Wireless personal local area network

Abstract

A transceiver apparatus for creating a wireless personal local area network between a computer terminal and one or more peripheral devices. A separate transceiver is connected to the computer terminal and to each peripheral device. The transceivers can be connected to the terminal or peripheral device either internally or externally. A low power radio is used to communicate information between the computer terminal and peripheral devices. Different transceivers can be used for modifying the carrier frequency and power of the local area network. The microprocessor is located inside each transceiver and controls the information flow of the transceiver including the communication protocol which allows each device to know if other devices are communicating, which devices are being communicated to, and selectively address the peripheral devices. An Idle Sense communication protocol is used for information transfer between the computer terminal and the peripheral devices, increasing efficiency in power management and compensating for transmission collisions.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a main communication network and a radio network, the network device comprising: 
 transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the main network and to transmit signals on the radio network; and    receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the main network and to receive signals from the radio network;    wherein the network device is operable to serve as a master device on the radio network.    
   
   
       11 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the main network and second transmit circuitry configured to transmit radio signals on the radio network, and wherein the receiver circuitry comprises first receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the main network and second receive circuitry configured to receive radio signals from the radio network.  
   
   
       12 . The network device of  claim 11  wherein the second transmit circuitry and the second receive circuitry are operable to serve as master devices on the radio network.  
   
   
       13 . The network device of  claim 12  wherein the second transmit circuitry and the second receive circuitry are also operable to serve as slave devices on the radio network.  
   
   
       14 . The network device of  claim 10  further comprising a processor operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the radio network.  
   
   
       15 . The network device of  claim 14  wherein the processor is operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the main network.  
   
   
       16 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is a mobile device.  
   
   
       17 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the main communication network comprises a radio network.  
   
   
       18 . The network device of  claim 17  wherein the network device is operable to function as a slave device on the main communication network.  
   
   
       19 . The network device of  claim 17  wherein the main communication network has a longer range than the radio network.  
   
   
       20 . The network device of  claim 17  wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the main network according to a first communication protocol and to communicate with the radio network according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol.  
   
   
       21 . The network device of  claim 17  wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the main network using a first operating band and to communicate with the radio network using a second operating band different than the first operating band.  
   
   
       22 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is also operable to participate as a slave device on the radio network.  
   
   
       23 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.  
   
   
       24 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is portable.  
   
   
       25 . The network device of  claim 10 , further comprising a keyboard.  
   
   
       26 . The network device of  claim 10 , further comprising a graphical display.  
   
   
       27 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the radio network.  
   
   
       28 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is operable to synchronize communications of a second network device participating on the radio network.  
   
   
       29 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device, that participates on the radio network, with the main network.  
   
   
       30 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is operable to facilitate communications of a second network device, that participates on the radio network, with the main network.  
   
   
       31 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the radio network with a third network device participating on the radio network.  
   
   
       32 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the network device is an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       33 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the radio network and the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the radio network.  
   
   
       34 . The network device of  claim 17  wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the main network utilizing a first spreading code and to transmit spread spectrum signals on the radio network utilizing a second spreading code and wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the main network utilizing the first spreading code and to receive spread spectrum signals from the radio network utilizing a second spreading code.  
   
   
       35 . A network device for operating in a communication system that includes a first radio network and a second radio network having a shorter range than the first radio network, the network device comprising: 
 transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first radio network and to transmit signals on the second radio network; and    receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first radio network and to receive signals from the second radio network;    wherein the network device is operable to serve as a master device on the second radio network.    
   
   
       36 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the first network and second transmit circuitry configured to transmit signals on the second radio network, and wherein the receiver circuitry comprises first receive circuitry configured to receive signals from the first radio network and second receive circuitry configured to receive radio signals from the second radio network.  
   
   
       37 . The network device of  claim 36  wherein the second transmit circuitry and the second receive circuitry are operable to serve as master devices on the second radio network.  
   
   
       38 . The network device of  claim 37  wherein the second transmit circuitry and the second receive circuitry are also operable to serve as slave devices on the second radio network.  
   
   
       39 . The network device of  claim 35  further comprising a processor operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the second radio network.  
   
   
       40 . The network device of  claim 39  wherein the processor is operable to control the communications of the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry with the first radio network.  
   
   
       41 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is a mobile device.  
   
   
       42 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to function as a slave device on the first radio network.  
   
   
       43 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network according to a first communication protocol and to communicate with the second radio network according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol.  
   
   
       44 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is configured to communicate with the first radio network using a first operating band and to communicate with the second radio network using a second operating band different than the first operating band.  
   
   
       45 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is also operable to participate as a slave device on the second radio network.  
   
   
       46 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.  
   
   
       47 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is portable.  
   
   
       48 . The network device of  claim 35 , further comprising a keyboard.  
   
   
       49 . The network device of  claim 35 , further comprising a graphical display.  
   
   
       50 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       51 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to synchronize communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       52 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device, that participates on the second radio network, with the first radio network.  
   
   
       53 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to facilitate communications of a second network device, that participates on the second radio network, with the first radio network.  
   
   
       54 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network with a third network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       55 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device is an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       56 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the network device comprises a PCMCIA card containing the transmit circuitry and the receive circuitry.  
   
   
       57 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the second radio network and the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the second radio network.  
   
   
       58 . The network device of  claim 35  wherein the transmit circuitry is configured to transmit spread spectrum signals on the first radio network utilizing a first spreading code and to transmit spread spectrum signals on the second radio network utilizing a second spreading code and wherein the receive circuitry is configured to receive spread spectrum signals from the first radio network utilizing the first spreading code and to receive spread spectrum signals from the second radio network utilizing a second spreading code.  
   
   
       59 . A communication system comprising: 
 a first radio network;    a second radio network having a shorter range than the first network; and    a mobile network device operable to communicate with the first radio network and operable to communicate with the second radio network;    the mobile network device being operable to participate as a slave device on the first radio network and operable to participate as a master device on the second radio network.    
   
   
       60 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises a processor operable to control the communications of the mobile network device with the first and second radio networks.  
   
   
       61 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises a radio transceiver configured to communicate with both the first and second radio networks.  
   
   
       62 . The communication system of  claim 61  wherein the radio transceiver comprises a single radio unit configured to communicate with both the first and second radio networks.  
   
   
       63 . The communication system of  claim 61  wherein the radio transceiver comprises: 
 a first radio unit configured to communicate with the first radio network; and    a second radio unit configured to communicate with the second radio network.    
   
   
       64 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is also operable to participate as a slave device on the second network.  
   
   
       65 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises: 
 a first radio transceiver configured to communicate with the first radio network; and    a second radio transceiver configured to communicate with the second radio network, the second radio transceiver being operable to serve as a master device on the second network.    
   
   
       66 . The communication system of  claim 65  wherein the mobile network device comprises a processor operable to control the communications of the second radio transceiver with the second radio network.  
   
   
       67 . The communication system of  claim 66  wherein the processor is operable to control the communications of the first radio transceiver with the first radio network.  
   
   
       68 . The communication system of  claim 65  wherein the second radio transceiver is also operable to serve as a slave device on the second network.  
   
   
       69 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises radio transmitter circuitry configured to transmit radio signals to the first and second radio networks and radio receiver circuitry configured to receive radio signals from the first and second radio networks.  
   
   
       70 . The communication system of  claim 69  wherein the radio transmitter circuitry comprises a first radio transmitter configured to transmit a radio signal to the first radio network and a second radio transmitter configured to transmit a radio signal to the second radio network, and wherein the radio receiver circuitry comprises a first radio receiver configured to receive a radio signal from the first radio network and a second radio receiver configured to receive a radio signal from the second radio network.  
   
   
       71 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises: 
 a first radio transmitter configured to transmit a radio signal to the first radio network;    a first radio receiver configured to receive a radio signal from the first radio network;    a second radio transmitter configured to transmit a radio signal to the second radio network; and    a second radio receiver configured to receive a radio signal from the second radio network.    
   
   
       72 . The communication system of  claim 71  wherein the second radio transmitter and the second radio receiver are operable to serve as master devices on the second network.  
   
   
       73 . The communication system of  claim 71  wherein the mobile network device comprises a processor operable to control the communications of the second transmitter and the second receiver with the second radio network.  
   
   
       74 . The communication system of  claim 73  wherein the processor is operable to control the communications of the first transmitter and the first receiver with the first radio network.  
   
   
       75 . The communication system of  claim 72  wherein the second radio transmitter and the second radio receiver are also operable to serve as a slave devices on the second network.  
   
   
       76 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to participate as a slave device on the first radio network while participating as a master device on the second radio network.  
   
   
       77 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is a handheld device configured to be operated while being held in a hand of a user.  
   
   
       78 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is portable.  
   
   
       79 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises a keyboard.  
   
   
       80 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device comprises a graphical display.  
   
   
       81 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       82 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to synchronize communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       83 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device, that participates on the second radio network, with the first radio network.  
   
   
       84 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to facilitate communications of a second network device, that participates on the second radio network, with the first radio network.  
   
   
       85 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is operable to manage communications of a second network device participating on the second radio network with a third network device participating on the second radio network.  
   
   
       86 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the first radio network operates according to a first communication protocol and the second radio network operates according to a second communication protocol independent of the first communication protocol.  
   
   
       87 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the first radio network employs a first operating band and the second radio network employs a second operating band different than the first operating band.  
   
   
       88 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the mobile network device is managed by the first radio network.  
   
   
       89 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein the communications of the mobile network device with the first radio network are synchronized to the first radio network.  
   
   
       90 . The communication system of  claim 59  wherein access by the mobile network device to the first radio network device is managed by one or more base stations of the first radio network.