Encoded information reading terminal with user-configurable multi-protocol wireless communication interface

• US 8,919,654 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P., Qu, Huyu, Sauerwein, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US14/199,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.25, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An apparatus may include a microprocessor and a wireless communication interface configured to perform at least one of receiving a first radio signal or transmitting a second radio signal. The microprocessor may be configured to execute at least one of a base-band encoder software program or a base-band decoder software program. The apparatus may be further configured to execute a wireless communication protocol selector software program that may be configured to optimize a value of a user-defined criterion in order to dynamically select at least one of a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, and a parameter of a wireless communication protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a wireless communication interface configured to perform at least one of receiving a first radio signal or transmitting a second radio signal, said wireless communication interface electrically coupled to at least one of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a digital-to-analog converter (DAC);

wherein said microprocessor is configured to execute at least one of a base-band encoder software program or a base-band decoder software program;

wherein said base-band encoder software program is configured to produce a first encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions;

source encoding of a first bit stream, encryption, channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, frequency spreading, and media access control;

wherein said DAC is configured to output an analog signal corresponding to said first encoded bit stream;

wherein said ADC is configured to output a second encoded bit stream corresponding to an analog signal produced by said wireless communication interface; and

wherein said base-band decoder software program is configured to produce a second bit stream corresponding to said second encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions;

media access control, frequency de-spreading, de-modulation, de-multiplexing, channel decoding, decryption, or source decoding.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is devoid of dedicated hardware components configured to implement at least one of the following functions:

source encoding of said first bit stream, encryption, channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, frequency spreading, media access control, frequency de-spreading, de-modulation, de-multiplexing, channel decoding, decryption, or source decoding.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base-band encoder software program and said base-band decoder software program are implemented as a single software program.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication protocol selector software program, said wireless communication protocol software program configured to optimize a value of a user-defined criterion in order to dynamically select at least one of a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, or a parameter of a wireless communication protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated based on at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, or communication channel throughput.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated as a weighted sum of components or as a square root of a weighted sum of squares of components as one of:

a weighted sum of components, at least one of said components represented by at least one of a network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput,

as a weighted sum of components, at least one of said components represented by a difference between an actual value and a desired value of at least one of a network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, and communication channel throughput.

as a square root of a weighted sum of squares of components, at least one of said components represented by at least one of a network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput, or

as a square root of a weighted sum of squares of components, at least one of said components represented by a difference between an actual value and a desired value of at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is configured to search beacon signals over a pre-defined frequency range, and then select at least one of a wireless communication network and frequency channel which optimizes said user-defined criterion.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is configured to evaluate said user-defined criterion before attempting to initiate a communication session.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is configured to switch at least one of said wireless communication network and said wireless communication protocol responsive to evaluating said user-defined criterion.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is configured to evaluate said user-defined criterion responsive to a pre-defined event.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is configured to periodically evaluate said user-defined criterion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured to dynamically select at least one of a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, or a parameter of a wireless communication protocol responsive to a user action.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a wireless communication interface configured to perform at least one of receiving a first radio signal or transmitting a second radio signal;

wherein said microprocessor is configured to execute at least one of a base-band encoder software program or a base-band decoder software program; and

wherein said apparatus is configured to execute a wireless communication protocol selector software program, said wireless communication protocol selector software program configured optimize a value of a user-defined criterion in order to dynamically select at least one of a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, and a parameter of a wireless communication protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said base-band encoder software program and said base-band decoder software program are implemented as a single software program.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein one of

said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated based on at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, or communication channel throughput,

said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated as a weighted sum of components, at least one of said components represented by at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput,

said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated as a weighted sum of components, at least one of said components represented by a difference between an actual value and a desired value of at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, and communication channel throughput,

value of said user-defined criterion is calculated as a square root of a weighted sum of squares of components, at least one of said components represented by at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput,

said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated as a square root of a weighted sum of squares of components, at least one of said components represented by a difference between an actual value and a desired value of at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus is configured to search beacon signals over a pre-defined frequency range, and then select at least one of a wireless communication network and frequency channel which optimizes said user-defined criterion.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus is configured to evaluate said user-defined criterion before attempting to initiate a communication session.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus is configured to switch at least one of said wireless communication network or said wireless communication protocol responsive to evaluating said user-defined criterion.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus is configured to periodically evaluate said user-defined criterion or evaluate said user-defined criterion responsive to a pre-defined event.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 further configured to dynamically select at least one of a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, and a parameter of a wireless communication protocol responsive to scanning a pre-defined bar code.