Wireless personal local area network

• US 6,359,872 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1997
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gollnick, Charles D., Mahany, Ronald L., Bunte, Alan G., West, Guy J., Luse, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHAU BA
• Application Number:
  US08/959,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/314, 370/315, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 370/401, 455/403, 455/426, 455/432, 455/443, 455/517
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A transceiver apparatus for creating a wireless personal local area network between a computer terminal and one or more peripheral devices. A separate transceiver is connected to the computer terminal and to each peripheral device. The transceivers can be connected to the terminal or peripheral device either internally or externally. A low power radio is used to communicate information between the computer terminal and peripheral devices. Different transceivers can be used for modifying the carrier frequency and power of the local area network. The microprocessor is located inside each transceiver and controls the information flow of the transceiver including the communication protocol which allows each device to know if other devices are communicating, which devices are being communicated to, and selectively address the peripheral devices. An Idle Sense communication protocol is used for information transfer between the computer terminal and the peripheral devices, increasing efficiency in power management and compensating for transmission collisions.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network comprising:

a first radio network;

a second radio network that operates independent of the first radio network;

a battery powered, first network device, used by a single user, that participates on the second radio network;

a battery powered, second network device, worn by the single user, that participates on both the first and second radio networks; and

the battery powered, second network device providing the battery powered, first network device a communication pathway to the first radio network via the second radio network.

2. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the battery powered, second network device participates as a slave device on the first radio network.

3. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the battery powered, second network device participates as a master device on the second radio network.

4. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the battery powered, second network device manages communication with the battery powered, first network device.

5. The wireless communication network of claim 1 comprising a third network device that participates on the second radio network.

6. The wireless communication network of claim 5 wherein the second network device facilitates communication on the second radio network.

7. The wireless communication network of claim 5 wherein the first, second and third network devices comprise the second radio network.

8. A wireless communication network comprising:

a stationary wireless network supporting wireless communication throughout an area;

a first wireless roaming device;

a second wireless roaming device;

the first and second wireless roaming devices forming a roaming wireless network that operates independent of the stationary wireless network;

at least one of the first and second wireless devices capable of participating on the stationary wireless network; and

the roaming wireless network existing whether or not the first and second wireless roaming devices are within the area of the stationary wireless network.

9. The wireless communication network of claim 8 wherein only the first wireless roaming device is capable of participating on the stationary wireless network.

10. The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the first wireless roaming device participates on the stationary wireless network pursuant to control by the stationary wireless network.

11. The wireless communication network of claim 10 wherein the first wireless roaming device controls communication on the roaming wireless network.

12. The wireless communication network of claim 11 comprising a third wireless device that participates on the roaming wireless network.

13. The wireless communication network of claim 8 wherein the first wireless roaming device controls communication on the roaming wireless network.

14. The wireless communication network of claim 13 comprising a third wireless device that participates on the roaming wireless network.