System and method for generating a virtual device

• US 6,981,259 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Magnuson, David W., Luman, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Mengal-Al T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Camquy
• Application Number:
  US09/921,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/414.2, 718103-104, 370/338
• US Class Current: 718/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A virtual device is created from a network of personal wireless devices so that they can query each other regarding the availability and sharing of resources. Each wireless device has a low power, limited range transceiver that enables it to communicate with other wireless devices similarly equipped. Once the network of wireless devices is formed, each wireless device stores a decision matrix that is made up of each wireless device'"'"'s identification and the available resources within that device. A wireless device can then borrow those resources when an event occurs with that device that requires a resource that cannot be handled by the device.

Claims

1. A method for generating a virtual device comprising a plurality of wireless devices, each wireless device comprising a limited range communications apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

when a first wireless device is within the limited range of a second wireless device, each wireless device determining if the other wireless device comprises a sharable resource;

if at least one of the first or second wireless devices comprises a sharable resource, the first and second wireless devices forming a wireless network such that the sharable resource is used by the other wireless device when an event requiring the sharable resource is received by the wireless network;

after the wireless network is formed, storing within each wireless device a decision matrix that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix comprising identification of each wireless device and available resources within the devices to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow available resources of another wireless device of the network when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sharable resources comprise at least one of:

a display, a modem, a global positioning satellite receiver, processing time, and memory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification information comprises unique identification assigned to each wireless device.

4. A method for sharing resources comprising a plurality of wireless devices, each wireless device comprising a unique device identification and a limited range communications apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

when a first wireless device is within the range of a wireless, distributed network comprising the plurality of wireless devices, determining if the first wireless device comprises a sharable resource;

if the first wireless device comprises a sharable resource, the wireless distributed network enabling the first wireless device to join the wireless distributed network such that the sharable resource is used by the plurality of wireless devices when an event requiring the sharable resource is received by the wireless distributed network;

after the distributed network is formed, storing within each wireless device a decision matrix that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix comprising the unique identification of each wireless device and available resources within the devices to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow available resources of another wireless device of the network when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the unique device identification comprises Bluetooth-compliant identification information.

6. The method of claim 4 and further including the step of determining if the first wireless device is a private device.

7. A method for sharing resources among a plurality of wireless devices belonging to a wireless network, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a decision matrix comprising an identification of each of the plurality of wireless devices and their corresponding shared resource that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix;

creating within the decision matrix a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices generating an event that requires a shared resource;

consulting the decision matrix to determine which shared resource to utilize;

the first wireless device determining if the shared resource is available;

if the shared resource is not available, indicating the unavailability of the shared resource;

if the shared resource is available, automatically enabling one of the wireless devices to borrow the available resources when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the resources comprise at least one of a display, a communication device, and processing time.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of the first wireless device generating the event comprises the first wireless device receiving a file for display utilizing the shared resource of the wireless device having the resource.

10. The method of claim 7 and further including the step of if the shared resource is not available, updating the decision matrix to indicate the unavailability of the shared resource.

11. A personal wireless device comprising:

at least one apparatus for executing a task;

a communication apparatus for wireless communication having a limited communication range with other personal wireless devices in a wireless network;

a decision matrix that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix comprising a list of personal wireless devices of which the wireless network is comprised and a list of any shared resources corresponding to each personal wireless device and configured to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow available resources when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the communication apparatus is in compliance with a Bluetooth specification.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the communication apparatus is in compliance with the Bluetooth specification.

14. A method for transferring information between a personal wireless device that comprises a first limited range communications apparatus and a public information database coupled to a second limited range communications apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the personal wireless device within the limited range of the second communications apparatus;

the personal wireless device and the public information database forming a network;

after the wireless network is formed, storing within each wireless device a decision matrix that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix comprising identification of each wireless device and available resources within the devices to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow available resources of another wireless device of the network when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

the personal wireless device requesting an information transfer from the public information database;

the public information database transferring the requested information to the personal wireless devices;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

15. The method of claim 14 and further including the step of the personal wireless device forming a network with other personal wireless devices in order to share the transferred information.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the public information database comprises a local public telephone directory and the transferred information comprises a local telephone number.

17. A method for generating a virtual device comprising a plurality of wireless devices, the plurality of wireless devices having a master wireless device and each device comprising identification information and a limited range communication apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

when a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices is within the limited range of the master wireless device, the master wireless device determining if the first wireless device comprises a sharable resource;

if the first wireless device comprises a sharable resource, the first and master wireless devices forming a wireless network such that the sharable resource and any master wireless device sharable resource is used by the other wireless device when an event requiring the sharable resource is received by the wireless network;

the master wireless device saving the identification information and shared resource information regarding the first wireless device of the wireless in a decision matrix;

after the wireless network is formed, using the decision matrix to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow available resources of another wireless device of the network when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources; and

wherein the decision matrix permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, and wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the step of the master wireless device saving a decision matrix that comprises a row of each of the identification information for each of the plurality of wireless devices, a column for each available shared resource, and an indication of which identification information is comprised of which shared resource.

19. A method for generating a virtual device comprising a plurality of wireless devices, each wireless device comprising a limited range communication apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

when a first wireless device is within range of a second wireless device, each wireless device determining if the other wireless device comprises a sharable resource;

if at least one of the first or second wireless devices comprises a sharable resource, the first and second wireless devices forming a wireless network such that the sharable resource is used by the other wireless device when an event requiring the sharable resource is received by the wireless network;

each of the plurality of wireless devices that comprise the wireless network storing identification and shared resource information regarding the other wireless devices of the wireless distributed network in a decision matrix that permits the wireless devices to act as one, through a distributed network, the decision matrix, wherein the decision matrix is comprised of a task-prioritized list of currently available resources and address of associated electronic devices that have available resources;

after the wireless network is formed, using the decision matrix to automatically enable one of the wireless devices to borrow the available resources of another wireless device of the network when an event occurs on a particular device that the particular device cannot handle with the particular device'"'"'s own resources;

the second wireless device acting as a repeater for the first wireless device such that the first wireless device communicates with the other plurality of wireless devices through the second wireless device;

the first wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the second wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource; and

the second wireless device storing information comprising identification information regarding the first wireless device and information regarding the sharable resource.