Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Eric S Brauel

James J Ganthier

William Caldwell Crosswy

Sean Burke

A wireless network permits wireless devices to determine their own location and receive location-based services. The network includes a communication server coupled to a plurality of access points and at least one mobile wireless device that wirelessly communicates through the access points. Each wireless device includes a location table through which the wireless device can determine its physical location. The location table includes the physical location of the various access points indexed by their network addresses. When the wireless device communicates with an access point, the access point provides the wireless device its address. The wireless device uses the address of the access point as an index into the location table to determine its own location based on the location of the access point. Once the wireless device has determined its own physical location, it requests location-based services from or through the communication server.

Location determination in a wireless communication network

A portable personal computer, such as a notebook computer, is provided with an infrared (IR) port which is accessible to IR light signals sent toward the frontal face or aspect of the computer, where the data entry mechanism, such as a keyboard or touchpad, is located. The computer system may also include a conventional, rear mounted infrared light entry port, so that infrared communications may be made to the computer from several directions, such as both the front and rear of the computer. This overcomes the need for special cabling and a separate electronics board for extra IR interface electronics in the portable computer housing, where space is typically at a premium.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Eric S Brauel