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.

Wireless personal local area network

A mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration.

Enhanced mobility and address resolution in a wireless premises based network

A wireless headset system for use with, e.g. mobile phones, and which incorporates a wireless headset which communicates with a base station via magnetic inductive coupling or radio frequency signals to dial and send or receive calls via a conventional phone, e.g. a mobile phone, attached to the base station. In one embodiment, the mobile phone is carried in the base station which is worn by the user.

Modular wireless headset system

Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.

Multi-level, hierarchical radio-frequency communication system

Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station

A method and apparatus for extending the range of portable RF transceivers and for providing a select-call system includes a hybrid remote control system to extend the range of a portable transceiver and to permit the operator of a vessel or vehicle to communicate hands-free through the utilization of his own full power base station and antenna, in which a modified full duplex system is used to control transmit and receive cycles from the portable unit so that the system can operate regardless of interference on the channel to which the base station is timed. Also provided is a selective calling system in which a recipient's transceiver is turned on by the transmitting transceiver through punching in the recipient's call letters or at least its address. As an added feature, the transmitting station automatically transmits its own call letters which are displayed at recipient's receiver. This system thereby quiets all receivers until the particular transceiver is digitally addressed. An emergency code such as (0,0,0,0) activates all receivers for emergency transmissions on an emergency channel, such as on VHF channel 16, so that the emergency channel can be monitored without distraction from non-emergency traffic. This modular approach provides a universal system in which standard transceivers can be accommodated.

Frank P. Karkota

Papers

Modular communications system including a portable unit range extender and selective-call system