communication protocol to control a second device associated with the short-range RF device. Related devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of operating a server in a wireless communications network, comprising:

receiving identification information that identifies a short-range Radio Frequency (RF) device, from a relaying electronic device, the identification information being encrypted, such that the relaying electronic device cannot identify the short-range RF device based on the identification information; and

transmitting a command, responsive to the identification information and destined for the short-range RF device, to the relaying electronic device and/or another relaying electronic device to control a device associated with the short-range RF device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the identification information comprises;

receiving sensor information generated by a sensor associated with the short-range RF device and encrypted identification information that identifies the short-range RF device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the command comprises:

transmitting the command to a plurality of relaying electronic devices, the plurality of relaying devices comprising the relaying electronic device and the another relaying electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that at least one relaying electronic device of the relaying electronic device and the another relaying electronic device is likely to be near the short-range RF device, wherein transmitting the command comprises;

transmitting, via a cellular network, the command to the at least one relaying electronic device determined as likely to be near the short-range RF device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

access to the cellular network is limited or unavailable adjacent the short-range RF device; and

the at least one relaying electronic device is configured to receive the command via the cellular network and to relay the command to the short-range RF device using a short-range RF communication protocol.