Wireless augmented reality communication system

Abstract

The system of the present invention is a highly integrated radio communication system with a multimedia co-processor which allows true two-way multimedia (video, audio, data) access as well as real-time biomedical monitoring in a pager-sized portable access unit. The system is integrated in a network structure including one or more general purpose nodes for providing a wireless-to-wired interface. The network architecture allows video, audio and data (including biomedical data) streams to be connected directly to external users and devices. The portable access units may also be mated to various non-personal devices such as cameras or environmental sensors for providing a method for setting up wireless sensor nets from which reported data may be accessed through the portable access unit. The reported data may alternatively be automatically logged at a remote computer for access and viewing through a portable access unit, including the user's own.

1 . A communication system for communicating through a network, comprising: 
 a general purpose node electrically connected to the network for providing access through the network, the general purpose node having a communication device;    at least one media device connected to the network; and    a portable access unit capable of wirelessly communicating with the general purpose node for communicating with the media device through the network.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device comprises a camera for providing video signals for display on the portable access unit.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device comprises a display for receiving video signals transmitted from the portable access unit for presenting on the display.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device comprises a speaker for receiving audio signals transmitted from the portable access unit for presenting on the speaker.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is a microphone for transmitting audio signals to the portable access unit for presenting on a speaker attached to the portable access unit.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device comprises processor.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the portable access unit is for providing commands for controlling the processor.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is for providing commands for controlling remotely controllable hardware.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable access unit further comprises a sensor for transmitting data signals collected by the sensor to the media device.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a biological sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises an environmental sensor.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device comprises a sensor for transmitting signals comprising data collected by the sensor to the local portable access unit.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a biological sensor.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises an environmental sensor.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is wirelessly connected to the network.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media device is electrically connected to the network.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of portable access units capable of wirelessly communicating with the general purpose node for communicating with the one or more media devices through the network.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of general purpose nodes, each local general purpose node for communicating with a subset of the plurality of portable access units.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each portable access unit is for dynamically associating and de-associating with one of the plurality of general purpose nodes.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each portable access unit is adopted for listing on a display the plurality of portable access units that are associated with the plurality of general purpose nodes.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each portable access unit is adopted for listing on a display the plurality of media devices.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each portable access unit is adapted to present on the display the biological data for a user of at least one of the other portable access units after selecting the at least one other portable access unit displayed in the list.  
   
   
       23 . A method for communicating through a network with least one media device connected to the network, comprising: 
 providing access to the network with a general purpose node electrically connected to the network, the general purpose node having a wireless communication device; and    communicating wirelessly with the remote media device through the general purpose node and the network with a portable access unit that is in wireless communication with the general purpose node.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising receiving video signals from the media device for providing video signals for display on the portable access unit.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising transmitting video signals from the portable access unit to the media device for presenting the video signals on the media device.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising transmitting audio signals from the portable access unit to the media device for presenting the audio signals on the media device.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising receiving audio signals captured by the remote media device from the remote media device for presenting on the portable access unit.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising transmitting commands from the portable access unit to the media device for controlling the media device.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising receiving data captured by a sensor on the media device.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising dynamically associating and de-associating the portable access unit with the general purpose nodes.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising presenting a list of a plurality of portable access units on a display that are associated with the general purpose node.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising listing on the display a plurality of media devices associated with the general purpose node.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising presenting biological data for a user of one of a plurality of portable access units after selecting the user's name from a list of users of the plurality of portable access units.