GB2369964A - Short range data communication between Personal Digital Assistants - Google Patents

Short range data communication between Personal Digital Assistants Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2369964A
GB2369964A GB0030159A GB0030159A GB2369964A GB 2369964 A GB2369964 A GB 2369964A GB 0030159 A GB0030159 A GB 0030159A GB 0030159 A GB0030159 A GB 0030159A GB 2369964 A GB2369964 A GB 2369964A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
transceiver
data
pda
receipt
range
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0030159A
Other versions
GB0030159D0 (en
GB2369964B (en
Inventor
Jon Moynihan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aeroflex Cambridge Ltd
Original Assignee
Ubinetics Ltd
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 Ltd filed Critical Ubinetics Ltd
Priority to GB0030159A priority Critical patent/GB2369964B/en
Publication of GB0030159D0 publication Critical patent/GB0030159D0/en
Priority to AU2002220871A priority patent/AU2002220871A1/en
Priority to PCT/GB2001/005339 priority patent/WO2002049294A1/en
Publication of GB2369964A publication Critical patent/GB2369964A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2369964B publication Critical patent/GB2369964B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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

Abstract

A communications device such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) with a short range wireless transceiver detects other similar devices within communication range by transmitting an interrogation signal and receiving a confirmation of receipt signal. The PDA can then exchange data automatically with other PDAs which come into its range, thereby saving the user's time in setting up a link. The devices preferably communicate using Bluetooth (RTM) transceivers. The communication range may be controlled by the user to limit the number of devices contacted to those in the same room for example. PDAs may exchange selected user details.

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 transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.
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 I 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 (9)

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 any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver. 6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device is a PDA. 7. A PDA as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a keyboard for inputting data, and a display for displaying stored data and data at it is input. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 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.
GB0030159A 2000-12-11 2000-12-11 Communications device Expired - Fee Related GB2369964B (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0030159A GB2369964B (en) 2000-12-11 2000-12-11 Communications device
AU2002220871A AU2002220871A1 (en) 2000-12-11 2001-12-03 Communications device
PCT/GB2001/005339 WO2002049294A1 (en) 2000-12-11 2001-12-03 Communications device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0030159D0 GB0030159D0 (en) 2001-01-24
GB2369964A true GB2369964A (en) 2002-06-12
GB2369964B GB2369964B (en) 2004-07-07

Family

ID=9904838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0030159A Expired - Fee Related GB2369964B (en) 2000-12-11 2000-12-11 Communications device

Country Status (3)

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

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006008676A1 (en) * 2004-07-15 2006-01-26 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method and system for communicating a multimedia message
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
FR2882876A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Mobiluck Sa METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTING CLOSED TERMINALS
EP1414190B1 (en) * 2002-10-22 2007-03-07 Alcatel Method and system for informing a user about a WLAN accessibility
EP1981213A1 (en) * 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 Research In Motion Limited A media transfer and control system
US7881744B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2011-02-01 Research In Motion Limited Media transfer and control system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0853400A2 (en) * 1997-01-08 1998-07-15 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Radio transmission method for digital multimedia data signals between subscriber stations in a local network
WO1999034631A1 (en) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-08 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson A personal information management system
WO2001031851A1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-05-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A multiple link data object conveying method for conveying data objects to wireless stations

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU3343799A (en) * 1998-04-22 1999-11-08 Gil Israeli Method and system for providing cellular communications services

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0853400A2 (en) * 1997-01-08 1998-07-15 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Radio transmission method for digital multimedia data signals between subscriber stations in a local network
WO1999034631A1 (en) * 1997-12-29 1999-07-08 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson A personal information management system
WO2001031851A1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-05-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A multiple link data object conveying method for conveying data objects to wireless stations

Cited By (11)

* 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
WO2006008676A1 (en) * 2004-07-15 2006-01-26 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method and system for communicating a multimedia message
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
FR2882876A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Mobiluck Sa METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTING CLOSED TERMINALS
WO2006092505A1 (en) * 2005-03-01 2006-09-08 Mobiluck Sa Method and device for automatically connecting near terminals
EP1981213A1 (en) * 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 Research In Motion Limited A media transfer and control system
EP1981214A1 (en) 2007-04-10 2008-10-15 Research In Motion Limited A media transfer and control system
US7881744B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2011-02-01 Research In Motion Limited Media transfer and control system
US8244295B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2012-08-14 Research In Motion Limited Media transfer and control system
EP2180727A3 (en) * 2007-04-10 2012-11-07 Research In Motion Limited A digital media descriptive data transfer system
US8521220B2 (en) 2007-04-10 2013-08-27 Blackberry Limited Media transfer and control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002220871A1 (en) 2002-06-24
GB0030159D0 (en) 2001-01-24
GB2369964B (en) 2004-07-07
WO2002049294A1 (en) 2002-06-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20191211