Communications device
OwnerSimon Harrisoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a designated master communications device which is adapted to act as the master under all circumstances, together with a method of enforcing a master-slave relationship. This is achieved by having the designated master communications device detect the presence of any other communications device. When this is achieved, the communications device establishes a wireless connection with the other communications device such that the designated master communications device acts as the master. Any subsequent communication is then performed via this established wireless connection. This ensures that the designated master communications device operates as the master with any other device fitted thereto operating as a slave.
Claims17
A designated master communications device for communicating with other communications devices via a wireless connection in accordance with a wireless communications protocol, the protocol being adapted to cause the communications device initiating the wireless connection to act as the master, the communications device accepting the connection acting as a slave, the designated master communications device being adapted to be the master and comprising:
- a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;
- and,
- a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor being adapted to:
- detect the presence of another communications device;
- establish a wireless connection with the other communications device such that the designated master communications device acts as the master;
- and,
- cause any subsequent communication to be performed via the established wireless connection.
A designated master communications device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processor is adapted to establish a new wireless connection by generating a polling signal, the polling signal being transmitted to the other communications device via the transceiver.
A designated master communications device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the designated master communications device is a call handling device for connecting the other communications devices to a communications network, the call handling device including an output for connecting the call handling device to the communications network.
A designated master communications device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communications protocol is the bluetooth protocol.
A communications device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the other communications device includes any one of telephones, computing devices, printers, PDAs, computer peripherals, and headsets.
A method of enforcing a master and slave relationship between two communications devices communicating via a wireless connection in accordance with a wireless communications protocol, the protocol being adapted to cause the communications device initiating the wireless connection to act as the master, the method comprising:
- designating one of the communications devices to be the master;
- causing the designated master communications device to detect the presence of another communications device;
- causing the designated master communications device to establish a wireless connection with the other communications device;
- and,
- causing any subsequent communication to be performed via the established wireless connection.
A method according to any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the communications protocol is the Bluetooth protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.