US 7,126,926 B1 · Multi-tier wireless communications architecture, applications and methods

Abstract

Multi-tier system for digital radio communication. The multi-tier system has a first-tier base station with relatively long-range radio and has a second-tier base station with relatively short-range, low power and cheaper radios. The system can be more versatilely configured to meet demands of various applications. The application may include data capture using bar code readers, radio frequency readers and other automatic data capture devices. The system may also be used to control hotel door locks, individual room temperature control, remote video monitoring—all without having to wire and with much flexibility given the two types of radios employed.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A multi-tier system for digital radio communication, comprising:

a first-tier base station comprising a first radio transceiver operating in accordance with a first communication protocol;
a wireless device comprising a second radio transceiver operating in accordance with a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol;
a combination unit that is wirelessly connected to the first-tier base station and connected to the wireless device;
wherein the first communications protocol is employed for transmissions at a higher speed and has a longer range than the second communications protocol and wherein the first-tier base station communicates with the wireless device via the combination unit,
and wherein the first-tier base station communicates to the combination unit one or more discrete number of frequency channels that may be utilized by the combination unit to communicate with the wireless device.

2 more elements

A system for wireless communication, comprising:

a first-tier base station comprising a first radio transceiver operating in accordance with a first communication protocol;
a second-tier base station comprising a second radio transceiver operating in accordance with a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol;
a first-tier remote unit wirelessly connected to the first-tier base station through the first radio transceiver;
a second-tier remote unit wirelessly connected to the second-tier base station through the second radio transceiver;
wherein the first-tier remote unit connects to the first-tier base station via a first communications protocol using a wireless medium, wherein the first communications protocol utilizes frequency hopping to transmit a message over a discrete number of frequency channels within a frequency band;
wherein the second-tier remote unit connects to the second-tier base station via a second communications protocol using a wireless medium, wherein the second communications protocol utilizes frequency hopping to transmit a message over a discrete number of frequency channels within a frequency band, wherein the second communications protocol operates at a lower power level than the first communications protocol,
and wherein the first-tier base station and the second-tier base station coordinate to determine the one or more discrete number of frequency channels that will not be used by the first communications protocol and direct the second-tier base station to use only the one or more discrete number of frequency channels that are not used by the first-tier base station.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-tier wireless communications architecture, applications and methods

Life of this patent

Multi-tier wireless communications architecture, applications and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30