NL1016278C2 - Data communication network, comprises network center and peripherals communicating via low power wireless radio communication devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The network center (1) includes a low power transmitter/receiver device (1a) for wireless radio communication with similar transmitter/receiver devices (3) provided in or connected to the peripherals (2a-2e, 2i-2k). The network center is portable, has a rechargeable battery and is provided with a high power transmitter/receiver unit (1b) for wireless communication via a telephone network, and with a GPS receiver unit. The peripherals include personal digital organizers, palmtop computers (2b), laptop computers (2a), fax machines (2c), printers (2d) and land-line telephones.

Description

Title: Data communication network.

The invention relates to a data communication network composed of at least one network exchange, which is provided with a power source and a central processing unit and which can be connected to one or more peripheral devices.

Such networks are generally known and find application in, for example, offices. Such a network is often composed of different PCs, one of which serves as a network central unit and controls the communication between the various peripheral devices designed as a PC. The connections between the various peripheral devices are realized with the help of suitable network cables. Such a data communication network, which is arranged and in many cases large and extensively branched, functions excellently in offices, etc. However, for activities which must take place at many geographically spaced locations, such a network is less suitable.

It is proposed in US-A-6,006,109 to connect a portable or non-portable computer via a specific connecting cable to a GSM telephone, which can be used to dial in to a data communication network that is fixed elsewhere or with which a connection can be made with peripheral equipment, for example a printer, which is also provided with a GSM telephone.

Due to its specific connections between the peripheral devices and an associated GSM telephone, such a configuration cannot be universally used for all kinds of different types of peripheral equipment and is further limited here to communication between the PC and the GSM via the GSM telephone network. In order to be able to communicate with several peripheral devices, each peripheral device must be provided with such a GSM, whereby a specific connecting cable is again required for the connection between the GSM and the device in question.

Furthermore, such an application places the necessary requirements on the transmission capacity and the power, therefore has a limited usability and is therefore less suitable for mobile applications.

The invention has for its object to provide the user with the possibility of being able to work with or to control multiple, different devices by means of one communication device.

According to the invention, it is characterized in that the network exchange is provided with a low-power transmitter / receiver unit and can communicate wirelessly via low-power radio signals with the peripheral devices provided with similar low-power transmitter / receiver units. In this case, the network exchange can be portable in another functional embodiment and be provided with a rechargeable battery.

The use of low power transmitter / receiver units in the peripheral devices of the data communication network according to the invention makes it more suitable for mobile applications. Now that communication between the various peripheral devices and the network exchange is no longer carried out via GSM modules, the specific connection cables between the GSM telephones and the peripheral devices are superfluous, so that all kinds of different types of peripheral devices can be used in the data communication network. A low-power transmitter / receiver unit built into a peripheral device requires less capacity and power and therefore does not, or hardly, burden the functioning of the relevant peripheral device. Also a GSM telephone in the form of a plug-in module, which can be slid into a corresponding hardware insertion slot of each peripheral device, has a considerable impact on the general functioning of the peripheral device in question, therefore limits its usability and also makes it less weight and dimensions less. suitable for mobile applications.

According to the invention, in one embodiment, the network exchange may be provided with a high-power transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication via a telephone network. In the mobile application, the network exchange is the only part of the data communication network that is provided with such a high-power transmitter / receiver unit.

While the low power transmitter / receiver units are responsible for communication within the network, contact can be made with the outside world via the high power transmitter / receiver unit of the network exchange, for example the fixed office network of the mobile user.

In a specific embodiment of the data communication network according to the invention, a network exchange is provided with a GPS receiver unit for wireless communication with a satellite of the Global Positioning System network. The network center can thereby transmit the position data obtained from the GPS satellite via a low-power radio signal to a route planning software program running on a suitable peripheral device.

This embodiment makes the network exchange very suitable for placement in the user's vehicle, whereby this vehicle can be used as a moving office or workplace.

In another embodiment, the network exchange is characterized in that the network exchange is furthermore provided with one or more memory modules and storage media and can communicate via low-power radio signals with a peripheral device provided with a battery and a low-power transmitter / receiver unit, which loose and portable input or display screen. By equipping the network exchange with components that require more power not only in terms of size and weight, but also in terms of capacity, the various peripheral devices can be equipped lighter and easier, which considerably improves their mobile use.

Optionally, the input or display screen can be provided with a connector, which can be connected to a separate and portable keyboard provided with a counter connector.

This keyboard can be provided with a slot in which the input or display screen can be placed.

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The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, which drawing successively shows:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a data communication network according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an application of the data communication network according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows yet another application of the data communication network according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows two other applications of the data communication network according to the invention;

The data communication network is built around a central unit 1, also referred to as a network central. Due to its mobile application, the network exchange 1 is small in size and light in weight, so that the user can easily carry it in his briefcase or suitcase. Optionally, the network exchange can easily be built into a vehicle in order to obtain a so-called mobile office.

According to the invention, the network exchange 1 is provided with a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 1a, which enables communication with various peripheral devices, which are shown here in Figure 1 with 2a, 2b, 2c and further. Each peripheral device, for example a laptop 2a or palm computer 2b or a fax 2c or printer 2d, is accordingly provided with a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 3, in order to enable communication with the network exchange 1. The use of low-power transmitter / receiver units 1a and 3 places lower demands on the capacity and the power (read: battery voltage) of the various peripheral devices, so that they are more mobile in use due to their small size and weight.

The well-known "Blue Tooth" protocol can be used as a highly suitable communication protocol for the low-power transmitter / receiver units 1a and 3. It will be clear, however, that other low-power communication protocols can also be used very well or that they can be specially developed for this purpose.

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The user does not have to work with relatively heavy and with regard to dimensions considerable peripherals, nor does he have to work with connection cables, which in turn have a specific configuration for every other type of peripheral device.

The network exchange 1 shown in Figure 1 not only has a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 1a for communication with the various peripheral devices 2a, 2b, 2c, etc., but in a special embodiment can also be provided with a Reference lb indicates a high power transmitter / receiver unit, which makes use of, for example, the GSM, GPRS or UMTS communication protocol.

This high-power transmitter / receiver unit, for example a GSM telephone module, which, as is known, has a higher transmitting power and therefore also requires a heavier power source (read: battery) in terms of capacity, must ensure communication outside the mobile network. Using the high-power transmitter / receiver unit 1b designed as a GSM telephone module, a wireless connection can be established via a GSM-20 telephone network 4 to, for example, a mobile telephone 5, another mobile network exchange 1 '(also provided with such a high-power transmitter / receiver unit 1b ') or contact can be made with a fixedly arranged network 6 (for example 25 of the actual office of the mobile user), in order to find connection over the fixed network 6 with different peripheral equipment , for example a computer 7a and 7b, or a printer 2d (see figure 2).

The GSM, GPRS or UMTS module 1b can be controlled by selecting a telephone number from an address file present in a portable laptop computer 2b, which number is provided by the peripheral device 2b in the form of a layer power radio signal is sent to the network exchange 1, after which it contacts the subscriber associated with this telephone number via the module 1b and the GSM, 35 GPRS or UMTS telephone network 4. The conversation can then be conducted via an earphone 2e , as shown in Figure 1, which is only provided with a light power source and a corresponding low power transmitter / receiver unit 3.

Accordingly, different hardware components can be included in the network exchange 1 in the data communication network according to the invention, whereby the different peripheral devices can be made lighter and smaller and thus become much more user-friendly. After all, each peripheral device can now be provided with a simple low-power transmitter / receiver unit 3, which, as is known, sets low requirements for the required capacity and power (read: power supply). The network exchange 1 must be mobile and portable, but due to its more or less static function it can be carried in a briefcase or fixedly arranged within a certain range (for example in a vehicle). As a result, the user only needs to work with light and small peripheral devices which can communicate with each other via a low-power radio signal within a limited range via the network exchange 1.

A functional cooperation between the network exchange 1 and such a peripheral device is shown in Figure 2, where a so-called GPS receiver unit 2f is included in the data communication network according to the invention. The GPS module 2f can communicate wirelessly with a satellite 8 of the Global Positioning System. The GPS module 2f receives data about the position of the GPS module by nature of one or more satellites 8 and sends this data via a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 3 to the network exchange 1. This can send the position data to a route planning system running on a laptop computer 2a or handheld computer 2b. See figure 2. Optionally, the GPS module 2f can be integrated into the network exchange 1.

The use of a GPS module 2f makes planning a (business) trip a la minute, in addition the portable network central 1 can be used for security purposes. By providing the network exchange 1 with an "alarm" button, the user can easily call up all kinds of alarm services (police, fire brigade, surveillance or ambulance) in occurring situations, thereby immediately making his position known.

A further concentration of hardware components in the network exchange 1, whereby the user is confronted with a further miniaturization and weight reduction of his peripheral devices (and therefore an increased user-friendliness), can consist of recording one or more memory modules 1c and storage media Id in the network exchange 1, whereby, for example, a laptop computer 2a or a handheld computer 2b can be reduced to a light and loose input or display screen 2h, which is only provided with a light battery and a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 3 This screen 2h can for instance be operable with a screen pen, but it can also be operated via a separate keyboard 2g. The keyboard is also provided with a small battery and a low power transmitter / receiver unit 3 (wireless communication between the screen 2h and the keyboard 2g), but the use of a connector (not shown), which can be connected to a non-terminal the counter connector of the keyboard 2g shown is also very functional. The keyboard 2g can herein be provided with a slot 9, in which the screen 2h can be placed. See figure 2.

The integration of a high power transmitter / receiver unit 1b (GSM, GPRS or UMTS) in the network exchange 1 makes the use of a relatively heavy and large mobile telephone device superfluous. Only a lighter device consisting of a telephony keyboard, microphone and loudspeaker and provided with a small battery and a low power transmitter / receiver unit 3 can now be used by the user to make mobile calls. Such a "undressed" mobile telephone device 10, in which the relatively heavy battery and the high-power transmitter / receiver unit (the GSM module) are integrated in the network exchange is much more compact, lighter and more user-friendly.

By providing the network exchange 1 with sufficient computing power, it is also suitable for "multi-tasking" activities with different users.

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By contacting the fixed network 6 (see Figure 2) via the high-power transmitter / receiver unit 1b, the data (which are present in the memory modules 1c and / or storage media 1d of the network exchange 1) can be exchanged be with the fixed network 6.

On the other hand, the data present in the network exchange 1 can be updated or modified by means of synchronization with information present in the fixed network 6. The contact between the network exchange 1 and the fixed office network 6 can therefore take place via a high-power telephone connection, but also via low-power radio signals, if the mobile user is with his network exchange 1 within the low-power transmitter / receiver range X of the fixed network 6 (see Figure 3).

Because the network exchange is preferably also provided with a GSM module and the fact that the network exchange 1 does not have to be operated by the user, but can be placed autonomously in a briefcase or in a car, the user is placed in his direct environment only confronted with low power transmitter / receiver units 3, which send and receive low power radio signals. In addition to the use of light, compact and user-friendly peripherals, the user is no longer unnecessarily exposed to radio signals with a considerably high power, such as the case of a GSM telephone to be handled and held. Such high powers are certainly superfluous in view of the internal communication within a limited range between the various peripheral devices and the network exchange 1 and the use of only low power radio signals within the communication network also has the necessary benefits for the user from a medical point of view. (s). They are not unnecessarily exposed to disruptive and physically demanding high-power radio signals.

Another application possibility of the network exchange 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. Providing correspondingly a low-power transmitter / receiver unit 3 with dispensing equipment, for example cigarette or soft drink vending machines 2i, and automatic measuring devices 2j 1016278 9 , the maintenance personnel can automatically read out and further process all kinds of information (for example the stock or information regarding malfunctions) with the aid of their network center 1 on site.

The use of display equipment 2k of, for example, bar codes for the purpose of stock management and the processing of the information obtained with this is also very well possible with this.

Two other mobile applications of the data communication network according to the invention are shown in Figure 4. A controllable for example using the input or display screen 2h described above (the LCD screen operable with a stylus pen) and keyboard 2g network center 1 can, as explained above, make contact via a high-power telephone network (GSM, GPRS or UTMS) with another network center 1 'arranged elsewhere. This exchange 1 'is connected to a camera 21 via low-power radio signals and thus transmits the images obtained with this camera 21 to the network exchange 1, which then displays them to the user 1 via the display screen 2h. This application is therefore very suitable for remote surveillance or surveillance, for example by the police, who can monitor certain problem situations, such as traffic junctions, at regular intervals in the event of a lack of manpower.

Keeping an eye on a baby room is also possible.

Another possible application in the domestic atmosphere 30 is the remote control and control of the lighting, heating and other household equipment 7c and 7d (in addition to a home fax 2c and printer 2d), or requesting or reading out their status. Industrial equipment can also be sent remotely or their status can be requested. Although in Figure 4 these peripheral devices 2c, 2d, 7c and 7d are connected to a fixed home or industrial network 6, it will be clear that such peripheral devices can also be approached by the network central 1 via 1016278 a second network central 1 '.

In the latter case, a network center 1 'placed in the house, provided with both a high and a low power transmitter / receiver unit lb and la, can operate all kinds of peripheral equipment in the home (lighting, heating, household appliances) as well as with the aid of several light mobile telephone sets 10 (see figure 2) take care of the outside communication.

For a direct connection to e.g. a computer or printer, the network exchange 1 can be equipped with a parallel, serial (RS232) or a USB connector connection.

1016278

Claims (10)

A data communication network composed of at least one network exchange, which is provided with a power source and a central processing unit and can be connected to one or more peripheral devices, characterized in that the network exchange is provided with a low-power transmitter / receiver unit and can communicate wirelessly via low power radio signals with the peripheral devices provided with similar low power transmitter / receiver units. Data communication network according to claim 1, characterized in that the network exchange is portable and is provided with a rechargeable battery. 3. Data communication network according to claim 1 or 2, 15, characterized in that the network exchange is provided with a high-power transmitter / receiver unit for wireless communication via a telephone network. 4. Data communication network according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network center is provided with a GPS receiver unit for wireless communication with a satellite of the "Global Position System" network. 5. Data communication network according to claim 4, characterized in that the network exchange transmits the position data obtained from the GPS satellite via a low-power radio signal to a route planning software program running on a suitable peripheral device. 6. Data communication network as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the network exchange is further provided with one or more memory modules and storage media and can communicate radio signals via a low power with a battery and a low power transmitter / receiver unit with peripheral device, which is designed as a separate and portable input or display screen. A data communication network according to claim 6, characterized in that the input or display screen is provided with a connector which can be coupled to a loose and portable keyboard provided with a counter-connector. 1016278 » A data communication network according to claim 7, characterized in that the keyboard is provided with a slot in which the input or display screen can be placed. A data communication network according to claim 6, 7 or 5, characterized in that the input or display screen is, for example, an LCD screen operable with a screen pin. 10. Data communication network according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral devices can be, for example, a PDA, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a telefax, a printer, an earphone. 1016278