Enhanced wireless handset, including direct handset-to-handset communication mode

• US 6,865,372 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Sky Networks, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mauney, Daniel W., Sullivan, Marc A., Green, Charles A., Harbin, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/968,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/426, 455/414, 455/517, 455/11.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.3, 455/66.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/415, 455/421, 455/344, 455/566, 370/503, 370/337
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless handset is provided with enhanced features and capabilities. The wireless handset may be embodied as a full-featured handset that is capable of operating either within a wireless network (such as a cellular or PCS network) or in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode that is independent of the wireless network. Alternatively, the wireless handset may be embodied as a special purpose handset, that is capable of simply operating in a direct handset-to-handset communication mode. The wireless handset may additionally include features for supporting and enhancing direct communication between handsets. Such features may include a find feature that permits a user to determine which objects, including other wireless handset users, are located within a predetermined operating range of the wireless handset. A memorize feature may also be provided to permit handsets and other objects exchange information by wireless transmission.

Claims

1. An electronic device to identify proximally located objects within a proximity wireless coverage area, the electronic device comprising:

a short-range wireless transmitter to transmit an inquiry data packet according to a wireless data protocol using a first frequency channel of a frequency channel sequence and to transmit the inquiry data packet using a second frequency channel of the frequency channel sequence;

a receiver operable to receive a first response data packet including a first object identifier, the first response data packet identifying a first proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the proximally located object configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet, the receiver operable to receive a second response data packet including a second object identifier, the second response data packet identifying a second proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the proximally located object configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet; and

a computing system responsive to the short-range wireless transmitter and responsive to the receiver, the computing system configured to create a dynamically generated list of detected objects located within the proximity wireless coverage area, the dynamically generated list of detected objects including the first object identifier and the second object identifier.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the computer system is operable to provide a page data packet to at least one of the first proximally located object and the second proximally located object.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface to display the dynamically generated list of detected objects.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a clock offset device to be used in association with synchronizing communication with at least one of the first proximally located object and the second proximally located object.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless transmitter is operable to employ a frequency channel sequence.

6. An electronic device to identify a proximally located object within a proximity wireless coverage area, the electronic device comprising:

a short-range wireless transmitter to transmit an inquiry data packet according to a wireless data protocol using a first frequency channel of a frequency channel sequence and to transmit the inquiry data packet using a second frequency channel of the frequency channel sequence;

a receiver operable to receive a response data packet including an object identifier, the response data packet identifying the proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the proximally located object configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet; and

a computing system responsive to the short-range wireless transmitter and responsive to the receiver, the computing system configured to add the object identifier associated with the proximally located object to a dynamically generated list of detected objects located within the proximity wireless coverage area.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the computing system is operable to provide a page data packet to the proximally located object.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising a graphical user interface to display the dynamically generated list of detected objects.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising a clock offset device to be used in association with synchronizing communication with the proximally located object.

10. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the short-range wireless transmitter is operable to employ a frequency channel sequence.

11. A method of discovering proximally located objects within a proximity wireless coverage area, the method comprising:

transmitting an inquiry data packet according to a wireless data protocol with a short-range wireless transmitter using a first frequency channel of a frequency channel sequence;

transmitting the inquiry data packet wit the short-range wireless transmitter using a second frequency channel of the frequency channel sequence;

receiving a first response data packet including a first object identifier, the first response data packet identifying a first proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the first proximally located configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet;

receiving a second response data packet including a second object identifier, the second response data packet identifying a second proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the second proximally located object configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet; and

dynamically generating a list of detected objects located within the proximity wireless coverage area, the dynamically generated list of detected objects including the first object identifier and the second object identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a page data packet to at least one of the first proximally located object and the second proximally located object.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the dynamically generated list of detected objects using a graphical user interface.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising synchronizing communication with at least one of the first proximally located object and the second proximally located object.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the short-range wireless transmitter is operable to employ a frequency channel sequence.

16. A method of discovering a proximally located abject within a proximity wireless coverage area, the method comprising:

transmitting an inquiry data packet according to a wireless data protocol with a short-range wireless transmitter using a first frequency channel of a frequency channel sequence;

transmitting the inquiry data packet according to a wireless data protocol with the short-range wireless transmitter using a second frequency channel of the frequency channel sequence;

receiving a response data packet including an object identifier, the response data packet identifying the proximally located object within the proximity wireless coverage area, the proximally located object configured to communicate using the wireless data protocol associated with the inquiry data packet; and

adding the object identifier associated with the proximally located object to a dynamically generated list of detected objects located within the proximity wireless coverage area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a page data packet to the proximally located object.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the dynamically generated list of detected objects.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising synchronizing communication with the proximally located object using a clock offset device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the short-range wireless transmitter employs a frequency channel sequence.