Multi-functional general purpose transceivers and devices

• US 8,908,842 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US13/717,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20130182831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/39, 379/40, 379/43, 379/44, 379/45, 379/47, 379/49, 379/51, 379/52, 379/56.3, 379/143, 379/144.01, 379/144.05, 379/155, 455/91, 455/95, 455/96, 455/102
• US Class Current: 379/155
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a system and associated method for communicating information. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a general purpose transceiver having a receiver for receiving an information signal and a transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing signal to a central station. A portion of the information signal can include an instruction code, which may be decoded and acted upon accordingly. Other embodiments and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A device for communicating information, the device comprising:

a low-power transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal comprising instruction data for delivery to a network of addressable devices;

an interface circuit for communicating with a central location; and

a controller coupled to the interface circuit and to the low-power transceiver, the controller configured to establish a communication link between at least one device in the network of addressable devices and the central location using an address included in the signal, the communication link comprising one or more devices in the network of addressable, the controller further configured to receive one or more signals via the low-power transceiver and communicate information contained within the signals to the central location.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the low-power signal comprises a logical IP address such that the device can route the information to a destination based on the logical IP address.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the remote device is a associated with a vending machine.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the remote device is associated with an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the remote device is electrically interfaced to a sensor.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the remote device is electrically interfaced to an actuator.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a transceiver identification code to the central location via the interface circuit.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a message identification field;

a packet identification field;

a network field, and a data field.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a field configured to indicate a destination device for a subsequent transmission path to follow.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured on an integrated circuit and further configured to decode the instruction data and implement an associated instruction that corresponds to at least one of a product code, a user account, and application information.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the low-power signal comprises a logical IP address such that the device can route the information to a destination based on the logical IP address.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises logical instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to cause the device to communicate a transceiver identification code to the central location.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a message identification field;

a packet identification field;

a network field, and a data field.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitted and received signals further comprise a field configured to indicate a destination device for a subsequent transmission path to follow.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises logical instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to cause the device to decode the instruction data frame and implement an associated instruction that corresponds to at least one of a product code or user account or application information.

16. A device for communicating information, the device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory comprising logical instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to cause the device to;

wirelessly transmit a signal comprising instruction data for delivery to a network of addressable low-power transceivers;

establish a communication link between at least one low-power transceiver in the network of addressable low-power transceivers and a central location based on an address included in the signal, the communication link comprising one or more low-power transceivers in the network of addressable low-power transceivers; and

receive one or more low-power RF signals and communicate information contained within the signals to the central location along with a unique transceiver identification number over the communication link.

17. A device for communicating information, the device comprising:

a low-power transceiver that is configured to wirelessly receive a signal including an instruction data from a remote device;

an interface circuit for communicating with a central location;

a controller coupled to the interface circuit and to the low-power transceiver, the controller being configured to establish a communication link between the remote device and the central location using address-indicative data included in the signal;

the controller further configured to receive one or more data signals from the central location via the interface circuit and communicate information contained within the signals to the remote device.