WO2002049294A1 - Communications device - Google Patents

Communications device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002049294A1
WO2002049294A1 PCT/GB2001/005339 GB0105339W WO0249294A1 WO 2002049294 A1 WO2002049294 A1 WO 2002049294A1 GB 0105339 W GB0105339 W GB 0105339W WO 0249294 A1 WO0249294 A1 WO 0249294A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transceiver
pda
data
receipt
similar
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2001/005339
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jon Moynihan
Original Assignee
Ubinetics Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ubinetics Limited filed Critical Ubinetics Limited
Priority to AU2002220871A priority Critical patent/AU2002220871A1/en
Publication of WO2002049294A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002049294A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/005—Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/16—Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/18—Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
    • H04W8/20—Transfer of user or subscriber data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a communications device, and in particular to a communications device including a programmable memory store.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with a device such as an electronic personal digital assistant (PDA) which is used, for example, to store business and personal acquaintance details (such as names, addresses, job titles and telephone numbers) in electronic form.
  • PDA electronic personal digital assistant
  • the aim of the invention is to provide a communications device of this type which can communicate with similar devices.
  • the present invention provides a communications device comprising a short range transceiver, a programmable memory store, and a sensor for sensing a similar communications device within range of the transceiver.
  • the transceiver constitutes the sensor, the transceiver being controllable to transmit an interrogation signal to, and to receive a confirmation of receipt signal from, a similar device within the range of the transceiver.
  • the device may further comprises control means for controlling the transmission of data from, and receipt of data by, the device following receipt of confirmation of receipt signal from a similar device.
  • the control means is constituted by a programmable central processing unit.
  • control means includes a control element for implementing a selection algorithm to prevent unnecessary interrogation of other devices.
  • the transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver.
  • the device further comprises means for conveying selected information received from other devices in a private manner to the user.
  • an electronic PDA 1 includes a programmable memory store 2, a CPU 3, a keyboard 4 for inputting data, and a display 5 for displaying stored data and data as it is input.
  • the PDA 1 also includes a Bluetooth transceiver 6 for communication with similar PDAs (not shown) in the vicinity.
  • Bluetooth is a computing and communications industry specification that describes how mobile 'phones, computers and PDAs can easily interconnect with each other, and with home and business telephones, using a short-range wireless connection.
  • Each Bluetooth device is equipped with a microchip transceiver with transmits and receives in the previously-unused band of 2.45 Ghz that is available globally with some variation of bandwidth in different countries. In addition to data, up to three voice channels are available.
  • Each Bluetooth device has a unique 48-bit address from the IEEE 802 standard, and connections can be point-to-point or multi-point. The maximum range of Bluetooth is 10 m, and data can be exchanged at a rate of 1 megabits per second (up to 2 Mbps in the second generation of the technology).
  • a frequency hop scheme allows devices to communicate even in areas where there is a great deal of electromagnetic interference.
  • Built-in encryption and verification is provided in the Bluetooth specification.
  • the PDA 1 is set up so that its Bluetooth transceiver 6 can interrogate similar PDAs in its vicinity.
  • Software provided in the PDA 1 allows the range of the link to be controlled by the user, to limit, for example, the number of devices contacted to those in a relatively well defined area, for example in the immediate vicinity of a meeting room.
  • the PDA 1 will then monitor the response pattern of other users' PDAs to determine when to prompt the user with other users' details. For example, if another user's ID has not be detected for a pre-set time, then the other user is considered recently to have come into range, and a prompt is given to the user of the PDA 1.
  • the user of the PDA 1 may also pre-set parameters for a warning algorithm to provide a response profile of known other PDAs, thereby removing the necessity for unnecessary prompting of the PDAs of well known acquaintances.
  • the software present in the PDA 1 is also such that the user may pre-select prompt information detail to include additional information about the user of a given other PDA, for example the names of that other user's family and friends.
  • the user of the PDA 1 may also set profiles to control the release of his own information to the users of other PDAs.
  • Prompt information is conveyed to the user of the PDA 1, in a private manner, using, for example, speech synthesis through an earpiece (not shown).
  • the PDA 1 is provided with a speech synthesis chip 7, and the earpiece is plugged into the PDA at a port 8.
  • the PDA 1 described above can sense the proximity of other PDA devices, and exchange data automatically when a new PDA comes into its vicinity, thereby saving the user's time in setting up a link and exchanging data.
  • the PDA 1 described above could be modified in a number of ways. For example, instead of using a Bluetooth transceiver, the PDA 1 could use another form of short range radio link or an infrared link. It would also be possible to connect the earpiece remotely to the PDA via a short range radio link such as Bluetooth.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)

Abstract

A communications device (1) comprises a short range transceiver (6) a programmable memory store (2), and a sensor (6) for sensing a similar communications device.

Description

Communications Device
This invention relates to a communications device, and in particular to a communications device including a programmable memory store. The invention is particularly concerned with a device such as an electronic personal digital assistant (PDA) which is used, for example, to store business and personal acquaintance details (such as names, addresses, job titles and telephone numbers) in electronic form.
The aim of the invention is to provide a communications device of this type which can communicate with similar devices.
The present invention provides a communications device comprising a short range transceiver, a programmable memory store, and a sensor for sensing a similar communications device within range of the transceiver.
In a preferred embodiment, the transceiver constitutes the sensor, the transceiver being controllable to transmit an interrogation signal to, and to receive a confirmation of receipt signal from, a similar device within the range of the transceiver. In this case, the device may further comprises control means for controlling the transmission of data from, and receipt of data by, the device following receipt of confirmation of receipt signal from a similar device. Advantageously, the control means is constituted by a programmable central processing unit.
Preferably, the control means includes a control element for implementing a selection algorithm to prevent unnecessary interrogation of other devices. The transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver.
Conveniently, the device further comprises means for conveying selected information received from other devices in a private manner to the user.
The invention will now be described, in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic representation of a PDA constructed in accordance with the invention.
Referring to the drawing, an electronic PDA 1 includes a programmable memory store 2, a CPU 3, a keyboard 4 for inputting data, and a display 5 for displaying stored data and data as it is input. The PDA 1 also includes a Bluetooth transceiver 6 for communication with similar PDAs (not shown) in the vicinity.
Bluetooth is a computing and communications industry specification that describes how mobile 'phones, computers and PDAs can easily interconnect with each other, and with home and business telephones, using a short-range wireless connection. Each Bluetooth device is equipped with a microchip transceiver with transmits and receives in the previously-unused band of 2.45 Ghz that is available globally with some variation of bandwidth in different countries. In addition to data, up to three voice channels are available. Each Bluetooth device has a unique 48-bit address from the IEEE 802 standard, and connections can be point-to-point or multi-point. The maximum range of Bluetooth is 10 m, and data can be exchanged at a rate of 1 megabits per second (up to 2 Mbps in the second generation of the technology). A frequency hop scheme allows devices to communicate even in areas where there is a great deal of electromagnetic interference. Built-in encryption and verification is provided in the Bluetooth specification.
The PDA 1 is set up so that its Bluetooth transceiver 6 can interrogate similar PDAs in its vicinity. Software provided in the PDA 1 allows the range of the link to be controlled by the user, to limit, for example, the number of devices contacted to those in a relatively well defined area, for example in the immediate vicinity of a meeting room. The PDA 1 will then monitor the response pattern of other users' PDAs to determine when to prompt the user with other users' details. For example, if another user's ID has not be detected for a pre-set time, then the other user is considered recently to have come into range, and a prompt is given to the user of the PDA 1.
The user of the PDA 1 may also pre-set parameters for a warning algorithm to provide a response profile of known other PDAs, thereby removing the necessity for unnecessary prompting of the PDAs of well known acquaintances. The software present in the PDA 1 is also such that the user may pre-select prompt information detail to include additional information about the user of a given other PDA, for example the names of that other user's family and friends. The user of the PDA 1 may also set profiles to control the release of his own information to the users of other PDAs.
Prompt information is conveyed to the user of the PDA 1, in a private manner, using, for example, speech synthesis through an earpiece (not shown). In order to do this, the PDA 1 is provided with a speech synthesis chip 7, and the earpiece is plugged into the PDA at a port 8.
It will be apparent that the PDA 1 described above can sense the proximity of other PDA devices, and exchange data automatically when a new PDA comes into its vicinity, thereby saving the user's time in setting up a link and exchanging data.
The PDA 1 described above could be modified in a number of ways. For example, instead of using a Bluetooth transceiver, the PDA 1 could use another form of short range radio link or an infrared link. It would also be possible to connect the earpiece remotely to the PDA via a short range radio link such as Bluetooth.

Claims

Claims
1. A communications device comprising a short range transceiver, a programmable memory store, and a sensor for sensing a similar communications device within range of the transceiver.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver constitutes the sensor, the transceiver being controllable to transmit an interrogation signal to, and to receive a confirmation of receipt signal from, a similar device within the range of the transceiver.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising control means for controlling the transmission of data from, and receipt of data by, the device following receipt of confirmation of receipt signal from a similar device.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control means is constituted by a programmable central processing unit.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the control means includes a control element for implementing a selection algorithm to prevent unnecessary interrogation of other devices.
6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.
7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising means for conveying selected information received from other devices in a private manner to the user.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device is a PDA.
9. A PDA as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a keyboard for inputting data, and a display for displaying stored data and data at it is input.
PCT/GB2001/005339 2000-12-11 2001-12-03 Communications device WO2002049294A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002220871A AU2002220871A1 (en) 2000-12-11 2001-12-03 Communications device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0030159.8 2000-12-11
GB0030159A GB2369964B (en) 2000-12-11 2000-12-11 Communications device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002049294A1 true WO2002049294A1 (en) 2002-06-20

Family

ID=9904838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2001/005339 WO2002049294A1 (en) 2000-12-11 2001-12-03 Communications device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002220871A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2369964B (en)
WO (1) WO2002049294A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1414190B1 (en) * 2002-10-22 2007-03-07 Alcatel Method and system for informing a user about a WLAN accessibility
CN1722709A (en) * 2004-07-15 2006-01-18 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 Method and system for transmitting multimedia message from transmitter via a terminal to another terminal
FR2882876A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Mobiluck Sa METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTING CLOSED TERMINALS
FR2882875A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Mobiluck Sa Short range wireless communication terminals e.g. mobile telephones, connecting method for developing e.g. small advertisement, involves detecting close terminals by detecting detectable terminal and terminal detected by detectable terminal
US7881744B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2011-02-01 Research In Motion Limited Media transfer and control system
EP1981213A1 (en) 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 Research In Motion Limited A media transfer and control system

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999055102A1 (en) * 1998-04-22 1999-10-28 Netline Communications Technologies (Nct) Ltd. Method and system for providing cellular communications services

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19700303B4 (en) * 1997-01-08 2005-11-03 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Radio transmission method for digital multimedia signals between subscriber stations in a local area network
SE517709C2 (en) * 1997-12-29 2002-07-09 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M A personal information management system
US6600902B1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2003-07-29 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Multiple link data object conveying method for conveying data objects to wireless stations

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999055102A1 (en) * 1998-04-22 1999-10-28 Netline Communications Technologies (Nct) Ltd. Method and system for providing cellular communications services

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
BENNETT F ET AL: "PICONET: EMBEDDED MOBILE NETWORKING", IEEE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, IEEE COMMUNICATIONS SOCIETY, US, vol. 4, no. 5, 1 October 1997 (1997-10-01), pages 8 - 15, XP000721301, ISSN: 1070-9916 *
SPAKER R: "BLUETOOTH BASICS", EMBEDDED SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING, MILLER FREEMAN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US, vol. 13, no. 7, July 2000 (2000-07-01), pages 57 - 58,60,62,64,66,68,70,72, XP000983337, ISSN: 1040-3272 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2369964A (en) 2002-06-12
GB0030159D0 (en) 2001-01-24
AU2002220871A1 (en) 2002-06-24
GB2369964B (en) 2004-07-07

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