Control method and apparatus for wireless data link
US5321542A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/1149
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for operating an optical communications system having at least two communicating entities (10,12). In accordance with a method of the invention a first step transmits communication link control information from a first entity to a second entity over a first optical channel having a first data bit rate. Responsive to the transmitted communication link control information, a second step of the method transmits data information from the second entity to the first entity over a second optical channel having a second data bit rate that is greater than the first data bit rate. The first optical channel is preferably a relatively low-bandwidth diffuse transmission infrared radiation channel. The second optical channel is preferably a relatively high-bandwidth infrared channel. One of the entities is a network adapter coupled to a wired network. The network adapter is preferably ceiling mounted. The other entity may be a mobile data processor. A plurality of mobile data processors may be served by one network adapter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.