System and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary system

• US 8,238,982 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zinn, Scotte, Wilson, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/231,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20120003936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 412, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 4555691-5692, 455572-574, 455/575.1, 455/575.9, 455 901- 903, 455/11.1, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455418-420
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• 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 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary device. The wireless device includes a short-range transceiver for communicating with an auxiliary device; a signal module for providing a mode control signal; and, a control module for controllably shifting a short-range transceiver between a power saver mode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received from the signal module. When in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith. When in a power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is not operable to search for the auxiliary device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling short-range wireless communication using a short-range transceiver between a wireless device and a second device, the short-range transceiver providing a search mode and a second mode, the method comprising:

searching for the second device when in the search mode; and

being inoperable to search for the second device at all times when in the second mode.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to remain inactive when in the second mode.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a proximity indicator is located proximate to the second device, and wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to enter the search mode when the proximity indicator is in close proximity to the wireless device.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to enter the search mode in response to a user input means.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless device stores at least one communication profile for communicating with the second device, and wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to select a communication profile associated with the second device from the at least one communication profile for communication with the second device.

6. A wireless device having:

a short-range transceiver for communicating with a second device; and

a control module for controllably shifting the short-range transceiver between a second mode and a search mode;

wherein, when in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the second device; and

when in the second mode, the short-range transceiver is inoperable at all times to search for the second device.

7. The wireless device as defined in claim 6, wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to remain inactive when in the second mode.

8. The wireless device as defined in claim 6, wherein the control module is configured to shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode to the search mode in response to a user input.

9. The wireless device as defined in claim 6, wherein the wireless device comprises a detector for detecting when the second device is in close proximity, and wherein the control module is configured to shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode to the search mode when the detector detects the second device in close proximity of the wireless device.

10. The wireless device as defined in claim 6, wherein the control module stores at least one communication profile for communicating with the second device, and wherein the control module is operable to select a communication profile associated with the second device from the at least one communication profile for communication with the second device.

11. A wireless system comprising:

a second device having a short-range communication module; and

a wireless device having;

a short-range transceiver for communicating with a second device; and

a control module for controllably shifting the short-range transceiver between a second mode and a search mode;

wherein, when in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the short-range communication module of the second device; and

when in the second mode, the short-range transceiver is inoperable at all times to search for the short-range communication module of the second device.

12. The wireless system as defined in claim 11, wherein the short-range transceiver is configured to remain inactive when in the second mode.

13. The wireless system as defined in claim 11, wherein a proximity indicator is located proximate to the second device for indicating proximity of the second device, and wherein the wireless device comprises a detector for detecting when the proximity indicator is in close proximity to the wireless device, and wherein the control module is configured to shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode to the search mode when the detector detects the proximity indicator in close proximity to the wireless device.

14. The wireless system as defined in claim 11, wherein the control module is configured to shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode to the search mode in response to a user input.

15. The wireless system as defined in claim 11, wherein the control module stores at least one communication profile for communicating with the second device, and wherein the control module is operable to select a communication profile associated with the second device from the at least one communication profile for communication with the second device.