US5740363A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for low power communications between mobile computing devices
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-26
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2016-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A network (10) of mobile computing devices (18) communicates by receiving and rebroadcasting messages using wireless transmission. A message is initiated by first mobile computing device and transmitted to a set of other mobile computing devices which may be selected on an ad hoc basis. The receiving mobile computing devices rebroadcast the message to other of the mobile computing devices (18) which have not received the message. The message is repeatedly rebroadcast until all mobile computing devices (18) have received the message or, if the message is intended for particular selected mobile computing devices (18), until all selected devices have received the message.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Siep
- 👤 Carl M Panasik
- 👤 Ronald E. Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:03
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/08; G09B5/14; H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/06; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1854; H04W84/00; H04W84/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/04; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of communicating a data packet to a plurality of mobile computing devices within a defined setting, comprising the steps of: broadcasting a data packet using wireless transmission from a first mobile computing device at a power sufficient to reach some but not all of the other mobile computing devices; repeating the steps of: receiving said data packet in a set of said other mobile computing devices; and rebroadcasting said data packet from said set of other mobile computing devices to reach mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet until all of said plurality of mobile computing devices have received the message packet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of communicating a data packet to a plurality of mobile computing devices within a defined setting, comprising the steps of: broadcasting a data packet using wireless transmission from a first mobile computing device at a power sufficient to reach some but not all of the other mobile computing devices; repeating the steps of: receiving said data packet in a set of said other mobile computing devices; and rebroadcasting said data packet from said set of other mobile computing devices to reach mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet until all of said plurality of mobile computing devices have received the message packet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving said data packet included the steps of: identifying the data packet; and determining whether said data packet has been previously received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving said data packet further includes the step of responding to said first mobile computing device if the data packet has not previously been received.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting said data packet includes the step of identifying intended recipients for said data packet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein each mobile computing device which is an intended recipient stores the data packet upon receipt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said broadcasting step includes the steps of: broadcasting a request to sent the data packet; receiving responses to said request from mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet, if any; and communicating with one or more of the mobile computing devices from which a response is received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said communicating step comprises the step of communicating with one or more of the mobile computing devices from which a response is received, up to a predetermined number of mobile computing devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mobile computing device, comprising: computing circuitry; and communications circuitry for: receiving a data packet broadcast from another mobile computing device; and rebroadcasting said data packet to nearby mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mobile computing device, comprising: computing circuitry; and communications circuitry for: receiving a data packet broadcast from another mobile computing device; and rebroadcasting said data packet to nearby mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mobile computing device of claim 8 wherein said communication circuitry identifies data packets from other mobile computing devices and determines whether the data packets have been previously received.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mobile computing device of claim 9 wherein said communications circuitry further generates a response message responsive to identifying a data packet which has not been received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mobile computing device of claim 9 wherein said communication circuitry is operable to broadcast data packets responsive to said computing circuitry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile computing device of claim 11 wherein said communication circuitry provides an identifier for each broadcast data packet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mobile computing device of claim 8 wherein said communication circuitry further indicates which mobile computing devices are intended recipients for a broadcast data packet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mobile computing device of claim 13 wherein said communication circuitry stores messages for which the associated mobile computing device is an intended recipient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A calculator comprising: computing circuitry; and communications circuitry for: receiving a data packet through wireless transmissions from another mobile computing device; and retransmitting said data packet using wireless transmission at low power to nearby mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A calculator comprising: computing circuitry; and communications circuitry for: receiving a data packet through wireless transmissions from another mobile computing device; and retransmitting said data packet using wireless transmission at low power to nearby mobile computing devices which have not received the data packet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The calculator of claim 15 wherein said communication circuitry identifies data packets from other mobile computing devices and determines whether the data packets have been previously received.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The calculator of claim 16 wherein said communications circuitry further generates a response message responsive to identifying a data packet which has not been received.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The calculator of claim 16 wherein said communication circuitry is operable to transmit data packets responsive to said computing circuitry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The calculator of claim 18 wherein said communication circuitry provides an identifier for each broadcast data packet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The calculator of claim 15 wherein said communication circuitry further indicates which mobile computing devices are intended recipients for a broadcast data packet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5075792A
Cited
US5495358A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-13 | 2001-10-13 | 2002-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-10-13 | 2006-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-13 | 2009-10-13 | 2010-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |