RADIO-AGNOSTIC MESSAGE TRANSLATION SERVICE

• US 20160029190A1
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rattner, Zachary David
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In various aspects, the disclosure provides a hub that is adapted for radio-agnostic message translation. The hub may be configured to establish a connection with a target device using a first network access technology, receive a first message from a first client device through a connection established on a second network access technology, translate the first message from a first transmission format to obtain a second message in a second transmission format, and transmit the second message to the target device and using the first network access technology. The first network technology may employ a first wireless technology having a range that is less than 100 meters. The first client device may be separated from the target device by a distance that is greater than the range of the first wireless technology

Claims

1. A method of communications, comprising:

establishing a connection with a first device using a network interface compatible with a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receiving a first message from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translating the first message to obtain a second message; and

transmitting the second message to the first device using the first communications technology.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is directed to a group of devices, and further comprising:

using the first communications technology to transmit the second message to a plurality of devices in the group of devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is directed to a group of devices that includes a second device that communicates using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, and further comprising:

using the second communications technology to transmit the second message to the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translating the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

transmitting the second message and the fourth message such that the second message and the fourth message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or interleave.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first device;

translating the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

providing the fourth message to the first client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein translating the third message comprises:

associating the third message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

translating the fourth message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third message from the first device;

transmitting a fourth message corresponding to the third message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is directed to a first group of devices comprising a plurality of target devices configured to use the first communications technology, and further comprising:

determining a command for each device in the first group of devices based on content of the message; and

transmitting the command to the each device using the first communications technology.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first group of devices comprises different types of devices, and wherein different commands are determined for the different types of devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the first message to obtain a second message comprises:

converting the first message from a first transmission format to a second transmission format.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications technology comprises a Bluetooth technology or a near field communications technology.

13. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

first and second wireless communication interfaces coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

establish a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receive a first message from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translate the first message to obtain a second message; and

transmit the second message to the first device using the first communications technology.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first message is directed to a group of devices, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

use the first communications technology to transmit the second message to a plurality of devices in the group of devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first message is directed to a group of devices that includes a second device that communicates using a second communications technology that has a limited transmission range, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

use the second communications technology to transmit the second message to the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translate the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

transmit the second message and the fourth message such that the second message and the fourth message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or interleave.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from the first device;

translate the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

provide the fourth message to the first client.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

associate the third message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

translate the fourth message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from the first device;

transmit a fourth message corresponding to the third message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first message is directed to a first group of devices comprising a plurality of target devices configured to use the first communications technology, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a command for each device in the first group of devices based on content of the message; and

transmit the command to the each device using the first communications technology,

wherein the first group of devices comprises different types of devices, and wherein different commands are determined for the different types of devices.

22. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

means for establishing a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

means for receiving a first message from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

means for translating the first message to obtain a second message; and

means for transmitting the second message to the first device using the first communications technology.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein addressing information of the first device is concealed from the first client.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first message is directed to a group of devices, and wherein the means for transmitting the second message is configured to:

use the first communications technology to transmit the second message to a plurality of devices in the group of devices; and

use a second communications technology to transmit the second message to one or more devices in the group of devices when the group of devices includes a second device that communicates using the second communications technology that has a limited transmission range.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from a second client through a wide area network, wherein the second client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translate the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

transmit the second message and the fourth message such that the second message and the fourth message are transmitted sequentially without an overlap or interleave.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from the first device;

translate the third message to obtain a fourth message; and

provide the fourth message to the first client.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

associate the third message with a preceding communication from the first client; and

translate the fourth message to a format consistent with the preceding communication, based on the associating.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a third message from the first device;

transmit a fourth message corresponding to the third message to one or more other devices that communicate using the first communications technology.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first message is directed to a first group of devices comprising a plurality of target devices configured to use the first communications technology, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a command for each device in the first group of devices based on content of the message; and

transmit the command to the each device using the first communications technology,

wherein the first group of devices comprises different types of devices, and wherein different commands are determined for the different types of devices.

30. A computer-readable storage medium comprising code for:

establishing a connection with a first device that communicates using a first communications technology that has a limited transmission range;

receiving a first message from a first client through a connection established on a communications network, wherein the first client is separated from the first device by a distance that is greater than the transmission range of the first communications technology;

translating the first message to obtain a second message; and

transmitting the second message to the first device using the first communications technology.