Short range RF network

Abstract

A network including a host device and a plurality of transceiver beacons for communicating data from terminal devices interacting with the beacons, to the host. The beacons include identification codes used by the host for establishing wireless communication links either between a beacon and the host, or between two or more beacons. A routing mechanism is included in the beacons for selecting a most favorable transmission path among available paths for communicating data to the host.

1 . A short range RF network for providing wireless communication of data in a local environment to a wireless user terminal, comprising: 
 a host device connectable to an external network; and    a plurality of beacon devices disposed at arbitrary locations in the local environment and within a wireless operating range of at least one other like beacon device or said host device, at least some of the plurality of beacon devices comprise a processor and a plurality of wireless transceivers, said wireless transceivers comprising, 
 a first wireless transceiver for providing upstream communication along wireless communication links with beacon devices located closer to the host device; and  
 a second wireless transceiver for providing downstream communication along wireless communication links with beacon devices located further away from the host device.  
   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second transceivers also provides communication with the wireless user terminal.  
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said one of said first and second transceivers provides communication with the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the wireless operating range of the beacon device associated with said first and second transceivers.  
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said first wireless transceiver comprises a plurality of first wireless transceivers.  
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said second wireless transceiver comprises a plurality of second wireless transceivers.  
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 4 , wherein said second wireless transceiver comprises a plurality of second wireless transceivers.  
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of transceivers comprises a third transceiver for causing communication with the wireless user terminal.  
     
     
         8 . The network of  claim 7 , wherein said third transceiver provides communication with the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the wireless operating range of the beacon device associated with said third transceiver.  
     
     
         9 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said beacon devices are powered from one of an electrical outlet, solar energy and a battery.  
     
     
         10 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said beacon devices comprise visual indicators for conveying an operation mode.  
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the host is capable of interfacing with the Internet and wherein the wireless user terminal is a mobile telephone so that the mobile telephone can communicate with the Internet through said network.  
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said beacon devices includes means for broadcasting a message to the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the operating range of said at least one of said beacon devices.  
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein said means for broadcasting a message comprises means for broadcasting an advertisement message.  
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein said host has a host operating range, a host processor, a host transceiver and a host identification code.  
     
     
         15 . A beacon device having a wireless operating range for use in a wireless network having a host device connectable to an external network for providing wireless communication of data in a local environment to a wireless user terminal, said beacon device comprising: 
 a processor; and    a plurality of wireless transceivers capable of communicating with one or more of like beacon devices or the host when said beacon device is disposed within an operating range of said one or more like beacon devices or the host, said wireless transceivers comprising, a first wireless transceiver for providing upstream communication along wireless communication links with said one or more like beacon devices which are located closer to the host device than said beacon device, and a second wireless transceiver for providing downstream communication along wireless communication links with said one or more like beacon devices which are located further away from the host device than said beacon device.    
     
     
         16 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , wherein one of said first and second transceivers also provides communication with the wireless user terminal.  
     
     
         17 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , wherein said one of said first and second transceivers provides communication with the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the wireless operating range of said beacon device.  
     
     
         18 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , wherein said first wireless transceiver comprises a plurality of first wireless transceivers.  
     
     
         19 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , wherein said second wireless transceiver comprises a plurality of second wireless transceivers.  
     
     
         20 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of transceivers comprises a third transceiver for causing communication with the wireless user terminal.  
     
     
         21 . The beacon device of  claim 20 , wherein said third transceiver provides communication with the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the wireless operating range of said beacon device.  
     
     
         22 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , further comprising a visual indicator for conveying an operation mode.  
     
     
         23 . The beacon device of  claim 15 , further comprising means for broadcasting a message to the wireless user terminal when the wireless user terminal is within the operating range of said beacon device.  
     
     
         24 . A method of providing wireless communication of data in a local environment over a short range RF network to a wireless user terminal, comprising the steps of: 
 connecting a host device connectable to an external network; and    forming a plurality of wireless communication links between a plurality of beacon devices disposed at arbitrary locations in the local environment and within a wireless operating range of at least one other like beacon device or said host device;    providing upstream communication along wireless communication links with beacon devices located closer to the host device; and    providing downstream communication along wireless communication links with beacon devices located further away from the host device.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said method steps are performed by a processing means.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said processing means comprises one or more of software and hardware.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said hardware comprises a chipset contained in each beacon device.