# US 11,122,504 B1 · Apparatus and method for integrating short-range wireless personal area networks for a wireless local area network infrastructure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,504 B1 - Document ID: US11122504B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/322,492 - Filed: 2021-05-17 - Published: 2021-09-02 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-14 - Assignees: Ozmo Licensing LLC - Applicants: Ozmo Licensing LLC - Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels; Roel Peeters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122504B1 ## CPC - H04W 52/0212: {managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is leader and terminal is follower} - H04W 28/06: Optimizing {the usage of the radio link}, e.g. header compression, information sizing {, discarding information (system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365)} - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - H04W 52/0219: {where the power saving management affects multiple terminals} - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - H04W 80/04: Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol] - H04W 84/10: Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/08: Access point devices - H04W 88/085: {Access point devices with remote components} - H04L 9/40: Network security protocols - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A network system comprises a first logic block providing a link to a first network via an access point of a WLAN and a second logic block communicating with a node of a second network (such as a WPAN) and configured to provide a link between the node and the first network via the access point. The network system is configured to maintain continuous connections to both the access point and the node while receiving power. The second logic block can communicate with the node using a modified communication protocol that is only partially compliant with an 802.11x communications protocol. A wireless hub can integrate a WPAN with a WLAN including, in part, a wireless circuit compliant with the WLAN standard (such as an 802.11x standard), a processor, and a memory. The wireless circuit can connect to the WPAN without losing connectivity (such as association and synchronization) to the WLAN. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first wireless device for coordinating a wireless personal area network (WPAN), comprising: a wireless radio circuit configured to communicate over a wireless medium of a wireless local area network (WLAN) using a WLAN protocol; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the wireless radio circuit and the memory, the at least one processor configured to: determine, via the wireless radio circuit, that a second wireless device corresponds to a WPAN protocol; establish, via the wireless radio circuit, an association and synchronization with the second wireless device to establish a wireless connection, the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol, wherein upon establishment of the association, the first and second wireless devices are each a member of the WPAN; maintain, via the wireless radio circuit, the association and the synchronization with the second wireless device over the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol; and participate in a coordination of usage of the wireless medium by the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol; wherein the WPAN protocol is an overlay protocol that is partially compliant with respect to the WLAN protocol such that said usage occurs without interference from the WLAN, and such that the WPAN protocol uses a WLAN protocol frame adapted to support a WPAN power-saving protocol that is different as compared to a power-saving protocol supported by the WLAN protocol; wherein the wireless radio circuit is configured to operate in at least one of a 2.4 Ghz or 5 GHz frequency band; wherein the WLAN protocol is an 802.11x protocol that uses a frame defined by the 802.11x protocol, and the WPAN protocol uses a WPAN-adapted frame in which at least one field of the frame defined by the 802.11x protocol is adapted to support the WPAN power-saving protocol; wherein the WPAN-adapted frame is adapted from a WLAN protocol management frame; wherein the WPAN protocol provides for an inactivity time during which the first and second wireless devices can agree to at least partially disable the wireless connection; wherein the WPAN protocol provides for the first wireless device and the second wireless device to agree on the inactivity time; and, wherein the WPAN protocol provides for the first wireless device to disable at least a part of said coordination following a start of the inactivity time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first wireless device of claim 1, wherein the disabling is such that less power is consumed by the wireless radio circuit on the wireless connection when the at least part is disabled, than when the at least part is not disabled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The first wireless device of claim 1, wherein the WPAN protocol further provides for transmitting, via the wireless radio circuit, a wake-up request to power-up the second wireless device. ### Claim 4 A first wireless device for connecting to a wireless personal area network (WPAN), comprising: a wireless radio circuit configured to communicate over a wireless medium of a wireless local area network (WLAN) using a WLAN protocol; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the wireless radio circuit and the memory, the at least one processor configured to: determine, via the wireless radio circuit, that a second wireless device corresponds to a WPAN protocol; establish an association and synchronization, via the wireless radio circuit, with the second wireless device to establish a wireless connection, the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol, wherein, upon establishing such association and synchronization, the first wireless device is configured to become a member of the WPAN; maintain, via the wireless radio circuit, such association and synchronization with the second wireless device over the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol; and participate in a coordination of usage of the wireless medium by the wireless connection using the WPAN protocol; wherein the WPAN protocol is an overlay protocol that is partially compliant with respect to the WLAN protocol such that said usage occurs without interference from the WLAN, and such that the WPAN protocol uses a WLAN protocol frame adapted to support a WPAN power-saving protocol that is different as compared to a power-saving protocol supported by the WLAN protocol; wherein the wireless radio circuit is configured to operate in at least one of a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band; wherein the WLAN protocol is an 802.11x protocol that uses a frame defined by the 802.11x protocol, and the WPAN protocol uses a WPAN-adapted frame in which at least one field of the frame defined by the 802.11x protocol is adapted to support the WPAN power-saving protocol; wherein the WPAN-adapted frame is adapted from a WLAN protocol management frame; wherein the WPAN protocol provides for an inactivity time during which the first and second wireless devices can agree to at least partially disable the wireless connection; wherein the WPAN protocol provides for the first wireless device and the second wireless device to agree on the inactivity time; and, wherein the WPAN protocol provides for the first wireless device to disable at least a part of said coordination following a start of the inactivity time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The first wireless device of claim 4, wherein the disabling is such that less power is consumed by the wireless radio circuit on the wireless connection when the at least part is disabled, than when the at least part is not disabled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The first wireless device of claim 4, wherein the WPAN protocol further provides for receiving, via the wireless radio circuit, a wake-up request to power-up the second wireless device. ### Claim 7 A first wireless device for coordinating usage of a wireless medium comprising: a wireless radio circuit; a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the wireless radio circuit and the memory, said at least one processor configured to: maintain a first association and a first synchronization over the wireless medium with an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) over a first wireless connection via the wireless radio circuit, using a WLAN protocol; determine, via the wireless radio circuit, that a second wireless device corresponds to a wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocol; maintain, via the wireless radio circuit, a second association and a second synchronization over the wireless medium with the second wireless device over a second wireless connection via the wireless radio circuit using the WPAN protocol, while maintaining said first association and said first synchronization with the access point over the first wireless connection using the WLAN protocol; participate in a first coordination of a first usage of the wireless medium over the first wireless connection using the WLAN protocol; and participate in a second coordination of a second usage of the wireless medium over the second wireless connection using the WPAN protocol wherein the WPAN protocol is an overlay protocol with respect to the WLAN protocol, such that the WPAN protocol uses a first WPAN protocol frame comprising a WLAN protocol frame adapted to support a WPAN protocol power-saving procedure; and wherein the WPAN protocol is partially compliant with respect to the WLAN protocol, such that said second usage occurs without interference from the WLAN, and such that the WPAN protocol uses a second WPAN protocol frame comprising a WLAN probe request protocol frame adapted to determine that the second wireless device corresponds to the WPAN protocol, and the second WPAN protocol frame comprises an SSID adapted to identify the WPAN protocol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein the WPAN protocol power-saving procedure is adapted to change said second usage of the wireless medium over the second wireless connection, such that occupancy of the wireless medium by the second wireless connection is reduced. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein the WPAN protocol power-saving procedure is adapted to change said second usage of the wireless medium over the second wireless connection, such that power dissipation by the second wireless connection is reduced. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless radio circuit to transmit a signal to the WLAN, such that devices in the WLAN other than the first wireless device defer communicating over the wireless medium for a period of time during which communication is configured to occur over the second wireless connection, and wherein said second usage is configured to occur during said period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein the WLAN protocol is an 802.11x protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein the WPAN protocol power-saving procedure provides for an inactivity time following the start of which at least a part of said second coordination of said second usage of the wireless medium over said second wireless connection, enters a state of disablement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The first wireless device of claim 12 wherein less power is consumed by the wireless radio circuit during such state of disablement than before such state of disablement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The first wireless device of claim 7 wherein determining that the second wireless device corresponds to the WPAN protocol provides for sending a request via a pre-defined channel.