Methods, systems and apparatus to affect rf transmission from a non-linked wireless client

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate generally to wireless electronics, wireless portable electronics, wireless media presentation devices, audio/video systems, and more specifically to passive or active RF proximity detection of wireless client devices in an environment that may or may not include wireless access points. A wireless client device may be forced, triggered, or configured to broadcast a wireless scan (e.g., an active WiFi scan) that includes data (e.g., packets) that may be discovered by a wireless media device (e.g., received by RF circuitry in the media device) and information from the wireless scan may be used by the wireless media device to detect presence of the wireless client device and/or its user, to establish a wireless data communications link with the wireless client device, to determine proximity of the wireless client device to the wireless media device, and for near field communication (NFC) with the wireless client device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for radio frequency (RF) communication between wireless devices, comprising:
 broadcasting over at least one RF band, packets included in an active wireless scan transmitted by a wireless client;   receiving the packets in a wireless media device configured to decode packet data included in one or more of the packets;   calculating RF signal strength of at least some of the packets to determine a near field communication (NFC) distance between the wireless client and the wireless media device, wherein RF signal strength from the calculating increases with decreasing NFC distance;   establishing a NFC link between the wireless client and the wireless media device when RF signal strength from the calculating is indicative of physical contact between the wireless client and the wireless media device; and   transferring content, content handling or both from the wireless client to the wireless media device using information wirelessly communicated between the wireless client and the wireless media device using the NFC link.