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 communication device comprising:
 satellite positioning functionality operable to determine a location of the device; and   wireless communication functionality operable to wirelessly transmit the determined location of the device to a second device.   
   
   
       11 . The communication device of  claim 10  wherein the wireless communication functionality is operable to receive data transmitted by the second device. 
   
   
       12 . The communication device of  claim 11  wherein the communication device is operable to perform a function based on the data received from the second device. 
   
   
       13 . The communication device of  claim 10  wherein the communication device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second device, and the second device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the communication device. 
   
   
       14 . The communication device of  claim 13  wherein the communication device is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second device. 
   
   
       15 . A wireless communication system comprising:
 a first communication device comprising:
 satellite positioning functionality operable to determine a position of the device; and 
 wireless communication functionality operable to wirelessly transmit the determined position of the device to a second device; and 
   a second communication device comprising:
 wireless communication functionality operable to wirelessly receive the determined position of the first device; and 
 processing functionality operable to perform a calculation based at least in part on the position of the first device. 
   
   
   
       16 . The wireless communication system of  claim 15  wherein the processing functionality of the second communication device is operable to perform a function based at least in part on the position of the first device. 
   
   
       17 . The wireless communication system of  claim 15  wherein the wireless functionality of the second communication device is operable to transmit a result of the calculation to the first communication device. 
   
   
       18 . The wireless communication system of  claim 17  wherein the first communication device is operable to perform a function based at least in part on the calculation result received from the second communication device. 
   
   
       19 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein the first communication device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second communication device, and the second communication device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the first communication device. 
   
   
       20 . The communication system of  claim 19  wherein the first communication device is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second communication device. 
   
   
       21 . The communication system of  claim 15  wherein the second communication device has a fixed location. 
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
 determining a location of the device using satellite positioning functionality; and   wirelessly transmitting the determined location of the device to a second device.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising receiving data transmitted by the second device. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising performing a function based on the data received from the second device. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the wireless communication device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second device, and the second device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the wireless communication device. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the wireless communication device is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second device. 
   
   
       27 . A method of operating a wireless communication system, comprising:
 determining a position of a first communication device using satellite positioning functionality residing on the first communication device;   wirelessly transmitting the determined position of the first communication device to a second communication device;   performing a calculation at the second communication device based at least in part on the position of the first communication device.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising performing a function at the second communication device based at least in part on the position of the first communication device. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising transmitting a result of the calculation to the first communication device. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising performing a function at the first communication device based at least in part on the calculation result received from the second communication device. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the first communication device is operable to serve as a master device relative to the second communication device, and the second communication device is operable to serve as a slave device relative to the first communication device. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first communication device is operable to perform control functions controlling aspects of communications of the second communication device. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the second communication device has a fixed location.