Cisco Systems Inc.

Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc.

Telxon Corporation

Nainesh P Shah

Michael L Trompower

Andrew J Spry

Douglas A Smith

Philip H Belanger

James J Friedmann

Brian D Logsdon

Douglas Michael Grimes

A universal radio having adjustable communication parameters such that the radio can communicate in different DS or FH type systems as well as DS-FH hybrid type systems which employ both DS and FH spread spectrum techniques. The radio is included in a mobile terminal and/or base station and can be adjusted by the user to employ communication parameters relating to various different cellular communication systems. Thus, the mobile terminal and/or base station can be used in combination with the cellular communication systems provided by different manufacturers.

Universal radio for use in various cellular communication systems

A cellular communication system hand-off protocol which helps minimize down time associated with a mobile device roaming among different cells in which different cells employ different communication channels (e.g., different frequency hopping sequences). In a preferred embodiment, each base station is configured to communicate its own particular hopping sequence to the host computer via the system backbone. Each base station then provides to mobile devices which are registered thereto information regarding the particular hopping sequences employed by other base stations servicing cells into which the mobile device may roam. Such information includes the particular hopping sequences together with an indication of what location in the sequence the base stations are currently at in any given time. In addition, such information may include an indication of the intervals at which a base station is configured to transmit a beacon packet (for passive scanning operation), or at what intervals test pattern packets are transmitted to allow for signal quality evaluation.

Cellular system hand-off protocol

A cellular communication system in which dedicated repeater controller transceivers are included in base stations and wireless base stations. The repeater controller transceivers are configured to operate on a different channel as compared to communications received by or transmitted directly from mobile terminals. By utilizing a dedicated channel for communications between the base stations and wireless base stations, the contention areas formed by overlapping cell areas is effectively eliminated. The different channels may be based on differences in parameters using infrared communication techniques.

Cellular communication system with dedicated repeater channels

A cellular communication system hand-off protocol which helps minimize down time associated with a mobile device roaming among different cells in which different cells employ different communication channels (e.g., different frequency hopping sequences). In a preferred embodiment, each base station is configured to communicate its own particular hopping sequence to all other base stations via the system backbone. Each base station then provides to mobile devices which are registered thereto information regarding the particular hopping sequences employed by other base stations servicing cells into which the mobile device may roam. Such information includes the particular hopping sequences together with an indication of what location in the sequence the base stations are currently at in any given time. In addition, such information may include an indication of the intervals at which a base station is configured to transmit a beacon packet (for passive scanning operation), or at what intervals test pattern packets are transmitted to allow for signal quality evaluation.

An emergency routing protocol within a wireless communication network. A mobile device can establish a communication link to the system backbone even when, for whatever reason, it can no longer communicate directly with a base station. The emergency routing protocol enables a distressed mobile device to communicate with the system backbone through another mobile device serving as an intermediary. The intermediary mobile device forwards information destined to/received from the distressed mobile device to its intended destination.

Emergency mobile routing protocol

A customer information terminal for use in a retail grocery store includes a housing defining an interior region, electronic circuitry including a microprocessor supported within the housing interior region, and a display screen supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry. The customer information terminal further includes a dataform reader module supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry for reading a dataform having encoded data relating to at least one of the following; an item offered for sale in the retail grocery store, a coupon for an item offered for sale in the retail grocery store, a customer identification number of a customer of the retail grocery store, and a recipe utilizing one or more items offered for sale in the retail grocery store. Also provided is a radio module supported by the housing and including a transmitter system and a receiver system electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry for transmitting at least a portion of decoded data from the read dataform to a remote device and receiving from the remote device additional data related to the decoded data wherein at least a portion of the additional data is displayed on the display screen. The CI terminal further includes a user interface module supported by the housing for inputting a command whereby the radio module is utilized to obtain supplemental data from the remote device, the supplemental data relating to at least one of the decoded data and the additional data and wherein at least a portion of the supplemental data is displayed on the display screen. A method for using the CI terminal of the present invention is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Strongsville, OH, United States of America

Nainesh P Shah