MULTI-FUNCTION GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSCEIVERS & DEVICES

• US 20090068947A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas D. Petite
• Original Assignee: Thomas D. Petite
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a system and associated method for communicating information. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a general purpose transceiver having a receiver for receiving an information signal and a transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing signal to a central station. A portion of the information signal can include an instruction code, which may be decoded and acted upon accordingly. Other embodiments and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A device for communicating information, the device comprising:

a low-power transceiver module that is configured to wirelessly transmit a signal comprising a instruction data frame for delivery of a network of addressable low power transceivers wherein at least one low power transceiver has a communication link with a central location;

an interface circuit configured to establish a communication link with the central location based on a to address included in a signal, the communication link comprising one or more low-power transceivers; and

a controller configured to receive one or more low power RF signals and communicate information contained within the signals to a central location along with a unique transceiver identification number over the communication link.

2. The device of claim 1, the low power signal comprising a logical IP address such that the transceiver can route the information to a destination based on the logical IP address.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the controller and transceiver is further configured to communicate a transceiver identification code to the central location.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a message identification field;

a packet identification field;

a network field, and a data field.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a field configured to indicate a destination device for a subsequent transmission path to follow.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured on an integrated circuit and further configured to decode the instruction code and implement an associated instruction that corresponds to at least one of a product code or user account or application information

7. A wireless communication method for relaying electronic messages in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving an information signal at a first wireless communication device, the information signal comprising a unique message code and an instruction code;

decoding the information signal to access the unique message code and the instruction code;

initiating communication with another wireless communication device in the wireless communication network in response to the unique message code and the instruction code; and

communicating the unique message code from the transceiver to the central location.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprises communicating a transceiver identification code from the transceiver to a central location in addition to a transmitter identification code that corresponds to the low-power transmitter.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising decoding the transceiver identification code.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising evaluating the transceiver identification code;

and determining a geographical location of the transceiver.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising checking a received wireless signal for errors.

12. In a wireless communication system comprising at least one wireless communication device capable of communicating to at least one other communication device in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, the at least one wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive a low-power wireless signal, the low-power signal wireless signal being wirelessly transmitted in close proximity to the wireless receiver, the low-power signal comprising at least an encoded instruction code and a service code;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal via the wireless communication network to another wireless communication device in the wireless communication network;

a controller connected to the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter, the controller configured to obtain information encoded in a received low-power wireless signal and configured to deliver obtained information to the transmitter such that the transmitter can transmit the instruction code and the service code via the wireless communication network to at least one other wireless communication device in the wireless communication network.

13. In the wireless communication system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured as a programmable integrated circuit.

14. In the wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the controller comprises a look-up table configured to decode the encoded information.

15. In the wireless communication system of claim 14, wherein the low power wireless signal is at least one of a low power RF signal, a low power IR signal, or a low power ultrasound signal.

16. In the wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to take action in response to the decoded instruction code and the decoded service code.

17. In the wireless communication system of claim 16, further comprising a second wireless communication device in the plurality of wireless communication devices, the second wireless communication device in communication with the at least one wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device being configured to implement at least one of a received instruction code and service code.