Radio system with configurable links
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsNeil C. Bird, Alan J. Davie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes radio devices where radio links between the devices are configured by bringing the radio devices in close proximity for a few seconds. A proximity detector of a radio device detects the proximity of another radio device and an automatic registration process begins to configure a link between the devices. One-to-one or one-to-many links may be established. Links may be cancelled by repeating the process. The devices may include an indicator to indicate establishment of the link.
Claims32
A method of configuring a radio link between a first and a second radio device, comprising the acts of:
- detecting by a proximity detector a proximity between the first and second radio device when the first and second radio device are within an establishment threshold distance of each other;
- in response to detecting the proximity, activating a timer to measure a duration of the proximity of the first and second radio device to each other;
- determining in a processor when the measured duration of detection of proximity exceeds an establishment threshold duration, and
- establishing a radio link between the first and second radio devices in response to a determination that the measured duration of proximity exceeds the establishment threshold duration and if the radio link is not already established, the act of establishing the radio link using respective transceivers of the first and second radio devices.
A system having radio devices comprising:
- a first and a second radio device;
- at least one of the first and second radio device comprising a proximity detector configured to detect a proximity between the first and second radio device when the first and second radio device are within an establishment threshold distance of each other;
- and
- at least one of the first and second radio device comprising a timer which is activated in response to the proximity detector detecting the proximity between the first and second radio device, and configured to measure a duration of the detected proximity between the first and second radio device;
- at least one of the first and second radio device comprising a processor to determine when the measured duration of the detected proximity exceeds an establishment threshold duration;
- and
- each of the first and second radio device comprising a respective transceiver to establish a radio link between the first and second radio device in response to the determination that the measured duration of proximity detection exceeds the establishment threshold duration and if the radio link is not already established.
A first radio device operable to communicate via a radio link with a second radio device, the first radio device comprising:
- a proximity detector to detect proximity between the first and second radio device when the first and second radio device are within an establishment threshold distance of each other;
- a timer to measure a duration of the detected proximity;
- a processor to determine when the measured duration of the detected proximity exceeds an establishment threshold duration;
- and
- a transceiver to establish the radio link between the first and second device in response to a determination that the measured duration of detected proximity exceeds the establishment threshold duration and if the radio link is not already established.
A method of operating a first radio device to communicate via a radio link with a second radio device, the first radio device performing the acts of:
- detecting by a proximity detector a proximity between the first and second radio device when the first and second radio device are within an establishment threshold distance of each other;
- measuring by a timer a duration of the detection of proximity;
- determining by a processor when the measured duration of the detection of proximity exceeds an establishment threshold duration;
- and
- establishing the radio link using a transceiver in response to a determination that the measured duration of detection of proximity exceeds the establishment threshold duration and if the radio link is not already established.
A non-transitive computer readable media encoded with instructions for controlling a processor of a first radio device to communicate via a radio link with a second radio device, the processor performing the acts of:
- receiving proximity signals from a proximity detector indicating a proximity between the first and second radio device when the first and second radio device are within an establishment threshold distance of each other;
- initiating a timer when the detection of proximity begins;
- receiving duration signals from the timer indicating a duration of the detection of proximity;
- determining when the duration of the detection of proximity exceeds an establishment threshold duration;
- establishing the radio link using a transceiver controlled by the processor in response to a determination that the measured duration of detection of proximity exceeds the establishment threshold duration and if the radio link is not already established.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.