System and method for distance-dependent data exchange between wireless communication devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type. The method also includes transmitting data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range. The data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 by a primary communication device, identifying a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type; and   by the primary communication device, transmitting data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range, wherein the data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and wherein the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the primary communication device, identifying a second data type and a second communication range for transmitting data of the second data type, wherein the second communication range is greater than the first communication range; and   by the primary communication device, transmitting data of the second data type to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device is located within the second communication range, and wherein the data of the second data type is transmitted using a second bandwidth based on the second communication range, the second bandwidth being lower than the first bandwidth.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the data of the first data type is transmitted at a first power level; and   the data of the second data type is transmitted at a second power level greater than the first power level.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the data of the first data type is decodable by the first wireless communication device;   the data of the second data type is decodable by the first and second wireless communication devices; and   the data of the second data type is not decodable by any wireless communication device located beyond the second communication range.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first communication range has a radius of less than approximately one meter; and   the second communication range has a radius of less than approximately three meters.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 encoding the data of the first and second data types using a data encoding matrix, wherein:
 the data of the first data type comprises a single column of the data encoding matrix; and 
 the data of the second data type comprises two or more columns of the data encoding matrix, each of the two or more columns being a redundant copy of the other two or more columns. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the primary communication device, prior to transmitting the data of the first data type to the first wireless communication device, receiving security information from the first wireless communication device, the security information comprising a device orientation, an inertial signature, a password, a personal identification number, or data sent by near field communication (NFC).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the primary communication device, broadcasting information associated with an encoding format or a modulation format for the transmitted data of the first data type.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the primary communication device, providing a user interface that enables a user of the primary communication device to specify the first communication range.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the primary communication device, encoding the data of the first data type using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) encoding format.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
 identify a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type; and   transmit data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range, wherein the data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and wherein the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 identify a second data type and a second communication range for transmitting data of the second data type, wherein the second communication range is greater than the first communication range; and   transmit data of the second data type to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device is located within the second communication range, and wherein the data of the second data type is transmitted using a second bandwidth based on the second communication range, the second bandwidth being lower than the first bandwidth.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the data of the first data type is transmitted at a first power level; and   the data of the second data type is transmitted at a second power level greater than the first power level.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the data of the first data type is decodable by the first wireless communication device;   the data of the second data type is decodable by the first and second wireless communication devices; and   the data of the second data type is not decodable by any wireless communication device located beyond the second communication range.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first communication range has a radius of less than approximately one meter; and   the second communication range has a radius of less than approximately three meters.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 encode the data of the first and second data types using a data encoding matrix, wherein:
 the data of the first data type comprises a single column of the data encoding matrix; and 
 the data of the second data type comprises two or more columns of the data encoding matrix, each of the two or more columns being a redundant copy of the other two or more columns. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 prior to transmitting the data of the first data type to the first wireless communication device, receive security information from the first wireless communication device, the security information comprising a device orientation, an inertial signature, a password, a personal identification number, or data sent by near field communication (NFC).   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:
 broadcast information associated with an encoding format or a modulation format for the transmitted data of the first data type.   
     
     
         19 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:
 identify a first data type and a first communication range for transmitting data of the first data type; and   transmit data of the first data type to a first wireless communication device located within the first communication range, wherein the data of the first data type is transmitted using a first bandwidth based on the first communication range, and wherein the data of the first data type is not decodable by a second wireless communication device located beyond the first communication range.   
     
     
         20 . The media of  claim 19 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to:
 identify a second data type and a second communication range for transmitting data of the second data type, wherein the second communication range is greater than the first communication range; and   transmit data of the second data type to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication device is located within the second communication range, and wherein the data of the second data type is transmitted using a second bandwidth based on the second communication range, the second bandwidth being lower than the first bandwidth.