Dynamic cell size variation via wireless link parameter adjustment

• US 9,113,464 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Hirt, Fred S., Brown, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Fanghwa
• Application Number:
  US11/620,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,147 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In a wireless network, a cell'"'"'s transmission power and reception sensitivity may be dynamically adjusted along with those of a client device detected in the cell. Thus, in other words, when a client device is in proximity of a particular reader device, the transmission power levels and reception sensitivities of the reader device and the client device may be adjusted in an effort to require the client device to be “drawn in” towards the reader device to conduct a data transaction between the reader device and the client device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first client device and a second client device, the second client device configured to perform an action in response to receiving a time-slotted interaction request; and

a plurality of reader devices including a first reader device, the first reader device configured for wireless communication, the first reader device having an adjustable wireless coverage range, and the first reader device further configured to maintain a first wireless coverage range of a first transceiver for a first transaction type between the first reader device and the first client device while simultaneously and dynamically adjusting the adjustable wireless coverage range of a second transceiver to a second wireless coverage range in response to an initiation of a second transaction type, wherein the second transaction type is a secure, wireless time-slotted transaction between the first reader device and the second client device, the first reader device dictating to one or more of the first client device and the second client device a maximum number of reader devices the respective client device may simultaneously associate with, and wherein the first reader device is configured for synchronization with the other reader devices of the plurality of reader devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to command the second client device to adjust a transmission power of the second client device in response to the initiation of the secure, wireless transaction.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to command the second client device to adjust a reception sensitivity of the second client device in response to the initiation of the secure, wireless transaction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to adjust an RF transmission power of the first reader device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to adjust a reception sensitivity of the first reader device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to adjust the adjustable wireless coverage range in response to a termination of the secure, wireless transaction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second client device is further configured to adjust at least one of a transmission power level of the second client device and a reception sensitivity of the second client device in response to a termination of the secure, wireless transaction.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader device is further configured to adjust a transmission power of the second client device dependent on at least one of a bit error rate and a detected signal strength of the second client device.

9. A method of facilitating wireless data exchange, comprising:

determining, by a reader device, whether a first portable wireless client device is present in a wireless cell associated with a first wireless transceiver of the reader device and sending a time-slotted interaction request to the client device;

determining, by the reader device, whether a transaction initiated based on the time-slotted interaction request is of a first type or of a second type, wherein the second type of transaction is a secure transaction;

dictating, by the reader device, a maximum number of reader devices the first portable wireless client device may simultaneously associate with;

in response to a positive determination that the first type of transaction has been initiated, maintaining a transmission power and reception sensitivity of the first wireless transceiver of the reader device; and

in response to a positive determination that the secure transaction has been initiated, adjusting a transmission power and reception sensitivity of the first wireless transceiver of the reader device for communication with the first portable wireless client device while simultaneously maintaining a transmission power and reception sensitivity of a second wireless transceiver of the reader device for communication with a second portable wireless client device, and wherein each reader device of a plurality of reader devices is configured for synchronization with other reader devices of the plurality of reader devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to a positive determination that the secure transaction has been initiated, decreasing a size of the wireless cell.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein decreasing the size of the wireless cell comprises:

decreasing a transmission power level used to establish the wireless cell.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the positive determination that the secure transaction has been initiated, wirelessly commanding the first portable wireless client device to reduce a transmission power level of the first portable wireless client device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to the positive determination that the secure transaction has been initiated, wirelessly commanding the first portable wireless client device to reduce a reception sensitivity of the first portable wireless client device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

increasing the size of the wireless cell in response to a termination of a data exchange session with the first portable wireless client device.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless transceiver arranged to output identification information in response to being located in a wireless coverage area of a plurality of reader devices and receive a maximum number of reader devices with which the apparatus may simultaneously associate, the maximum number dictated by a first of the plurality of reader devices, the wireless transceiver having an adjustable transmission power and reception sensitivity; and

processing circuitry arranged to maintain or adjust a transmission power and reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver dependent on a wirelessly received command generated in response to an initiation of a transaction, wherein the processing circuitry adjusts a transmission power and sensitivity based on data sensitivity associated with a type of secure, wireless time-slotted transaction between the wireless transceiver and the first of the plurality of reader devices, wherein the processing circuitry maintains a first transmission power and reception sensitivity based on another transaction type between the wireless transceiver and the first of the plurality of reader devices, and monitors a beacon from a second of the plurality of reader devices to determine when to communicate in a coordinated manner.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power of the wireless transceiver dependent on a signal strength of the wireless transceiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power of the wireless transceiver dependent on a bit error rate detected in a signal transmitted from the wireless transceiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to increase the transmission power of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of a data exchange session with the first of the plurality of reader devices.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to decrease a reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver dependent on the wirelessly received command.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to increase the reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of a data exchange session with the first of the plurality of reader devices.

21. A reader, comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceivers each having a wireless coverage area, wherein at least two of the plurality of wireless transceivers are arranged to detect for presence of one or more portable client devices in the wireless coverage area based on a response to a time-slotted interaction request, wherein one or more of the transceivers dictates to one or more of the portable client devices a maximum number of reader devices the one or more client devices may simultaneously associate with, and wherein at least one wireless transceiver of the plurality of wireless transceivers is configured for synchronization with the other wireless transceivers of the plurality of wireless transceivers; and

processing circuitry arranged to maintain or adjust a transmission power level and a reception sensitivity of a first wireless transceiver of the at least two wireless transceivers in response to an initiation of a wireless data exchange with a first portable client device detected in the wireless coverage area of the first wireless transceiver responsive to a secure, wireless time-slotted transaction type associated with the wireless data exchange while simultaneously maintaining the transmission power level and reception sensitivity of a second wireless transceiver from the at least two wireless transceivers arranged to detect for presence of a second portable client device to maintain, for another transaction type, an overall wireless coverage area of the reader.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust a reception sensitivity of the wireless transceiver in response to the initiation of the wireless data exchange.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless transceiver is further arranged to transmit a command instructing the first client device to adjust a transmission power level of the first client device.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless transceiver is further arranged to transmit a command instructing the first client device to adjust a reception sensitivity of the first client device.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power level of the wireless transceiver in response to a termination of the wireless data exchange with the first client device.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further arranged to adjust the transmission power level of the wireless transceiver dependent on a sensitivity of the type of data requested to be exchanged in a particular transaction.