Abstract:
The present invention utilizes radio-frequency identification (“RFID”), which consume a small amount of energy, to allow two transceivers with frequency hopping spread spectrum units to discover each other. A first transceiver may, for example, have a first energy capacity, an RFID transceiver, and a first frequency hopping spread spectrum unit. A second transceiver with a lower energy capacity would then have an active RFID tag and a second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for conserving transceiver battery life when using a frequency hopping spread spectrum unit to communicate with a second transceiver. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    When a transceiver, such as a cell phone, using frequency hopping spread spectrums, for example, is constantly searching for a second transceiver the power consumption can rapidly drain the battery of the transceivers. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus for conserving transceiver power. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention conserves power by powering down the transceiver with the lower power capacity. The present invention utilizes radio-frequency identification (“RFID”), which consume a small amount of energy, to allow the two transceivers with frequency hopping spread spectrum units to discover each other. A first transceiver may, for example, have a first energy capacity, an RFID transceiver, and a first frequency hopping spread spectrum unit. A second transceiver with a lower energy capacity would then have an active RFID tag and a second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit. To conserve energy, the second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit in the second transceiver is disabled when not in use. The first transceiver containing the RFID transceiver searches for the active RFID tag of the second transceiver when the first transceiver receives an incoming signal, for example an incoming call, from an external device like a third transceiver. When the RFID transceiver discovers the active RFID tag in the second transceiver, the RFID transceiver sends an activation signal to the active RFID to wake up the second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit in the second transceiver. The first frequency hopping spread spectrum unit and the second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit are then paired together to communicate with the external device. Once communication with the external device is ended, the first frequency hopping spread spectrum unit turns off the second frequency hopping spread spectrum unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be discussed with reference to the following exemplary and non-limiting illustrations, in which like elements are numbered similarly, and where: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of transceivers in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram for conserving power in a transceiver in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the present invention utilizes transceivers such as transceiver  2  and transceiver  10 . Transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  can be, for example, Bluetooth compliant devices. The Bluetooth standard is promulgated by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Transceiver  2  includes a radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) transceiver  4 , a frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6 , and an energy storage unit  8 . Transceiver  10  includes an active RFID tag  12 , a frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 , and an energy storage unit  16 . RFID transceiver  4  is connected to frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6  and frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6  is connected to energy storage unit  8 . Active RFID tag  12  is connected to frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 , and frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  is connected to energy storage unit  8 . 
         [0011]    Energy storage unit  8  has a greater energy capacity than energy storage unit  16 . In another embodiment, energy storage unit  16  can have an equal or greater energy capacity than energy storage unit  8 . The energy capacity of energy storage unit  8  and energy storage unit  16  can also be determined, for example, by whether or not energy storage unit  8  and/or energy storage unit  16  are connected to an external power supply. Transceiver  2  can be, for example, a mobile phone, an automobile, automobile stereo, a computer, a headset, or any other electronic device. Transceiver  10  can be, for example, a mobile phone, an automobile, a computer, a headset, or any other electronic device. 
         [0012]    RFID transceiver  4  can be, for example, an RFID reader. Transceiver  2  could also include any type of RFID tag in addition to RFID transceiver  4 . Likewise although an active RFID tag is used, transceiver  10  could use instead a passive RFID tag, or a semi-passive RFID tag. Transceiver  10  could also include any type of RFID transceiver in addition to active RFID tag  12 . 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the process disclosed in  FIG. 2  can be performed to conserve power in transceiver  10 . In Step S 202 , the process begins. In Step S 204 , transceiver  2  receives an incoming call signal from an external device (not shown). In Step S 206 , transceiver  2  uses RFID transceiver  4  to detect a presence of active RFID tag  12  in transceiver  10 . Frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  in transceiver  10  can be in a disabled state. In Step S 208 , when the presence of active RFID tag  12  is detected by RFID transceiver  4 , RFID transceiver  4  transmits an activation signal to active RFID tag  12 , for example through connection  18 . The activation signal can indicate that active RFID tag  12  should activate frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 . 
         [0014]    In Step S 210 , when active RFID tag  12  receives the activation signal from RFID transceiver  4 , active RFID tag  12  activates frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 . In Step S 212 , transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  are then paired together using frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6  and frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  through connection  20 . In Step S 214 , a user can communicate with the external device using transceiver  2  and transceiver  10 . 
         [0015]    In Step S 216 , after the user has finished communicating with the external device, transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  are disconnected from each other. In Step S 218 , frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  is disabled to conserve power in transceiver  10 . This can be done for example, by having RFID transceiver  4  send a signal to active RFID tag  12 , or it can be done automatically by transceiver  10  upon a pre-determined criteria such as the disconnection between transceiver  10  and transceiver  2  or the termination of communication with the external device. 
         [0016]    By disabling frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 , a power consumption of frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  will be reduced or eliminated. Since active RFID tag  12  can use comparatively less power than frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 , an overall amount of power used by transceiver  10  can be reduced thus prolonging an amount of time that the user has before requiring to re-charge transceiver  10 . In one embodiment, active RFID tag  12  could also receive some power from the waves emitted by RFID transceiver  4 , which could further reduce a power consumption of active RFID tag  12  on energy storage unit  16  and thus prolong an amount of time that the user has before requiring to re-charge transceiver  10 . 
         [0017]    RFID tag  12  can comprise conventional RFID tags adapted to emit periodic identification or beacon signals. In one embodiment, RFID tag  12  is configured to activate an auxiliary system in response to a signal from a remote source. In still another embodiment, RF ID tag  12  is configured to provide an identification signal to RFID receiver  2  confirming its identity. Once identity of device  10  is confirmed, device  2  can take steps to remotely activate device  10 . Remote activation can occur through the RF system or through physical connection. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment of the invention, device  2  can communicate with a plurality of RFID tags (not shown) in the same vicinity. Once an external signal is received by device  2 , it may survey available RFID tags to identify the appropriate device from among the plurality of devices equipped with ID tags. The appropriate device can then be activated as discussed above. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, although RFID transceiver  4  is connected to energy storage unit  8 , which may have a larger energy capacity than energy storage unit  16 , RFID transceiver  4  could be constructed to utilize less energy than frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6 . This could also reduce an amount of power used by transceiver  2 . 
         [0020]    In yet another embodiment, RFID transceiver  4  can send an activation signal to active RFID tag  12  when RFID transceiver  4  detects a presence of active RFID tag  12 . This can be done without transceiver  2  having received an incoming call signal. Furthermore, frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  can remain active so long as transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  are within a predetermined range of each other. When they are within a predetermined rang of each other, transceiver  2  can be paired with transceiver  10  using frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  6  and frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 . Once transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  exceed the predetermined range, transceiver  2  and transceiver  10  can be disconnected from each other. Once they are disconnected from each other, transceiver  10  can disable frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14 . Frequency hopping spread spectrum unit  14  can be activated again when RFID transceiver  4  detects the presence of active RFID tag  12 . 
         [0021]    The present invention can also encompass a system using a first low power unit in a first device and a second low power unit in a second device to activate a high power unit in the second device. This could conserve energy within the second device. The steps disclosed in  FIG. 2  can be performed by a computer and can also be embodied on a computer-readable medium which causes a computer to perform certain functions. Furthermore, the steps can also be executed by a processor. 
         [0022]    While the specification has been disclosed in relation to the exemplary and non-limiting embodiments provided herein, it is noted that the inventive principles are not limited to these embodiments and include other permutations and deviations without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.