Personal area network apparatus

Abstract

A portable endpoint device comprises a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first signal from another endpoint device to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment; send, to the another endpoint device a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; receive, from the another endpoint device a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal; and receive, from the another endpoint device data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable endpoint device for use on a network, comprising:
 a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit;
 circuitry; and 
 a transceiver in communication with the circuitry, the portable endpoint device configured to cause the transceiver to:
 receive, directly endpoint-to-endpoint over a shared wireless area communication medium without passing through any intermediate node such that no wireless routing occurs therebetween over the shared wireless area communication medium, a first signal from another endpoint device without being wirelessly routed therethrough to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment over the shared wireless area communication medium, the first signal including a unique device identifier of the another endpoint device; 
 send, to the another endpoint device directly endpoint-to-endpoint over the shared wireless area communication medium without passing through any intermediate node such that no wireless routing occurs therebetween over the shared wireless area communication medium, a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; 
 receive, from the another endpoint device directly endpoint-to-endpoint over the shared wireless area communication medium without passing through any intermediate node such that no wireless routing occurs therebetween over the shared wireless area communication medium, a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal, the third signal including the first one of the identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; and 
 receive, from the another endpoint device directly endpoint-to-endpoint over the shared wireless area communication medium utilizing at least one channel different from at least one pre-data transfer channel without passing through any intermediate node such that no wireless routing occurs therebetween over the shared wireless area communication medium, data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device, for data transfer in connection with a group owned by the another endpoint device and including at least the portable endpoint device and the another endpoint device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the identifiers includes a first one of a plurality of addresses operable for being utilized for a first instance of the attachment utilizing the at least one pre-data transfer channel on a local area wireless network, wherein the portable endpoint device is further configured such that the second one of the identifiers includes a second one of the addresses operable for being utilized for the data transfer utilizing the at least one channel on the local area wireless network. 
     
     
         3 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are of the same length. 
     
     
         4 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses have the same address format. 
     
     
         5 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are of the same size. 
     
     
         6 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that at least a portion of the first one of the addresses and at least a portion of the second one of the addresses are the same. 
     
     
         7 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that at least a portion of the first one of the addresses and at least a portion of the second one of the addresses have the same value. 
     
     
         8 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the addresses and the second one of the addresses are MAC Addresses. 
     
     
         9 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first one of the addresses includes a MAC Address. 
     
     
         10 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are each operable for communicating over the shared wireless area communication medium. 
     
     
         11 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are each operable for only short range communications over the shared wireless area communication medium. 
     
     
         12 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are each operable for communicating on at least one local area wireless network. 
     
     
         13 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 12 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the at least one local area wireless network includes at least one personal area wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device includes a personal electronic accessory. 
     
     
         15 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are each operable for communicating on at least one short range wireless network. 
     
     
         16 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 15 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the at least one short range wireless network includes at least one personal area wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is a phone or a computer. 
     
     
         18 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are each operable for only short range wireless communication. 
     
     
         19 . The portable endpoint device according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable endpoint device is configured such that the first virtual device is configured for serving as a first type of device and the second virtual device is configured for serving as a second type of device.