USOO7039033B2
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,039,033 B2
`
`Haller et a1.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 2, 2006
`
`(54)
`
`[75)
`
`SYS'I‘EM, DEVICE AND (TOMPU'I‘ER
`READABLE MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING A
`MANAGED W’IRELESS NETWORK USING
`SHORT-RANGE RADIO SIGNALS
`
`5,793,763 A
`5,805,166 A
`52838-252 A
`
`8/1998 Mayes et a1.
`9/1998 Hall or a].
`11/1998 Kikiflis
`.
`(Continued)
`
`Inventors: Amit Haller, Belmont, CA (US); Peter
`Fornell, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
`Avraham Itzchak, Ra‘anar a (IL);
`Amir Glick, Tel Aviv (IL); Ziv
`Haparnas, Tel Aviv (1L)
`
`JP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`a
`315321"
`
`4/2001
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLJCAITONS
`
`(73) Asmgnee: If? M0b11e(1sraeI)Ltd., Ra Anana
`[
`)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(1)) by 171 days.
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`(21) App1. No.: 09/850,399
`
`Hardwick et a1, Project P946-GI Smart Devices “\Vhen
`Things Start to Think”, pp. 1-30, Jan. 2000*
`-
`‘
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner—Frank Duong
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Vierra Magen Marcus
`Hamlon & Deero LLP
`
`[22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 7, 2001
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(65)
`
`PI‘IOI‘ Publicatlon Data
`US 2002/0163895 Al
`Nov. 7, 2002
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl-
`(2006-01)
`G01R 31/03
`[52) US. Cl.
`...................... 370/338; 370/401; 370/466;
`370/469
`Field of Classification Search ________________ 370/259,
`370/260, 320, 321, 328—339, 342, 347, 400—401,
`370/3955: 395.54, 465 649; 455/403, 422:
`4555505556557; 709/2033208
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
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`A system, a wireless hand-held device, and software com-
`ponent for accessing information responsive to short-range
`radio signals is provided. The system includes a wireless
`gateway device coupled to a network, such as a cellular
`network. The wireless gateway device includes a network
`manager software component for accessing information
`from the network responsive to a first short-range radio
`signal. The network may be a corporate, private or public
`network, such as the Internet. A first wireless device is
`coupled to the wireless gateway device. The first wireless
`device provides the first short-range radio signal. In an
`embodiment of the present
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`includes a plug and play
`software component for loading and executing software for
`the first wireless device. In an embodiment of the present
`invention, a second wireless device accesses information on
`the first wireless device using the wireless gateway device.
`
`56 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`System
`1 00
`
`/
`
`Internet
`
`1 03 Cellular
`
`Network
`
`Carrier
`" Backbone
`
`104
`
`Short Range
`Cellular
`Radio Slgnals
`
`.
`I
`,
`11D
`105 ,. s'fi'fi‘
`
`. 3 $3107
`
`' 1.
`
`.
`
`Terminals
`
`SAMSUNG 1001
`
`1
`
`SAMSUNG 1001
`
`

`

`US 7,039,033 32
`
`Page 2
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`Al
`A1
`A]
`Al
`Al
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 2, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
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`Us 7,039,033 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
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`Sheet 4 of 9
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
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`Sheet 5 of 9
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`May 2, 2006
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 2, 2006
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`Sheet 9 of 9
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`

`US 7,039,033 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM, DEVICE AND COMPUTER
`READABLE MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING A
`MANAGED WIRELESS NETWORK USING
`SHORT—RANGE RADIO SIGNALS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to wireless devices in a
`wireless network using short-range radio signals.
`
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A user has numerous wireless devices for accessing and
`processing information. For example, a user may have a
`cellular telephone for communicating with others, a personal
`digital assistant (“PDA”) for storing contact infonnation, a
`laptop computer for storing and processing files, a digital
`camera for obtaining images and a pager for being con-
`tacted. llach one of these devices also may access remote
`information 011 a private or public network, such as the
`Internet. However, this system suffers from several disad-
`vantages.
`
`First, typically only a single device originates and can
`access the Internet at a time.
`
`Second, Internet protocol (“IP”) addresses are held while
`connected to the Internet. This can be expensive and use
`scarce IP address resources.
`
`Third, each device requires its own security management,
`such as a Virtual Private Network (“VPN”) and firewall
`software component.
`l’ourth, there is no ability to share, add to or manage the
`services of the numerous wireless devices.
`In particular,
`there is no communication between wireless devices. If a
`user obtains a wireless device having an additional service,
`such as extra persistence storage, other wireless devices
`typically are not capable of using the extra persistence
`storage.
`BluetoothTM technology (wwwbluetooth.com) provides
`wireless connnunications between devices. Yet, BluetoothTM
`technology also stillers from many disadvantages. Blue-
`tooth1M technology does not allow for a “plug and play”
`capability at a wireless device application level. In other
`words, a wireless device cannot merely be turned on and
`BluetoothTM technology recognizes it and establishes a
`communication protocol. If a user desires a wireless device
`to communicate with a Bluetooth'1M technology device, the
`added Wireless device must have software drivers and appli-
`cations loaded to operate. Otherwise, the BluetoothTM tech-
`nology device is not able to commlmicate with the newly
`added wireless device. This makes it difficult to add new
`
`functionality or types of wireless devices. BluetoothTM tech-
`nology does not provide an open environment for software
`programmers to provide application software components
`for wireless devices. Further, BluetoothTM technology does
`not allow devices to share information and resources at an
`
`application level.
`Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system of wireless
`devices which can effectively communicate with each other
`and access infonnation on the Internet. The system of
`wireless devices should efiiciently use IP resources and
`security management. The wireless devices should effec-
`tively share and manage services and allow for seamless
`plug and play capability. The system should allow for new
`functionality and types of wireless devices.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A system, coupled to a cellular network, provides access
`to the Internet according to an embodiment of the present
`invention. The system comprises a wireless gateway device,
`coupled to the cellular network, having a network manager
`software component for accessing information from the
`Internet responsive to a first short-range radio signal. A first
`wireless device is coupled to the wireless gateway device.
`The first Wireless device provides the first short-range radio
`signal.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`first wireless device is selected from a group consisting ol‘a
`desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital
`assistant, a headset, a printer, a pager, a watch, digital
`camera and an equivalent thereof.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device is a cellular telephone using a
`Global System for Mobile communications (“GSM”) pro-
`toeol.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device is a cellular telephone using a Code
`Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) protocol.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device is a cellular telephone using a Time
`Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”) protocol.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`first wireless device is a thin temiinal.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`first wireless device includes a BluetoothTM processor hav-
`ing a 2.4 GHZ transmitter.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device includes a Bluetooth'1M processor
`having a 2.4 GHZ transmitter.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`network manager software component includes a plug and
`play software component for loading and executing software
`for the first wireless device.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`network mar ager software component includes a PIN num-
`ber management software component for obtaining and
`supplying PIN numbers.
`According to embodiment of the present invention, the
`network manager software component includes a service
`repository software component for obtaining and providing
`an availability of a service from the first wireless device.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`first wireless device includes an application software com-
`ponent, for providing a service. The network manager soft-
`ware component includes a management software compo-
`nent for accessing the service.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`system further comprises a second wireless device coupled
`to the wireless gateway device. The second wireless device
`provides a short-range signal. The first wireless device
`communicates with the second wireless device through the
`wireless gateway device.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`system further comprises a second wireless device coupled
`to the wireless gateway device. The wireless gateway device
`provides access to the Internet for the first and second
`wireless devices.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`network manager software component operates with an
`operating system software component.
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`operating system component is a Linux, EPOC or a Pock-
`etPC operating system.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention. the
`wireless gateway device includes 1) an application software
`component for providing a service, and 2) an application
`server software component coupled to the network manage-
`ment software component.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device further includes a firewall software
`component.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`wireless gateway device includes a VPN software compo-
`nent.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
`hand-held device for providing a personal area network is
`provided. The hand-held device comprises a storage device
`coupled to a processor. The storage device stores a software
`component
`for controlling the processor. The processor
`operates with the component to provide a short -range radio
`Internet protocol communication between the first hand-held
`wireless device and a second hand-held wireless device.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
`BluetoothTM transmitter is coupled to the processor.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
`GSM transmitter is coupled to the processor.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
`wireless hand-held device accesses a router in a personal
`network. The wireless hand-held device comprises a storage
`device coupled to a processor. The storage device stores a
`software component for controlling the processor. The pro-
`cessor operates with the component to provide a first short-
`range radio signal to the router for accessing the Internet and
`a second short-range radio signal to the router for accessing
`another wireless hand-held device.
`
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, an
`article of manufacture,
`including a computer
`readable
`medium is provided. The article of manufacture comprises
`an application software component for providing a service.
`An application server software component provides the
`application software component. The article of manufacture
`also includes an [nternet protocol network manager software
`component and an operating system software component.
`Also, a short-range radio software component for providing
`a short-range radio signal and a cellular software component
`for providing a comnnmications signal to a cellular network
`is included with the article of manufacture.
`
`Other aspects and advantages of the present invention can
`be seen upon review of the figures, the detailed description,
`and the claims that follow.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of
`the present invention.
`MG. 2 illustrates tl1in terminals and a wireless gateway
`device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 3a b are hardware block diagrams of a wireless
`gateway device and wireless hand held device according to
`an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 4 and Sail) are software block diagrams for a
`wireless gateway device according to an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates network management software inter-
`faces according to an embodiment ol‘ the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates network management software compo-
`nents according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`4
`
`FIGS. Sail) illustrate multiple wireless devices coupled to
`a wireless gateway device according to an embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
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`I. System Overview
`The following description and claims relate to a system
`that accesses
`information from a wide area network
`
`(“\VAN”), such as the Internet, and local wireless devices in
`response to short-range radio signals. The network may also
`be an IP based public or private network, such as a corporate
`secured network using VPN.
`FIG. 1 illustrates system 100 according to an embodiment
`of the present invention. System 100 includes terminals 107
`coupled to wireless gateway device 106. In an embodiment
`of the present invention, gateway device 106 and one or
`more terminals 107 communicate to form a personal area
`network (“PAN”). [n an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion, temiinals 107 are coupled to gateway device 106 by
`short-range radio signals 110. In an embodiment of the
`present invention, terminals 107 are a desktop computer, a
`laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a headset, a
`pager, a printer, a watch, thin terminal, digital camera or an
`equivalent thereof. In an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion, terminals 107 include a BluetoothTM 2.4 GHz trans-
`mitter/receiver. Likewise, gateway device 106 includes a
`BluetoothTM 2.4 GHZ transmitter/receiver. In an alternate
`
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`
`embodiment of the present invention, a BluetoothTM 5.7
`GHZ. transmitter/receiver is used. Gateway device 106 and
`temiinals 107 hardware are illustrated in FIGS. 3a7b.
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`In alternate embodiments of the present invention. other
`local wireless technologies such as 802.11 or HomeRF
`signals are used to communicate between gateway device
`106 and terminals 107.
`
`invention, gateway
`In an embodiment of the present
`device 106 is coupled to cellular network 105 by cellular
`signals 111 using a protocol, such as a Global and System for
`Mobile communications (“GSM”) protocol.
`In alternate
`embodiments, a (‘ode Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”),
`CDMA 2000 or Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”),
`or General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”) protocol is used.
`In an altemate embodiment of the present
`invention,
`gateway device 106 is coupled to a landline network by an
`Ethemet, Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”), or cable modem
`connection, singly or in combination.
`In an embodiment of the present
`device 106 is a cellular telephone.
`Cellular network 105 is coupled to a wireless carrier
`internal network or carrier backbone 1 04. In an embodiment
`
`invention, gateway
`
`of the present invention, server 102 is coupled to carrier
`backbone 104. In an alternate embodiment of the present
`invention, carrier backbone 104 is coupled to Internet 103.
`Server 101 is coupled to Internet 103. In an embodiment of
`the present invention, servers 101 and 102 provide infor-
`mation, such as web pages or application software compo-
`nents to terminals 107 by way of gateway device 106. In an
`embodiment of the present invention, terminals 107 share
`services and communicate by way of gateway device 106.
`
`II. Gateway/Handheld Device Hardware
`FIG. 2 illustrates terminals 107. In an embodiment of the
`
`present invention, there are two types of terminals: 1) Smart
`terminals and 2,) Thin terminals. Smart terminals have a
`relatively powerful central processor, operating system and
`applications. Their main needs from a PAN are access to a
`WAN through TCP/IP and other network services such as
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`US 7,039,033 B2
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`5
`storage and execution. For example, a computer notebook
`and PDA are smart terminals. Thin terminals have a rela-
`
`tively low power central processor and operating system.
`They are mainly used as peripherals to an Application server
`in a PAN and their main task is user interaction, rendering
`output for a user and providing an Application server with a
`user’s input For example, a watch or a messaging terminal
`are thin terminals.
`FIG. 2 illustrates thin terminals. Voice terminal 204
`
`includes a display 204!) and a retractable keypad 204a.
`Messaging Terminal 203 is illustrated in a closed position
`with a hinge 203a used to open and close terminal 203.
`Terminal 203 also includes a miniature QWERTY keyboard
`and display when opened. Gateway device 201 includes clip
`202 for a belt.
`
`In an embodiment, PMG device 201 is also illustrated in
`FIG. 2.
`
`FIG. 3a illustrates a hardware block diagram of gateway
`device 106 in an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`Gateway device 106 includes boLh internal and removable
`memory. In particular, gateway device 106 includes internal
`FLASH (or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only
`Memory (“EEPROM”) and static Random Access Memory
`(“SRAM”) memory 302 and 303, respectively. Removable
`FLASH memory 304 is also used in an embodiment of the
`present invention. Memories 302, 303 and 304 are coupled
`to bus 305. In an embodiment of the present invention, bus
`305 is an address and data bus. Application processor 30] is
`likewise coupled to bus 305. In an embodiment of the
`present invention, processor 301 is a 32 bit processor.
`BluetoothTM processor 307 is also coupled to bus 305.
`BluetoothTM RF circuit 309 is coupled to BluetoothTM pro-
`cessor 307 and antenna 313. Processor 307, RF circuit 309
`and antenna 313 transmit and receive short-range radio
`signals to and from terminals 107 illustrated in FIG. 1, or
`device 350 illustrated in FIG. 3b.
`
`Cellular, such as GSM, signals are transmitted and
`received using digital circuit 306, analog circuit 308, trans-
`mitter 310, receiver 311 and antenna 312. Digital circuit 306
`is coupled to bus 305. In alternate embodiments, gateway
`device 106 includes a display, a speaker, a microphone, a
`keypad and a touchscreen, singly or in combination thereof.
`MG. 31‘) illustrates device 350 that is a hand-held device
`
`in an embodiment of the present invention. Device 350, in
`an embodiment of the present
`invention,
`is one of the
`terminals 107 illustrated in FIG. 1. Similar to gateway
`device 106, device 350 includes SRAM and FLASH
`memory 35'] and 352, respectively. Memories 351 and 352
`are coupled to bus 357.
`In an embodiment of the present
`invention, bus 357 is an address and data bus. Keypad 353
`is also coupled to bus 357. Short-range radio signals are
`transmitted and received using BluetoothTM processor 354
`and BluetoothTM RF circuit 355. Antenna 356 is coupled to
`BluetoothTM RF circuit 355. In an embodiment of the present
`invention, antenna 356 transmits and receives short-range
`radio signals from gateway device 300. In alternate embodi-
`ments, device 350 includes a display, a speaker. a micro-
`phone, a keypad and a touchscreen. singly or in combination
`thereof.
`
`III. Gateway Software
`FIG. 4 illustrates a software architecture 400 for gateway
`device 106 illustrated in l’IG. 3a according to an embodi-
`ment of the present invention. Gateway software 400 is
`stored in FLASII 302.
`In an embodiment of the present
`invention, software components referenced in FIGS. 477
`represent a software program, a software object, a software
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`function, a software subroutine, a software method, a soft-
`ware instance, a code fragment, singly or in combination. In
`an alternate embodiment, functions performed by software
`components illustrated in FIGS. 477 are carried out com-
`pletely or partially by hardware.
`invention, gateway
`[11 an embodiment of the present
`software 400, or components of gateway software 400, is
`stored in an article of manufacture, such as a computer
`readable medium. For example, gateway software 400 is
`stored in a magnetic hard disk, an optical disk, a floppy disk,
`CD-ROM (Compact Disk ReadOnly Memory), RAM [Ran-
`dom Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), or other
`readable or writeable data storage technologies, singly or in
`combination. In yet another embodiment, gateway software
`400, or components thereof, is downloaded from server 101
`illustrated in FIG. 1.
`
`Gateway software 400 includes telecommunication soft-
`ware or physical layer protocol stacks, in particular cellular
`conununieations software 401 and short-range radio com-
`munications software 402. In an embodiment, communica-
`tion software 40] is a GPRS baseband software component
`used with processor 306 to transmit and receive cellular
`signals. In an embodiment, communication software 402 is
`a BluetoothTM baseband software component used with
`processor 307 to transmit and receive short-range radio
`signals.
`invention, operating
`In an embodiment of the present
`system 403 is used to communicate with telecommunica-
`tions software 401 and 402. In an embodiment of the present
`invention, operating system 403 is a Linux operating system,
`EPOC operating system available from Symbian software of
`London, United Kingdom or a PocketPC or a Stinger
`operating system available from Microsoft of Redmond,
`Wash. Operating system 403 manages hardware and enables
`execution space for gateway device software components.
`Network Management software 404- is used to provide a
`number of functions according to embodiments of the
`present invention: 1) routing, 2) device plug and play, 3) PIN
`number management, 4) network device management, and
`5) service repository. In an embodiment of the present
`invention, network management
`software 404 is pro-
`grammed in (?++ software language.
`Smart phone application software 405 communicates with
`operating system 403 and is used in a cellular telephone
`embodiment of the present invention.
`1st and 2nd software application components 406 com-
`municate with management software 404 and provide addi-
`tional services to a user. For example, application compo-
`nents 406 may include: 1) a stock quote application for
`providing stock quotes, 2) a personal infonnation manager
`application including calendars, to do lists, emails, or c011-
`tacts, 3) a synchronization software application for synchro-
`nizing databases, 4) a telephony application for providing
`telephone services, or 5) a location application for providing
`a current location of a gateway device.
`Furthermore, Graphics User Interface (“GUI”) 407 is
`provided to allow a user-friendly interface.
`FIG. 50 illustrates detailed gateway software architecture
`500. In an embodiment of the present invention, network
`management software 404 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes
`three software components as illustrated in FIG. 5a: 1) PAN
`router 404C, 2) PAN server 40419; and 3) Application server
`404a. GPRS baseband 503 and BIuettmth‘M baseband 502
`
`are software components used to generate communication
`signals to a cellular network 105 and terminals I07 as
`illustrated in FIG. 1.
`In an alternate embodiment, other
`baseband software components 501 are used to generate
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`US 7,039,033 B2
`
`7
`communication signals. Media abstraction layer 504 allows
`operating system 403 to communicate with basebands 503,
`502, and 501, respectively. Media abstraction layer 504 and
`other abstraction layers, described herein, translate a par-
`ticular communication protocol, such as GPRS, into a stari-
`dard command set used by a gateway device and/or terminal.
`The purpose of an abstraction layer is to isolate the physical
`stacks from the rest of the gateway device software com-
`ponents. This enables future usage of different physical
`stacks without changing any of the upper layer software and
`allows the gateway device software to work with any
`communication protocol.
`PAN router 4040 establishes a PAN network, implement-
`ing communication primitives, IP networking, IP services
`and si