System and method for communication spread across multiple physical layer channels
View Patent ↗A system and method for controlling particular communication capabilities of an electronic device located within an electronic communication room (ECR) includes spreading a physical layer of a communication protocol across various (e.g. two) physical communication channels in a coordinated manner. Each physical communication channel is invoked to transmit a different portion of the control signals required for ECR admission. The electronic device is allowed particular communication capabilities if all ECR control signals from all involved physical communication channels are brought together at the device. If an expected control signal from one of the physical communication channels is missing, the particular communication capability fails.
1. A method for controlling communication capabilities of an end device within a discrete location, the method comprising:
detecting, by a processor, connection of the end device over a first communication channel having a first distance range of communication;
transmitting by the processor, to the end device, over the first communication channel, information on a second communication channel physically different from the first communication channel, for enabling the end device to receive control signals over the second communication channel, wherein the second communication channel has a second distance range of communication;
transmitting, by the processor, a first control signal over the first communication channel;
transmitting, by the processor or another device in communication with the processor, a second control signal over the second communication channel, wherein the second control signal is configured to be confined to the discrete location;
determining, by the processor, whether the end device has received the first and second control signals; and
in response to determining that the end device has received the first and second control signals, enabling a particular communication capability of the end device in the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels overlap with each other, wherein the particular communication capability is not configured to be enabled on the end device outside of the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels do not overlap with each other.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discrete location is a room.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first control signal is an electronic signal and the second control signal is a non-electronic signal.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electronic signal is a radio signal.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the non-electronic control signal is an acoustic signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the particular communication capability is enabling an operational mode of the end device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the particular communication capability is enabling access to an electronic resource.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
transmitting to the end device over the second communication channel, a second signal associated with a key for accessing the electronic resource;
receiving over the first communication channel a request for the electronic resource from the end device, the request including the key; and
transmitting the electronic resource to the end device over the first communication channel in response to receipt of the request with the key.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
setting a status of the end device as visitor to the discrete location in response to determining that the end device has received the first and second control signals;
determining that the status of the end device as visitor should be terminated; and
disabling the particular communication capability of the end device in response to determining that the status of the end device as visitor should be terminated.
10. A data processing apparatus adapted for controlling communication capabilities of an end device within a discrete location, the server comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions therein, the program instructions being configured to execute the program instructions, the program instructions comprising:
detecting connection of the end device over a first communication channel having a first distance range of communication;
transmitting to the end device, over the first communication channel, information on a second communication channel physically different from the first communication channel, for enabling the end device to receive control signals over the second communication channel, wherein the second communication channel has a second distance range of communication;
transmitting a first control signal over the first communication channel;
transmitting a second control signal over the second communication channel, wherein the second control signal is configured to be confined to the discrete location;
determining whether the end device has received the first and second control signals; and
in response to determining that the end device has received the first and second control signals, enabling a particular communication capability of the end device in the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels overlap with each other, wherein the particular communication capability is not configured to be enabled on the end device outside of the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels do not overlap with each other.
11. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the discrete location is a room.
12. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first control signal is an electronic signal and the second control signal is a non-electronic signal.
13. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the electronic signal is a radio signal.
14. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-electronic control signal is an acoustic signal.
15. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein enabling the particular communication capability is enabling an operational mode of the end device.
16. The data processing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein enabling the particular communication capability is enabling access to an electronic resource.
17. The data processing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions further include:
transmitting to the end device over the second communication channel, a second signal associated with a key for accessing the electronic resource;
receiving over the first communication channel a request for the electronic resource from the end device, the request including the key; and
transmitting the electronic resource to the end device over the first communication channel in response to receipt of the request with the key.
18. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further include:
setting a status of the end device as visitor to the discrete location in response to determining that the end device has received the first and second control signals;
determining that the status of the end device as visitor should be terminated; and
disabling the particular communication capability of the end device in response to determining that the status of the end device as visitor should be terminated.
19. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further comprise:
transmitting a third control signal over a third communication channel, wherein a second end device receives the first and third control signals over the first and third communication channels, wherein receipt of the first and third control signals over the first and third communication channels enables a different level of communication capability than receipt of the first and second control signals over the first and second communication channels.
20. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further comprise:
transmitting a third control signal over a third communication channel, wherein a second end device receives the first, second, and third control signals over the first, second, and third communication channels, wherein receipt of the first, second, and third control signals over the first, second, and third communication channels enables a different level of communication capability than receipt of only the first and second control signals over the first and second communication channels.
21. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further comprise:
identifying the first and second communication channels from a plurality of communication channels based on reception capabilities of the end device.
22. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein payload data is transmitted over the first or second communication channel.
23. The data processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second physical communication channels are different instances of a same type of channel.
24. A system for controlling communication capabilities of an end device within a discrete location, the system comprising:
a first communication link;
a second communication link physically different from the first communication link;
a server communicating with the end device over the first and second communications links, the server being configured to:
detect connection of the end device over a first communication channel having a first distance range of communication;
transmit to the end device, over the first communication channel, information on a second communication channel physically different from the first communication channel, for enabling the end device to receive control signals over the second communication channel, wherein the second communication channel has a second distance range of communication;
transmit a first control signal over the first communication link;
transmit a second control signal over the second communication link, wherein the second control signal is configured to be confined to the discrete location;
determine whether the end device has received the first and second control signals; and
in response to determining that the end device has received the first and second control signals, enable a particular communication capability of the end device in the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels overlap with each other, wherein the particular communication capability is not configured to be enabled on the end device outside of the discrete location where the first and second distance ranges of the first and second communication channels do not overlap with each other.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end device is a portable end device enabled to be moved in and out of the discrete location.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the information is a characteristic of the second communication channel.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the characteristic is at least one of a frequency, key, or network ID, for accessing the second communication channel.