GB2512879A

GB2512879A - Improvements in or relating to communicating with electronics devices

Info

Publication number: GB2512879A
Application number: GB1306443.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William George Walters; Stephen Richard Saddler
Original assignee: MOBBRA Ltd
Current assignee: MOBBRA Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-09
Filing date: 2013-04-09
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Also published as: GB201306443D0; WO2014167333A1

Abstract

A method of communicating with electronics devices 3, capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions, includes the steps of providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) including a server to which the devices 3 may connect and, upon connection to the wireless local area network by the devices 3, adjusting the network settings of the respective devices 3 so as to limit outgoing transmission of data by the devices 3 over the wireless local area network. The devices 3 may be grouped into different groups and permitted to transmit data wirelessly at different times. The devices 3 may be permitted to transmit data over frequencies that are different from the frequencies over which the devices are limited from transmitting data. For example, the devices 3 may be limited from transmitting data over Wi-Fi frequencies, but may be permitted to transmit data over GSM frequencies.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMMUNICATING WITH

ELECTRONICS DEVICES

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invcntion relates to improvements in or relating to communicating with electronics devices.

Background to the Invention

Advances in mobile communication technology have given users the means to quickly send and receive large amounts of data wirelessly. So-called smart phones are capable of displaying web pages, streaming live video, uploading and downloading photographs and UPS navigation. One way in which data may be transmitted wirelessly to and from mobile electronic devices is using radio waves over a computer network.

A problem with transmitting data wirelessly using radio waves is that there is only a finite amount of radio frequency available for data transmission. Thus, in areas in which there is a high density of electronic communication devices, there may not be sufficient radio frequency available for all devices to transmit data wirelessly over the network. When the numberofdevices emitting radio signals in the same frequencies has been reached, the devices begin to interfere with one another, thereby resulting in inefficient coniniunication and data transfer. In such circumstances, IP packets sent fivm dcvices are lost due to interference, connections are dropped and the speed of data transmission is dramatically reduced. These problems might be encountered, for example, at music concerts or sporting events where a high density of electronic communication devices might attempt to simultaneously transmit and receive data over a wireless network.

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate these difficulties.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of communicating with a plurality of cleetronies deviccs capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions, the method comprising the steps of: providing a controller for controlling outgoing transmission of data by the devices; providing a server to which the devices may connect; and upon connection to the server by the devices, activating the controller so as to limit outgoing transmission of data by the devices based upon predetermined criteria.

Advantageously, by limiting the amount of data being transmitted byeach device, interference between the radio frequency signals transmitted by the devices is kept to a minimum, thereby enabling each device to conectly receive incoming datannsmissions.

The method may comprise the additional step ofassigning a device to a particular group and limiting outgoing transmission of data based upon the group to which a device is assigned.

The devices may be limited from transmitting data over Wi-Fi frequencies. The conLroller may permit the devices to Lransmit dala over Frequencies thaL are different hmum the frequencies over which the devices are limited from transmitting data. Data may be permitted to be transmitted by the device over GSM frequencies.

The method may further comprise the step oftransmitting a signal to each device upon connection of the devices to the server.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a server for controlling communication of a plurality of electronics devices capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions, the server comprising a communication means capable of wirelessly communicating with the electronics devices, an authentication engine for authenticating the electronics devices and permitting the devices to logon to the server, and a management engine that assigns transmission criteria to the devices.

The authentication engine may use a predefined identifier to authenticate the devices and permit them to connect to the network. The management engine may assign the devices to particular groups. The devices may be assigned to groups based upon a device identifier. The management engine may be capable of permitting each group of electronics devices to transmit data at different times.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronics device capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions comprising a connection means for connecting to a server and a controller operable to limit outgoing transmission of data by the device based upon predetermined criteria, wherein the controller is activated upon connection to the server.

The controller may permit the device to transmit data over a frequency range that is different from the frequency range over which the controller limits data transmission by the device. The controller may permit the electronics device to transmit data over GSM frequencies. The control Icr may permit the device to transmit data over a frequency range of between approximately 800 and 900 MHz or a frequency range of between approximately 1800 and 1900 MHz.

The controller may limit the device from transmitting data over Wi-H frequencies. The controller may limit the device from transmitting data over frequencies of approximately 2.4GHz.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a plurality of mobile communication devices capable of wireless two way communication and an access point also capable of wireless two way communication which is connected to a LAN and the internet.

With reference to the drawing, there is shown a system comprising a plnrality of mobile electronic communication devices 3 each capable of sending and receiving data wirelessly using radio waves. An access point 5 comprising an antenna capable of receiving the transmitted data fromthe mobile devices 3 and transmitting data backto the devices 3 using radio waves is provided. The access point 5 permits the mobile devices 3 to connect to a local area network (LAN) 7 and to access the Internet.

The system further comprises a computer program or software application which is installed on each mobile device 3. The application has a predefined service set identifier (SSID) which permits each mobile device 3 to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network. Since the Wi-H network is hidden, only those mobile devices 3 with the application installed and activated may access the network with the predefincd SSID.

Each mobile device 3 is assigned a unique identifier by the software applicationto enable the devices 3 to individually log on to network when connected. The application is capable of minimising outgoing communications from the mobile devices 3 across the Wi-Fi network including frequencies of approximately 2.4GHz.

The application is programmed so that, when outgoing communications across the Wi-Fl network are limited or prevented, it still permits each electronics device to transmit data using a different frequency from the Wi-Fi network. In this embodiment, the computer program permits the electronics devices to transmit over the GSM network using the signalling channel in the frequency range of approximately 800 to 900 MHz or ofapproximately 1800 to 1900 MHz. Since the GSM network uses a completely different frequency from Wi-Fi, transmission of data over the GSM network does not interfere with incoming Wi-Fl data transmissions to the devices 3. Using the signalling channel allows up to 140 bytes of data to be transmitted per device in a fraction of a second.

The system further comprises a second computer program on a server which is capable of transmitting a wireless signal via the antenna of the access point 5 to each mobile device 3. The second program may assign each electronics device 3 to aparticular group based on, for example, the device I MEl number, a username assigned to the device or a user account. The second program can instruct the first program on each electronics device 3 to permit the transmission of data in group order so that the amount of data being transmitted by the electronics devices 3 can be controlled. The number of mobile devices per group is determined by dividing the maximum throughput or channel capacity ofthe signalling channel by the amount of data to be transmitted. By dividing the devices 3 into separate groups and permitting transmission of data by each group in turn, it is possible to maximise the efficiency ofdata transmission over the GSM network without compromising the Wi-Fi network.

In use, the first program is installed on each electronics device 3 in an areaofhigh device density. Once activated, the first program connects each device 3 to the hidden Wi-Fi network using the predetermined SSID. When connected to the network, each device is able to logon to the network using the unique identification code that is assigned to each separate device 3. Upon logging on, the first program ceases all outgoing Wi-H communications by the device 3 on which the program is installed. When all devices 3 have logged into the system, each device minimises their outgoing communications across the Wi-Fi network so that incoming signals can be received without interference.

When outgoing Wi-Fi communications by the devices 3 have ceased, a centrally transmitted signal is communicated to each device over Wi-Fi by the second program via the antenna of the access point 5. Ihis centrally transmitted signal may, for example, comprise data relating to a sporting event such as a video replay of an incident or it may comprise data instructing the devices to display colours that mimic the colours of a light display during a concert. Since there are no outgoing signals from the devices 3 that may interfere with the centrally transmitted signal, the centrally transmitted signal is correctly received by each device 3 without delay or loss of connection.

The above embodiment is described byway of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of communicating with a plurality of electronics devices capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions, the method comprising the steps of: providing a controller for controlling outgoing transmission of data by the devices; providing a server to which the devices may connect; and upon connection to the server by the devices, activating the controller so as to limit outgoing transmission of data by the devices based upon predetermined criteria.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning a device to a particular group and wherein limiting outgoing transmission of data is based upon the group to which a device is assigned.
3. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the devices are limited from transmitting data over Wi-H frequencies.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for controlling outgoing transmission of data permits the devices to transmit data over frequencies that are different from the frequencies over which the devices are limited from transmitting data.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein data is permitted to be transmitted by the device over GSM frequencies.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the step of transmitting a signal to each device upon connection of the devices to the server.
7. A server for controlling communication of a plurality of electronics devices capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions, the server comprising a communication means capable of wirelessly communicating with the electronics devices, an authentication engine for authenticating the electronics devices and permitting the devices to logon to the server, and a management engine that assigns transmission criteria to the devices.
8. A server as claimed in claim 7, wherein the authentication engine uses a predefined identifier to authenticate the devices and permit them to connect to the network.
9. A server as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the management engine assigns the devices to particular groups.
10. A server as claimed in claim 9, wherein the devices are assigned to groups based upon a device identifier.
11. A server as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the management engine is capable of permitting each group of electronics devices to transmit data at different times.
12. An electronics device capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions comprising a connection means for connecting to a server and a controller operable to limit outgoing transmission of data by the device based upon predetermined criteria, wherein the controller is activated upon connection to the server.
13. An electronics device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller permits the device to transmit data over a frequency range that is different from the frequency range oyer which the controller limits data transmission by the device.
14. An electronics device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller permits the electronics dcvicc to transmit data ovcr GSM frequencies.
15. An electronics device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the controller permits thc dcvice to transmit data ovcr a frcqucncy rangc of bctwcen approximately 800 and 900 MHz or a frequency range of between approximately 1800 and 1900MHz.
16. An electronics device as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the controller limits thc device from transmitting data over Wi-H frequencies.
17. An electronics device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller limits the device from transmitting data oyer frequencies of approximately 2.4GHz.