Device with passive receiver
OwnerRaymond J. Menardinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless communications apparatus includes a wake-up receiver adapted to receive a wake-up signal and an initially powered-off, sleeping wireless communications transceiver. When the wake-up receiver receives the wake-up signal, it can in turn power on the wireless communications transceiver. In another aspect, the invention includes an apparatus for sending a wake-up signal to the wake-up receiver. The wake-up transmitter and the wake-up receiver can communicate via a variety of wireless communications protocols, including the BLUETOOTH™ standard.
Claims44
A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a wake-up receiver adapted to receive a wake-up signal over a secondary network;
- and
- (b) an initially powered-off, sleeping wireless communications transceiver communicating over a primary network and adapted to be powered on by the wake-up receiver when the wake-up receiver receives the wake-up signal.
Apparatus for waking a powered-off, sleeping, wireless communications transceiver, comprising:
- (a) a wake-up transmitter adapted to transmit a wake-up signal over a secondary network to the sleeping, wireless communications transceiver, and
- (b) a bi-directional wireless communications transceiver communicating over a primary network.
Wireless communications apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an active system having a wake-up transmitter transmitting a wake-up signal over a secondary network, and a bi-directional wireless communications transceiver;
- and
- (b) a sleeping system having a wake-up receiver receiving the wake-up signal, and a powered-off wireless communications transceiver adapted to communicate with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver over a primary network;
- wherein the powered-off wireless communications transceiver enters a powered-on state in communication with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver upon receipt of the wake-up signal.
Communications apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an active system having a wake-up transmitter transmitting a wake-up signal over a secondary network, and a bi-directional wireless communications transceiver;
- and
- (b) a sleeping system having a wake-up receiver receiving the wake-up signal, and a powered-off wireless communications transceiver adapted to communicate with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver over a primary network;
- (c) wherein the secondary network utilizes short-range data communications protocols selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11
- wherein the powered-off wireless communications transceiver enters a powered-on state in communication with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver upon receipt of the wake-up signal.
A method of waking a powered-off, sleeping wireless communications apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting a wake-up signal over a secondary network from an active system having a wake-up transmitter and a bi-directional wireless communications transceiver communicating over a primary network;
- (b) receiving the wake-up signal at a wake-up receiver in the sleeping wireless communications apparatus;
- and
- (c) the wake-up receiver causing the sleeping wireless communications apparatus to enter a powered-on state and to communicate over the primary network.
Communications apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an active system having a wake-up transmitter transmitting a wake-up signal over a secondary network, a bi-directional wireless communications transceiver, and a long-range bidirectional transceiver;
- and
- (b) a sleeping system having a wake-up receiver receiving the wake-up signal, and a powered-off wireless communications transceiver adapted to communicate with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver over a primary network;
- (c) wherein the secondary network utilizes short-range data communications protocols selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth™, HomeRF™, IEEE 802.15, and IEEE 802.11,
- wherein the powered-off wireless communications transceiver enters a powered-on state in communication with the active system's bi-directional wireless communications transceiver upon receipt of the wake-up signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.