Using Presence Detection To Control A Wireless Network

• US 20080298330A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Leitch, Adam
• Application Number:
  US12/097,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A wireless system coupled to a local area network (LAN) (101). The wireless system provides wireless network services to a wireless communication device disposed in an area within which the wireless system is deployed. A presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) detects a presence of a user within a detection area. A wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is operably coupled to the LAN (101) and the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304). When the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) detects the presence of the user within the detection area, the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is enabled to provide wireless network services to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless system operably coupled to a local area network (LAN), and configured to provide wireless network services to a wireless communication device disposed in an area within which the wireless system is deployed, the wireless system comprising:

a presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) configured to detect a presence of a user within a detection area; and

a wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) operably coupled to the LAN and the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304), wherein if the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) detects the presence of the user within the detection area, the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is enabled to provide wireless network services to the wireless communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a light source (401, 402, 403, 404), wherein if the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) detects the presence of the user within the detection area, the light source (401, 402, 403, 404) is enabled to provide lighting.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to provide wireless network services within a broadcast zone that substantially overlaps the detection area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to provide wireless network services within a broadcast zone that substantially does not overlap the detection area.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) is configured to identify the user and wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to allocate bandwidth determined by the identity of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence detector (301, 302, 303, 304) is configured to identify a number of users within the detection area and wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to allocate bandwidth determined by the number of users.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to provide wireless network services determined by a plurality of rules.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the rules comprise at least one of:

a) the node is enabled to provide wireless network services for a fixed duration of time after the user has left the detection area;

b) the node is enabled based on typical user activity within the detection area;

c) the node is enabled to allocate bandwidth based on a profile of an area including the detection area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to enter a security state when the presence detector does not detect the presence of the user within the detection area.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is configured to generate a security signal if communication with the wireless communication node (201, 202, 203, 204) is attempted during the security state.

11. A method of providing wireless access by wireless communication devices to a local area network, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting if a user is within a detection area; and

enabling a wireless communication to access the network in response to detecting that the user is within the detection area.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising the act of enabling a light source to provide lighting in response to detecting that the user is within the detection area.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising the acts of:

identifying the user; and

allocating bandwidth determined by the identity of the user.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising the acts of:

identifying how many users are within the detection area; and

allocating bandwidth determined by how many users are within the detection area.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein enabling wireless communication comprises the acts of:

identifying if a user detected within the detection area satisfies a rule; and

enabling the wireless communication determined by the satisfied rule.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising the acts of:

identifying repetitive behavior of users within the detection area over a period of time; and

creating a rule determined by the identified repetitive behavior.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein enabling wireless communication comprises the acts of:

identifying if a user detected within the detection area satisfies a security rule; and

generating a security signal determined by the satisfied security rule.

18. The method of claim 11, comprising the act of entering a security state when a user is not detected within the detection area.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising the act of generating a security signal if communication is attempted during the security state.