Extending personal area networks

• US 7,577,451 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Edwards, James, Saint-Hilaire, Ylian
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/826,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20020146981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,058 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/14, 455/462, 455/465, 455/422.1, 455/448, 455/444, 455/39, 455/552.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A pair of shorter range radio frequency networks may be linked together using a longer range communication protocol that is not based on the same radio frequency protocol utilized by the shorter range radio frequency networks. Enumeration data from one of the shorter range networks may be exchanged over a longer range network to combine the two shorter range networks using proxy devices such as cellular telephones. This may allow devices in a shorter range network to communicate over a longer range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling a plurality of first wireless devices in a first wireless piconet to communicate using a first wireless protocol having a first range;

enabling a plurality of second wireless devices in a second wireless piconet to communicate using a second wireless protocol having a second range;

enabling the first and second wireless piconets to communicate with one another at a distance greater than the first or the second range;

said first wireless piconet including a third device that communicates using said first wireless protocol and a third wireless protocol different from said first wireless protocol, said third wireless protocol having a range greater than said first and second ranges;

said second wireless piconet including a fourth wireless device that communicates using said second wireless protocol and said third wireless protocol; and

using said third and fourth wireless devices to forward communications between first and second wireless devices by automatically appending enumeration data on said communications.

2. The method of claim 1 including automatically enumerating a plurality of devices in a Bluetooth radio frequency network.

3. The method of claim 1 including communicating information about said first wireless piconet over a telephone network.

4. The method of claim 1 including enumerating a plurality of devices in a second wireless piconet.

5. The method of claim 4 including combining said first and second piconets into a combined radio frequency network.

6. The method of claim 5 including enabling any device in said first wireless piconet to communicate through a telephone call with any device in said second wireless piconet.

7. The method of claim 6 including transmitting data between said first and second wireless piconets through said telephone call at the same time that a voice communication is ongoing between a device in said first wireless piconet and a device in said second wireless piconet.

8. The method of claim 7 including enumerating a cellular telephone as said third and fourth devices.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein one of said cellular telephones acts as a proxy for the devices in said first wireless piconet and the other of said cellular telephones acts as a proxy for the devices in said second wireless piconet.

10. An article comprising a computer storage medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to:

enable a plurality of first wireless devices in a first wireless piconet to communicate using a first wireless protocol having a first range;

enable a plurality of second wireless devices in a second wireless piconet to communicate using a second wireless protocol having a second range;

enable the first and second wireless piconets to communicate with one another at a distance greater than the first or the second range;

said first wireless piconet including a third wireless device that communicates using said first wireless protocol and a third wireless protocol different from said first wireless protocol, said third wireless protocol having a range greater than said first and second ranges;

said second wireless piconet including a fourth wireless device that communicates using said second wireless protocol and said third wireless protocol; and

use said third and fourth wireless devices to forward communications between first and second wireless devices by automatically appending enumeration data on said communications.

11. The article of claim 10 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to automatically enumerate a plurality of devices in a Bluetooth radio frequency network.

12. The article of claim 10 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to develop enumeration data for a plurality of devices in the first wireless piconet and communicate that enumeration data over a non-radio frequency network.

13. The article of claim 12 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to develop communications about said first wireless piconet over a telephone network.

14. The article of claim 10 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to receive enumeration data from a plurality of devices in a second wireless piconet coupled to said first wireless piconet by a non-radio frequency network.

15. The article of claim 14 further storing instructions that enable said processor-based system to combine said first and second wireless piconet enumeration data to develop a combined radio frequency network.

16. The article of claim 15 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to enable any device in said first wireless piconet to communicate with any device in said second radio frequency network.

17. The article of claim 16 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to transmit data from said first to said second wireless piconet via said call at the same time that a voice communication is ongoing between a device in said first wireless piconet and a device in said second wireless piconet.

18. The article of claim 17 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to implement cellular radio frequency communications.

19. The article of claim 18 further storing instructions that enable said third device which is a cellular telephone in said first wireless piconet to act as a proxy for other devices in said first wireless piconet.