1041 results about "Personal area network" patented technology

A glucose measuring system includes a glucose meter that incorporates wireless communication capabilities. The meter can advantageously be a low cost meter by eliminating expensive components, such as the display. The user nevertheless is able to retrieve and view his or her glucose values by referring to displays within the glucose measuring local area network. Feedback via these displays can advantageously be used by the diabetic to create a higher level of confidence and safety.

A wireless smart card having a personal area network transceiver, such as a Bluetooth transceiver, to couple the wireless smart card with a mobile communication device, and a near field communication (NFC) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) transceiver to couple the wireless smart card to a wireless transaction device, and a transponder with a secure element to allow secure communications between the mobile communication device with the wireless smart card and the wireless smart card and the wireless transaction device is described. The wireless smart card allows, for example, contactless payment through a Bluetooth-enabled mobile communication device without modification to the mobile communication device.

Systems and methods for providing energy management utilize wireless wide-area network broadcast signals and a decentralized receiver architecture to allow customers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption and load shedding for particular appliances. A receiver assembly embedded within an appliance receives a broadcast signal, e.g., an FM subcarrier signal, including tariff data and other electrical grid data. A processor coupled with the receiver controls the appliance in accordance with the received data and in accordance with user-defined preferences. In some embodiments, a transceiver assembly is embedded in one or more appliances in a household. Each transceiver is configured to receive broadcast signals regarding grid data, and to communicate with other appliances and / or a usage meter over a wireless personal area network. Meter data from one or more households may be aggregated and uplinked back to the energy provider or other entities.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a mobile broadband routable internet (MBRI) providing for carrier-grade, networked, broadband, IP-routable communication among a plurality of mobile devices, where the mobile devices may represent a plurality of nodes that are linked together through a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). Mobile devices may operate as peers in a peer-to-peer network, with full IP routing capabilities enabled within each mobile device, thereby allowing routing of IP-based traffic, including deployment of applications, to the mobile device without need for infrastructure conventionally required for mobile ad hoc networks, such as cellular telephony infrastructure. Full IP-routing to mobile devices may allow seamless integration to the fixed Internet, such as through fixed or mobile access points, such as for backhaul purposes. Thus, the MBRI may function as a standalone mobile Internet, without connection to the fixed Internet, or as an IP-routable extension of another network, whether it be the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a cellular network, a personal area network, or some other type of network that is capable of integration with an IP-based network.

A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards automatically managing an access account at an access point using near field communications and credentials stored on a mobile device. The mobile device receives, out-of-band, information for use in creating an account for accessing network resources from the access point. As the mobile device is brought into proximity with the access point, a wireless network connection is established using a near field communication (NFC) protocol. The information, which may include a user credential, account information, and so forth, is communicated to the access point. The access point employs the information to establish an account and create an environment from which access to the network resources may be obtained. Upon termination, the access point removes from itself any user specific data. The access point may provide also session related information useable in billing the user of the mobile device.

Systems, methods, and devices for conducting sales transactions are provided. Embodiments include handheld, portable, electronic, point of purchase devices configured to acquire identification information from articles to be purchased, to determine a purchase price, and to acquire payment information for the purchase price. The point of purchase devices may include one or more input devices such as a near field communication device, a camera, a scanner, and a biometric sensor for acquiring the identification information and / or the payment information. In some embodiments, the near field communication device may be detachable from the point of purchase device. The point of purchase devices also may contain communication interfaces, such as a near field communication interface, a local area network interface, a short message service interface, and a personal area network interface, for transmitting the information to an external server.

The invention comprises a unit and system for remote monitoring and controlling of various conditions in a container during cargo. The system includes a local wireless or cable (wired) network with a local station and access points positioned in the vicinity of location of containers, a remote central station connected with the Internet and a container-mounted means for monitoring and control of reefer equipment, each of which includes a processor (CPU) and a transceiver of wireless local communication, a GPS-receiver and a transceiver of cellular communication (with all of them being connected to the said processor). In addition the processor (CPU) of the device is connected to the controller of reefer equipment, while the transceiver of wireless local communication is made so that the creation of Personal Area Network (PAN) with mobile electronic devices (e.g., Notebook, Pocket PC, PDA) is possible, and establishment of wireless communication with a communication gateway of the said local network is also possible.

A glucose meter module integrated into a holster device that can securely accommodate another device such as a portable server device or an insulin pump is described. The glucose measuring module and the health device communicate with each other by a short range wireless modality. In the case in which the accommodated device is a server, such as personal digital assistant or cell phone, the device stores data in a memory, displays data on a visual display, and can wirelessly transmit such data to other devices within a personal area network. In the case where the accommodated device is a cell phone, the phone can further transmit data to remote sites. In the case where the accommodated device is an insulin pump, wirelessly received data are stored in a memory, are available for visual display on the insulin pump, and can be incorporated into the electronic processes that regulate the performance of the pump.

Multi-mode WLAN / PAN MAC. A novel solution is presented in which a MAC (Medium Access Controller) is implemented that includes multiple functionality types. This MAC may include functionality supporting communication according to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) related standards and also to one or more of the standards generated by the IEEE 802.15.3 PAN (Personal Area Network) working group. By providing this dual functionality of a multi-mode WLAN / PAN MAC, a communication device may adaptively change the manner in which it communicates with other communication devices. For example, in an effort to maximize throughput and overall efficiency of communication within a communication system, certain of the various devices may change from using the WLAN related standards to using the PAN related standards, and vice versa, based on any one or more of a variety of operational parameters including system configuration.

A system and method of registering or exchanging information about the availability of multimedia information and services is disclosed. Access devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and / or personal area network (PAN) may register, with a wireless broadband access gateway, selected information about multimedia information and services that they have and may share. Information about the available multimedia information and services may be shared by the wireless broadband access gateway with other access devices within the coverage area of the WLAN or PAN. Access devices may then access the multimedia information and services of other access devices via the wireless broadband access gateway, based upon information identifying and authenticating the recipient. A broadband connection permits the gateway to pass multimedia information and service activity to and from the access devices within the coverage area of the WLAN or PAN.

Devices of a personal area network (PAN) use a wireless medium that is shared with a wireless local area network (WLAN). WLAN devices communicate using protocols of the WLAN and PAN devices communicate using PAN protocols allowing for lower power transmissions over the wireless medium relative to transmissions over the WLAN. A PAN coordinator device obtains access to the wireless medium for the PAN devices by signalling a reservation of the medium by the PAN coordinator device, such that the other devices defer use of the wireless medium, including at least one WLAN device, for a reservation period. During the reservation period, the communication is done using the PAN protocol. The signalling can be implicit in that the PAN coordinator device transmits one or more frame using the PAN protocol but that is at least partially understandable by WLAN devices such that they defer upon receipt of one or more of the PAN protocol frames, which may be a standard or modified HCCA-CF poll frame, a CTS frame with an increased duration field, or other variation. A PAN coordinator might also signal an access point to set up a DLS link between the PAN coordinator and itself and use the DLS period for PAN traffic.

A method of selecting one of a plurality of candidate devices (1-6) forming at least part of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to be a controller of the WPAN. For each candidate device (1-6), distances between that candidate device and other devices of the WPAN are assessed. A centrally located one (3) of the candidate devices is selected to be the controller, taking said distances into account. The residual battery energy of the candidate devices may also be taken into account.

A system and method is provided for processing communication signals in a wireless personal area network (WPAN) using a transceiver comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver operable to transmit and receive signals using a first transmission protocol and a second transmitter operable to transmit signals using a second transmission protocol. In various embodiments, the first receiver is used to receive a first signal that was transmitted using the first communication protocol and the second transmitter is used to transmit a second signal using the second transmission protocol in response to receipt of the first signal. The second signal is then processed to determine the location of the object. In some embodiments, the first transmission protocol is compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.4 transmission protocol and the second transmission protocol is compliant with an Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) protocol.

Methods and systems for controlling a personal area network access device are disclosed herein. Aspects of the method may comprise receiving an application event associated with a particular application running on a complex Bluetooth® device that is running a plurality of simultaneous applications, and determining whether a low power mode is allowed by the particular application running on the complex Bluetooth® device. If the low power mode is allowed by the particular application running on the complex Bluetooth® device, the complex Bluetooth® device running the particular application may be configured to operate utilizing the allowed low power mode. The allowed low power mode may be switched by the complex Bluetooth® device based on the application event. An active mode may be switched from a current mode prior to switching to the allowed power mode based on the application event.

A portable data input or computer system includes an input / output device such as a keyboard and a display, another data input device such as an optical bar code scanner, and a data processor module. To scan bar code type indicia, the operator points the scanner at the bar code and triggers the scanner to read the indicia. All the system components are distributed on an operator's body and together form a personal area system (PAS). Components may include a scanner or imager, a wrist unit, a headpiece including an eyepiece display, speaker and a microphone. Components within a particular PAS communicate with each other over a personal area network (PAN). Individual PASs may be combined into a network of PASs called a PAS cluster. PASs in a particular PAS cluster can communicate with each other over another wireless communication channel. Individual PAS can gain access to a Local Area Network (LAN) and / or a Wide Area Network (WAN) via an access point. Individual PASs can use devices, such as servers and PCs situated either on the LAN or the WAN to retrieve and exchange information. Individual PAS components can provide automatic speech and image recognition. PAS components may also act a telephone, a pager, or any other communication device having access to a LAN or a WAN. Transmission of digitized voice and / or video data can be achieved over an Internet link.

The invention is a routing method for data in a personal area network. The personal area network includes a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving a frame at a node, determining whether the node contains a routing table entry for the frame destination, and when the node contains a routing table entry, determining a route for the frame based on a first routing protocol. The method further includes, when the node does not contain a routing table entry for the frame destination, determining whether a route should be discovered for the frame destination, and when a route should not be discovered, determining a route for the frame based on a second routing protocol.

A communication terminal under the control of a wireless base station recursively has wireless base station capabilities in a parent network, constructs a daughter network within a scope of resources of the own apparatus assigned by the wireless base station, and assigns the resources to an other communication terminal under the control of the communication terminal having base station capabilities. This novel constitution allows to configure two or more networks guaranteed not to interfere each other, thereby allowing the coexistence of a plurality of personal area networks on a same frequency channel. At the same time, the novel constitution allows expanding a network area without increasing the scale of equipment.

A method for testing a ZigBee device included in an IC Card includes associating a predetermined Personal Area Network (PAN) Identifier to the ZigBee device, and providing a test device, for initializing a ZigBee network. The method may include connecting the ZigBee device to the ZigBee network and transmitting the corresponding PAN Identifier to the test device. The method may include returning a fault message, indicative of a failure of connecting and transmitting, if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier. The predetermined PAN Identifier may be stored in a memory portion of the test device and include, in the fault message, the PAN Identifier if the test device does not receive the PAN Identifier, in order to identify the ZigBee device as a defective device.

Wireless personal area network (Zigbee, Bluetooth, UWB) and wireless identification technologies (Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)) are implemented in particular client server functions and communications. Connected with an Authentication Server, a wireless HUB authenticates user identification and provides the user with access to secure data communication with a wireless terminal such as a cellular phone or a PDA. A Location Server provides user locations via methods such as RSSI, TDOA, and GPS and sends location information to a Center Control Server and the Authentication Server. With location information, the Center Control Server initiates and optimizes secure information processes and coordinates the functions of servers and user terminals.

A system and method for pairing wireless communication devices on a wireless personal area network allows communication between wireless communication devices and a master devices through the use of radio addresses. A barcode associated with each wireless communication is scanned by the master device. The scanned barcode is converted to a radio address associated with the scanned barcode. Software associated with the master device allows communication between the master device and the network devices through the use the radio addresses. The system of and method for pairing network devices on a wireless personal area network allows quicker and more efficient pairing of network devices when multiple wireless personal area networks are present in a confined space.

A method and system are provided for auditing, monitoring and controlling the energy consumption within a utility. Energy consumption data is obtained from a series of modules monitoring and controlling a variety of physical conditions, such as ambient light, temperature, pressure, air velocity, cooling, and heating, and devices. These modules transmit energy consumption and physical conditions data over a wireless personal area network (WPAN) through a transceiver. A central control station obtains the energy consumption data and stores it in an energy usage database. Energy management logic calculates and provides to the user an energy management solution, to reduce energy consumption and costs, by applying rule-based artificial intelligence to the stored energy consumption data in conjunction with information from the Internet. In one embodiment, the energy management solution can automatically control devices to effectively conserve energy.

In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a control channel across a wide area network (WAN) from a first gateway that has a first public internetwork layer (L3) address to a second gateway that has a second public L3 address. Each gateway connects a local area network (LAN) to the WAN. Negotiations over the control channel establish a first set of private L3 addresses for the first LAN and a non-overlapping second set for the second LAN. A different address from the first set is provided for each different node in the first LAN. A discovery packet is received from the first LAN. The discovery packet is encapsulated in a tunnel packet directed to the second public L3 address. The tunnel packet is sent over the WAN to the second gateway which extracts the discovery packet. The second gateway sends the discovery packet over the second LAN.

Provided is a wearable, self-contained drug infusion or medical device capable of communicating with a host controller or other external devices via a personal area network (PAN). The medical device utilizes a PAN transceiver for communication with other devices in contact with a user's body, such as a physiological sensor or host controller, by propagating a current across the user's body via capacitive coupling. The wearable nature of the medical device and the low power requirements of the PAN communication system enable the medical device to utilize alternative energy harvesting techniques for powering the device. The medical device preferably utilizes thermal, kinetic and other energy harvesting techniques for capturing energy from the user and the environment during normal use of the medical device. A system power distribution unit is provided for managing the harvested energy and selectively supplying power to the medical device during system operation.

A wireless cable replacement system. A personal area network, comprising a device having a first wireless transceiver, and an adapter having a second wireless transceiver in communication with the first wireless transceiver, and a plug capable of mating to a jack coupled to a local backbone.

A communication system comprising a multi-protocol, multi-bearer sub-system is described herein. The sub-system is a universal platform module that can transmit and receive one or more information signals in one or more protocols using one or more bearer services. In one embodiment, the sub-system may form a portion of a transceiver that is composed of a transmitter and a receiver, and which is a gateway server between a personal area network (PAN) and the global wireless network.

An identification device having a piezoelectric sensor array is used to obtain biometric data. Multiplexers are switched to control the sensor. The device has several operating modes for obtaining a variety of biometric data, including an impedance detection mode, a voltage detection mode, an imaging mode, and a Doppler-shift detection mode. The presence of a fingerprint on the sensor can be used to turn-on the device. The device is capable of capturing a fingerprint, forming a three-dimensional map of a finger bone, and / or determining the direction and speed of arteriole and / or capillary blood flow in a finger. A single pixel or a group of pixels can be detected and readout to a memory. The device can be used as an electronic signature device. The device can operate as part of a personal area network, using a public service layer according to the invention.

A system, method, and computer program product for sharing bandwidth by a plurality of devices in a wireless personal area network or a wireless local area network. A media access control protocol frame includes a beacon signal sent from a coordinator including coordination information to each of the devices of the WPAN, an optional contention access period, and a contention free period that includes an additional shared period that is managed as a slot cycle time division multiple access period, a polling period, or as management period. The coordination information includes a device-unique start time indicator and a transmission duration defining a guaranteed time slot within the contention free period of the frame for each of the networked devices. Each of the network devices sleeps while not receiving the beacon and not transmitting data during their guaranteed time slot, thereby reducing power consumption as compared to slot cycle time division multiple access or polling schemes which require listening by all devices during the contention free period.

A communication system is provided in which a client device can communicate with a server via any one of plural communication networks, such as a WWAN, a WLAN, a wired LAN, a personal area network (e.g., Bluetooth), and any other networking architecture. More specifically, the communication client comprises a connection manager that is adapted to determine availability of each the plural communication networks to communicate data between the client and the server, select one of the communication networks from the available ones of the plural communication networks in accordance with predetermined preferences, and establish a connection with the selected one of the communication networks. The client may further comprise a client application. The connection manager provides a notification message to the client application upon establishment of the communication link. The client application then communicates data to and from the server via the selected one of the communication networks. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the communication system further includes an intelligent queuing system, comprising a client-side queue on the communication client and a server-side queue on the server. The connection manager is further adapted to determine cost associated with communicating the data on available ones of the plural communication networks and provide that information to the client-side queue. The client-side queue determines whether to communicate the data via the selected one of the communication networks based in part on the determined cost.

The present invention refers to a method for extending replicated service discovery information for determining the availability of requested remote services in a client / server-based network environment (400), wherein each of a multiplicity of client terminals (402) is connected to a single file and / or application server (404, 405) of a specific service provider via a wireless multi-hop network which is based on a store-and-forward messaging principle, i.e. a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) based on Bluetooth technology. Thereby, said service discovery information is needed for a selection of the optimal service provider. The method comprises the steps of providing (S1) network distance information indicating the number of intermediate network nodes (406) acting as forwarding servers for accessing remotely accessible services between a client terminal (402) and a number of file and / or application servers (404, 405) within said wireless wireless multi-hop network and selecting (S2) a requested remote service running on a file and / or application server (404) of a specific service provider at a network distance in the physical proximity of the respective client terminal (402) which can be reached from said client terminal (402) with a minimum of forwarding delay based on said network distance information. According to one embodiment of the invention, service discovery information is dynamically adapted (S3) to information concerning varying resource availability and / or changing link characteristics within said wireless multi-hop network. In this connection, cached service discovery information is marked as active (S3a) only as long as a file and / or application server (404, 405) participates in a wireless communication session with the respective client terminal (402) and marked as inactive (S3b) after the connection between said server (404, 405) and the respective client terminal (402) is closed and a predefined time-out period has expired, thereby discarding (S3c) outdated service discovery information. According to a further embodiment, information indicating the usage of requested remote services is taken into account during the process of selecting (S2) a specific remote service.