Control of short range RF communication

• US 6,879,810 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bouet, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/739,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/88, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/552.1, 455/411, 455/517, 455/41.1, 455/522, 455/500, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence

Abstract

A method of and a system for controlling low power radio frequency activity of terminals, including a method of selecting and activating a wireless terminal. A signal, including a transmission indication, is transmitted by a first terminal. A second terminal receives the signal a number of times and compares the received transmission indications with predetermined indication values. When the comparison shows that a predetermined number of satisfactory transmission indications have been received by the second terminal, the second terminal commences transmission. The transmission indication can be messages having tail portions with a preselected set of states.

Claims

1. A method for controlling low power radio frequency activity of terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a radio frequency signal from a first terminal communicating with a second terminal, the signal including a transmission indication;

receiving the transmission indication by the second terminal sequentially a multiple number of times, wherein the transmission indication is a radio frequency transmission authorization indication included in control information which is used to control whether the second terminal is activated to transmit or receive subsequent radio transmissions; and

comparing the multiple received transmission indications with predetermined indication values; and

wherein

in response to the comparison showing that a predetermined number of satisfactory transmission indications have been received by the second terminal, the second terminal commences the subsequent radio transmissions.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a parameter of content of the radio frequency transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the first terminal of counting the radio frequency transmission authorization indications sent to the second terminal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the second terminal of counting the radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the first terminal of comparing the counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step in the first terminal of sending a comparison result to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the first terminal of comparing the counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step in the first terminal of sending a comparison result transmission to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the second terminal of comparing counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step in the second terminal of sending a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step in the second terminal of comparing counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, comprising the step in the second terminal of sending a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising downloading a content product to a memory in the second terminal.

14. A method for selecting and activating a wireless terminal, comprising the steps of delivering a series of messages to the wireless terminal, each message including a payload portion in response to which a particular terminal is selected and a tail portion including first and second states, each state being indicative of a corresponding payload condition, the method comprising:

inverting the tail portion for at least a first one of said series of messages with respect to the tail portion for another one of said series of messages, the wireless terminal being activated in response to said inversion including a first set of states each being indicative of a corresponding payload condition; and

inverting said first set of states for at least one of said series of messages to provide a second set of states, such that said previously selected terminal is activated in response to changes in said sets.

15. A method for controlling low power radio frequency activity of terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting inquiry signals over a lower power radio frequency communication channel by a first terminal, each of the inquiry signals including a dedicated transmission authorization indication;

receiving the inquiry signals by a second terminal a multiple number of times, wherein received transmission authorization indications a counted by the second terminal;

comparing the counted received transmission authorization indications with predetermined indication conditions for low power radio frequency communication; and

in response the comparison indicating that the predetermined conditions for commencing low power radio frequency communication are satisfied, commencing low power radio frequency transmission or reception by the second terminal.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a parameter of content of the dedicated transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the first terminal of counting the transmission authorization indications sent to the second terminal.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the second terminal of counting the transmission authorization indications received from the terminal.

19. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the first terminal or comparing counted even numbered transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, comprising the step in the first terminal of sending a comparison result to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

21. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the first terminal of comparing counted odd numbered transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, comprising the step in the first terminal of sending a comparison result transmission to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

23. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the second terminal of comparing counted even numbered transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, comprising the step in the second terminal of sending a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

25. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step in the second terminal of comparing counted odd numbered transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, comprising the step in the second terminal of sending a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

27. A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising downloading a content product to a memory in the second terminal.

28. A system for controlling low power radio frequency activity of terminals, comprising:

a first and a second terminal with the first and second terminals being in communication; and

wherein

a radio frequency signals is transmitted from the first terminal communicating with the second terminal, the signal including a transmission indication, the transmission indication is received by the second terminal sequentially a multiple number of times, wherein the transmission indication is a radio frequency transmission authorization indication included in control information which is used to control whether the second terminal is activated to transmit or receive subsequent radio transmissions, the multiple received transmission indications are compared with predetermined indication value, in response to the comparison showing that a predetermined number of satisfactory transmission indications have been received by the second terminal and the second terminal commences the subsequent radio transmissions.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein a parameter of content of the radio frequency transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first terminal counts the radio frequency transmission authorization indications sent to the second terminal.

31. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second terminal counts the radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

32. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first terminal compares counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

33. A system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

34. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first terminal compares counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

35. A system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result transmission to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

36. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second terminal compares counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

37. A system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

38. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second terminal compares counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

39. A system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

40. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein a content product is downloaded to a memory in the second terminal.

41. A system for selecting and activating a wireless terminal, wherein:

a series of messages are delivered to the wireless terminal, each message including a payload portion in response to which a particular terminal is selected and a tail portion including first and second states, each state being indicative of a corresponding payload condition, the tail portion is inverted for at least a first one of said series of messages with respect to the tail portion for another one of said series of messages, the wireless terminal being activated in response to said inversion including a first set of states each being indicative of a corresponding payload condition; and

said first set of states for at least one of said series of messages is inverted to provide a second set of states, such that said previously selected terminal is activated in response to changes in said sets.

42. A system comprising:

first and second terminals connected by a low power radio frequency communication channel for controlling low power radio frequency activity of the first and second terminals; and

wherein

inquiry signals are transmitted over the lower power radio frequency communication channel by the first terminal, each of the inquiry signals including a dedicated transmission authorization indication, the inquiry signals are received by the second terminal a multiple number of times, wherein received transmission authorization indications are counted by the second terminal, the counted received transmission authorization indications are compared with predetermined indication conditions for low power radio frequency communication, and in response to the comparison indicating that the predetermined conditions for commencing low power radio frequency communication are satisfied and commencing low power radio frequency transmission or reception by the second terminal.

43. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein a parameter of content of the dedicated transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

44. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the first terminal counts the transmission authorization indication sent to the second terminal.

45. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the second terminal counts the transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

46. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the first terminal compares counted even numbered transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

47. A system as claimed in claim 46, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

48. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the first terminal compares counted odd numbered transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

49. A system as claimed in claim 48, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result transmission to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

50. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the second terminal compares counted even numbered transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

51. A system as claimed in claim 50, wherein the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

52. A system as claimed in claim 42, wherein the second terminal compares counted odd numbered transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

53. A system as claimed in claim 52, wherein the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

54. A system as claimed in claim 52, wherein a content product is downloaded to a memory in the second terminal.

55. In a system for controlling low power radio frequency activity of first and second terminals, the second terminal comprising:

a transceiver; and

wherein a radio frequency signal is transmitted from the first terminal to the second terminal, the signal including a transmission indication, the transmission indication being received by the second terminal sequentially a multiple number of times, wherein the transmission indication is a radio frequency transmission authorization indication included in control information which is used to control whether the second terminal is activated to transmit or receive subsequent radio transmissions, the multiple received transmission indications are compared with predetermined indication values, and in response to the comparison showing that a predetermined number of satisfactory transmission indications have been received by the second terminal and the second terminal commences the subsequent radio transmissions.

56. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein a parameter of content of the radio frequency transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

57. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the second terminal counts the radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

58. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the first terminal compares counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

59. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

60. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the first terminal compares counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications which are sent to the second terminal.

61. A second terminal as claimed in claim 60, wherein the first terminal sends a comparison result transmission to the second terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

62. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the second terminal compares counted even numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

63. A second terminal as claimed in claim 62, wherein in the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

64. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein the second terminal compares counted odd numbered radio frequency transmission authorization indications received from the first terminal.

65. A second terminal as claimed in claim 64, wherein the second terminal sends a comparison result to the first terminal when the comparison result is equal to a predetermined value.

66. A second terminal as claimed in claim 55, wherein a content product is downloaded to a memory in the second terminal.

67. A terminal, comprising:

a transceiver;

means for receiving a radio frequency signal via the transceiver, the signal including a transmission indication that is received sequentially a multiple number of times, wherein the transmission indication is a radio frequency transmission authorization indication included in control information which is used to control whether the terminal is activated to transmit or receive subsequent radio transmissions;

means for comparing the multiple received transmission indications with a predetermined indication value; and

means for commencing subsequent radio transmission via the transceiver in response to a comparison showing that a predetermined number of satisfactory transmission indications have been received by the terminal.

68. A terminal as claimed in claim 67, wherein a parameter of content of the radio frequency transmission authorization indication of one received message is inverted in relation to a corresponding parameter of content of a previously received message.

69. A terminal as claimed in claim 67, wherein the terminal counts the received radio frequency transmission authorization indications.

70. A terminal as claimed in claim 67, wherein the terminal is a mobile phone.

71. A terminal as claimed in claim 67, wherein the transceiver is a short-range transceiver for low power radio reception and transmission.

72. A terminal as claimed in claim 71, wherein the short-range transceiver conforms the principles of the Bluetooth specification.