Communication protocol

Abstract

A communication protocol for ultra-wideband communications is provided. The present invention provides compatibility and interoperability between ultra-wideband communications devices within various types of networks. In one embodiment, combined, or interleaved data frames having both high and low data transfer rate capability are provided. The low data transfer rate may be used for initial discovery of the type of network that is being accessed, and the high data transfer rate may be used to quickly transfer data within networks that have a high data transfer rate capability. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1 . A communication device, comprising:
 a first transceiver structured to communicate at a first data rate; and   a second transceiver structured to communicate at a second data rate;   where the first transceiver communicates at the first data rate; and   the second transceiver kept off until communication at the second data rate is desired.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , where the first data rate transmits data at a rate that ranges between about 1 kilobit per second to about 5 megabits per second. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 1 , where the second data rate transmits data at a rate that ranges between about 5 megabits per second to about 1 gigabit per second. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 1 , where at least one of the first and second transceivers employs an ultra-wideband signal. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 1 , where each of the at least two communication devices transmits a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals. 
     
     
         6 . A communication network, comprising:
 at least two communication devices, each device structured to transmit and receive data using at least two data rates, and each device including a first transceiver structured to communicate at a first data rate and a second transceiver structured to communicate at a second data rate; and   a master transceiver structured to communicate with the at least two communication devices, and structured to direct data through the network selectively using the two data rates.   
     
     
         7 . The communication network of  claim 6 , where the master transceiver is one of the at least two communication devices. 
     
     
         8 . The communication network of  claim 6 , where at least one of the at least two communication devices employs an ultra-wideband signal. 
     
     
         9 . The communication network of  claim 6 , where the master transceiver chooses one of the two data rates by determining a communication data rate capability of each of the at least two communication devices. 
     
     
         10 . The communication network of  claim 6 , where each of the at least two communication devices transmits a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals. 
     
     
         11 . The communication network of  claim 6 , where each of the at least two communication devices includes a low data rate transceiver and a high data rate transceiver. 
     
     
         12 . A communication network, comprising:
 a communication device comprising a first transceiver structured to communicate at a first data rate and a second transceiver structured to communicate at a second data rate, with the second transceiver kept off until communication at the second data rate is desired; and   a master transceiver structured to transmit and receive data using at least two data rates;   where the master transceiver determines a data rate capability of the communication device.   
     
     
         13 . The communication network of  claim 12 , where at least one of the first and second transceivers employs an ultra-wideband signal. 
     
     
         14 . The communication network of  claim 12 , where the master transceiver communicates with the communication device at the determined data rate capability. 
     
     
         15 . The communication network of  claim 12 , where the master transceiver transmits a beacon signal containing information selected from a group consisting of: geographic location information, and a data communication rate capability. 
     
     
         16 . The communication network of  claim 12 , where the communication device transmits a request to the a master transceiver to communicate using only one of the data rates. 
     
     
         17 . The communication network of  claim 12 , where the master transceiver transmits a shut-down command signal to the communication device.