Configurable wireless computer communication attenuation device

Abstract

Systems, methodologies, and other embodiments associated with reconfiguring a wireless computer communication device by processing an output signal provided by the device are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an attenuation circuit configured to attenuate a computer communication signal generated by the wireless computer communication device to a desired level. The example system may also include an attenuation level logic configured to determine the desired attenuation level. In one example, the desired attenuation level may be determined based on the proximity of wireless devices.

1 . A system for dynamically reconfiguring a wireless computer communication device by processing a signal provided by the wireless computer communication device, comprising: 
 an attenuation level logic operably connectable to the wireless computer communication device, the attenuation level logic being configured to determine a desired attenuation level for a second wireless computer communication signal derived from a first wireless computer communication signal provided by the wireless computer communication device; and    an attenuation circuit operably connected to the attenuation level logic, the attenuation circuit being configured to produce the second wireless computer communication signal by attenuating the first wireless computer communication signal to the desired attenuation level.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , where the attenuation level logic determines the desired attenuation level based, at least in part, on a distance between the wireless computer communication device and a receiver of the second wireless computer communication signal.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , the attenuation circuit being manually controllable by a user.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , the attenuation circuit being programmatically controllable by the attenuation level logic.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the attenuation circuit comprising an attenuator.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , the attenuation circuit comprising a reduction bridge circuit.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , where the attenuation circuit includes one or more transmission media having different selectable line loss characteristics.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , where a line loss characteristic is related to the length of a transmission medium.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , where a line loss characteristic is determined by a transmission medium dielectric material.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , where the wireless computer communication device is a router.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , where the second wireless computer communication signal conforms to an IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , where the second wireless computer communication signal conforms to an IEEE 802.15 protocol.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , where the attenuation level logic determines the desired attenuation level by evaluating a response to a set of negotiation messages transmitted with different attenuation levels determined by the attenuation level logic.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , where the attenuation level logic periodically redetermines the desired attenuation level.  
   
   
       15 . A method, comprising: 
 associating an attenuation circuit with a wireless computer communication device;    determining a desired attenuation level for a wireless computer communication signal produced by the wireless computer communication device; and    configuring the attenuation circuit to attenuate the wireless computer communication signal to the desired attenuation level.    
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , where determining the desired attenuation level includes: 
 calculating a distance between the wireless computer communication device and a receiver of the wireless computer communication signal; and    determining the desired attenuation level based, at least in part, on the distance.    
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , where determining the desired attenuation level includes: 
 calculating a signal strength for a wireless signal received from a wireless device; and    determining the desired attenuation level based, at least in part, on the signal strength.    
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , where determining the desired attenuation level includes: 
 transmitting a set of wireless computer communications to a wireless device with which the wireless computer communication device is communicating, where the set of wireless computer communications are attenuated at different levels; and    determining the desired attenuation level based, at least in part, on a response to transmitting the set of wireless computer communications.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , including: 
 retransmitting the set of wireless computer communications; and    redetermining the desired attenuation level.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15 , where configuring the attenuation circuit includes: 
 programmatically changing a resistance in a reduction bridge associated with the attenuation circuit.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15 , where configuring the attenuation circuit includes: 
 selecting a desired line loss associated with a transmission medium through which the wireless computer communication signal passes before being transmitted.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15 , where configuring a wireless computer communication device includes: 
 selecting an attenuator through which the wireless computer communication signal passes before being transmitted.    
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a desired attenuation level for a wireless computer communication signal produced by a transmitting wireless computer communication device having an attenuation circuit; and    configuring the attenuation circuit to attenuate the wireless computer communication signal to the desired attenuation level.    
   
   
       29 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a desired attenuation level for a wireless computer communication signal produced by a transmitting wireless computer communication device having an attenuation circuit by calculating a distance between the wireless computer communication device and a receiver of the wireless computer communication signal and determining the desired attenuation level based, at least in part, on the distance;    configuring the attenuation circuit to attenuate the wireless computer communication signal to the desired attenuation level; and    selectively re-determining the desired attenuation level based on selectively recalculating the distance between the wireless computer communication device and the receiver of the wireless computer communication signal.