Dynamic distribution of device functionality and resource management

• US 8,600,373 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Moallemi, Kamran, Ekbal, Amal, Lee, Chong U., Julian, David Jonathan, Jaime, Manuel E., Jia, Zhanfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSME, NATASHA W
• Application Number:
  US11/740,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,413 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols

Abstract

Aspects include methods and apparatuses for communicating in an ultra-wideband transmission. For example, some aspects include methods and apparatuses for wireless communications. The method includes, at a first device in communication with at least a second device via a wireless link, monitoring at least one resource for performing at least one function. The method further includes determining whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one second device. The determining is based on information that is indicative of at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one second device. Other aspects include apparatus and devices for communicating data, including according to one or more aspects of the method. For example, some aspects include devices such as headsets, watches, and medical devices configured to use such methods and apparatuses for communicating data.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

at a first device in communication with at least one second device via a wireless link, monitoring at least one resource for performing at least one function;

determining whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one second device, wherein the determination is based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one second device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the first device and the at least one second device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the first device or the at least one second device; and

adjusting a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the at least one function to the first device based on the determination.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the determination, transmitting a signal to the at least one second device via the wireless link, the signal comprising data indicative of assigning the at least one function to the at least one second device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving, at the first device from the at least one second device, data indicative of at least one result of performing the at least one function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises at least one channel condition of the wireless link between the first device and the at least one second device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises at least one of power reserve of at least one of the first device and the at least one second device, and power capacity of at least one of the first device and the at least one second device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the at least one second device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the estimate is an estimate of battery power consumption over a time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based at least partly on information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the first device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination comprises calculating at least one objective function based on at least one resource of the first device and the at least one second device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises comparing the information that is indicative of at least one resource of the at least one second device to a defined threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination is based on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the at least one function to a third device based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is based at least partly on comparing information indicative of resources of the first device to a defined threshold.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function comprises at least one of displaying information, storing information, and communicating information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function comprises storing data provided by at least one third device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance is determined based on a signal communicated via the wireless link between the first device and the at least one second device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the at least one second device are associated with a body area network or a personal area network.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises periodically receiving information indicative of the at least one resource from the at least one second device at the first device and wherein the determination is based on the periodically received information.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a pairing message from the at least one second device at the first device, wherein the pairing message comprises the information indicative of the at least one resource of the at least one second device.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal comprising at least one pulse via the wireless link.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz or more.

23. An electronic device for wireless communications, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other device over a wireless link; and

a processor configured to;

monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the electronic device and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the electronic device or the at least one other device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to assign the at least one function to the electronic device, based on the determination.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit, based on the determination, data indicative of assigning the at least one function to the at least one other device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive, from the at least one other device, data indicative of at least one result of performing the at least one function.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the information comprises in at least one channel condition of the wireless link.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the information comprises at least one of power reserves of at least one of the electronic device and the at least one other device, and power capacity of at least one of the electronic device and the at least one other device.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the information comprises information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the at least one other device.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the estimate is an estimate of battery power consumption over a time period.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein the information comprises information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the electronic device.

32. The device of claim 23, wherein the determination comprises calculating at least one objective function based on at least one resource of the electronic device and the at least one other device.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the information that is indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device to a defined threshold.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the determination is based on the comparison.

35. The device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to assign the at least one function to a third device based on the determination.

36. The device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based at least partly on comparing information indicative of resources of the electronic device to a defined threshold.

37. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one function comprises at least one of displaying information, storing information, or communicating information.

38. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one function comprises storing data provided by at least one third device.

39. The device of claim 23, wherein the distance is determined based on a signal communicated via the wireless link.

40. The device of claim 23, wherein the wireless link comprises at least one of a body area network and a personal area network.

41. The device of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further configured to periodically receive information indicative of the at least one resource from the at least one other device and wherein the processor is further configured to monitor and determine based on the periodically received information.

42. The device of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a pairing message from the at least one other device, and wherein the pairing message comprises information indicative of the at least one resource of the at least one other device.

43. The device of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive at least one pulse via the wireless link.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz or more.

45. An electronic device for wireless communications, comprising:

means for communicating with at least one other device over a wireless link;

means for monitoring at least one resource for performing at least one function;

means for determining whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the determining means is configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the electronic device and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the electronic device or the at least one other device; and

means for adjusting a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

46. The device of claim 45, further comprising means for assigning the at least one function to the electronic device, based on the determination.

47. The device of claim 45, wherein the communicating means is configured to transmit a signal to the at least one other device that is indicative of assigning the at least one function to the at least one other device.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the communicating means is further configured to receive, from the at least one other device, data indicative of at least one result of performing the at least one function.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein the information comprises at least one channel condition of the wireless link.

50. The device of claim 45, wherein the information comprises at least one of power reserves of at least one of the electronic device and the at least one other device, and power capacity of at least one of the electronic device and the at least one other device.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein the information comprises information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the at least one other device.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the estimate is an estimate of battery power consumption over a time period.

53. The device of claim 45, wherein the information comprises information indicative of an estimate of future resource consumption of the electronic device.

54. The device of claim 45, wherein the determination comprises calculating at least one objective function based on at least one resource of the electronic device and the at least one other device.

55. The device of claim 45, wherein the monitoring means is configured to compare the information that is indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device to a defined threshold.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the determination is based on the comparison.

57. The device of claim 45, further comprising means for assigning the at least one function to a third device based on the determination.

58. The device of claim 45, wherein the determining means is further configured to determine based at least partly on comparing information indicative of resources of the electronic device to a defined threshold.

59. The device of claim 45, wherein the at least one function comprises at least one of displaying information, storing information, or communicating information.

60. The device of claim 45, wherein the at least one function comprises storing data provided by at least one third device.

61. The device of claim 45, wherein the distance is determined based on a signal communicated via the wireless link.

62. The device of claim 45, wherein the wireless link comprises at least one of a body area network and a personal area network.

63. The device of claim 45, wherein the communicating means is configured to periodically receive information indicative of the at least one resource from the at least one other device, and wherein the monitoring means is configured to monitor based on the periodically received information, and wherein the determining means is configured to determine based on the periodically received information.

64. The device of claim 45, wherein the communicating means is configured to receive a pairing message from the at least one other device, and wherein the pairing message comprises information indicative of the at least one resource of the at least one other device.

65. The device of claim 45, wherein the communicating means is configured to receive at least one pulse via the wireless link.

66. The device of claim 65, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz or more.

67. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising:

non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

at a first device in communication with at least a second device via a wireless link, monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one second device, wherein the determination is based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one second device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the first device and the at least one second device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the first device or the at least one second device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

68. A headset for wireless communications, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other device over a wireless link;

a microphone adapted to provide sensed data to be transmitted via the wireless link; and

a processor configured to;

monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function on the sensed data;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of the at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the headset and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the headset or the at least one other device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

69. A watch for wireless communications, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other device over a wireless link;

a processor configured to;

monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the watch and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the watch or the at least one other device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination; and

a display adapted to provide a visual output based on at least one pulse received via the wireless link.

70. A medical device for wireless communications, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other device over a wireless link;

a sensor adapted to provide sensed data to be transmitted via the wireless link; and

a processor configured to;

monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function on the sensed data;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the medical device and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the medical device or the at least one other device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.

71. A sensor for wireless communications, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other device over a wireless link;

a transducer adapted to provide sensed data to be transmitted via the wireless link; and

a processor configured to;

monitor at least one resource for performing at least one function on the sensed data;

determine whether to assign the at least one function to the at least one other device, wherein the processor is further configured to determine based on information that is indicative of the at least one function and indicative of at least one resource of the at least one other device, wherein the information comprises information indicative of a distance between the sensor and the at least one other device, and further wherein the information comprises duty cycle of at least one of the sensor or the at least one other device; and

adjust a rate at which the at least one function is performed based on the determination.