Abstract:
A first communication device configured for communications with a second communications device, and related system and method of operation, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the first device includes a first transceiver allowing the first device to send and receive electromagnetic communication signals, and a second transceiver allowing the first device to send and receive capacitive communication signals. The first device includes a control device coupled to the first and second transceivers, whereby the first device is configured for achieving both electromagnetic communications and capacitive communications, respectively, with the second device. In some further embodiments, the first device operates normally in a capacitive mode of communication and only switches to an electromagnetic mode of communication when the capacitive mode is unavailable or inadequate, and/or the first device only communicates with other devices in an electromagnetic mode if those other devices are also capable of communication via the capacitive mode.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to communication systems, particularly wireless communication systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants, and other handheld devices are ubiquitous in the modern world. Among these devices are a variety of short-range wireless communication devices, such as devices equipped for Bluetooth communications, for example, headsets such as mono-headsets or stereo headsets and wrist wearable communication devices. Such communication devices are often capable of forming and communicating by way of personal area networks (PANs). 
         [0003]    Notwithstanding the usefulness and ubiquity of wireless communication devices, including short-range wireless communication devices, such devices are somewhat limited in their capabilities insofar as the devices typically have fairly large, continuous power requirements. More particularly, wireless communication devices typically draw power continuously even while in a standby mode, and consequently such devices are usually incapable of having more than about a 100-hour operational life without recharging. Yet in many circumstances it would be desirable if the life of a wireless communication device was much longer than this, for example, up to 1 year. 
         [0004]    Additionally, as the number of wireless communication devices being used increases, the number of potential interactions among these devices also increases, which in some cases can lead to non-ideal behavior. For example, when a user of a given Bluetooth device enters a crowded environment in which there are other Bluetooth users, the given Bluetooth device typically will operate to survey the environment to identify all other Bluetooth devices that are present with which it could potentially communicate. However, such operation can be undesirable when the number of devices present is large, for example, because the discovery of other devices can slow the overall operation of the given Bluetooth device. This is especially the case if the primary goal of the user of the given Bluetooth device is merely to achieve communications among the user&#39;s own personal Bluetooth devices (e.g., between the user&#39;s phone and headset). 
         [0005]    For at least these reasons, therefore, it would be advantageous if an improved system and method for wireless communications could be developed. More particularly, in at least some embodiments, it would be advantageous if an improved wireless communication device, and/or system/method implementing such device, could be developed in which lower amounts of power were utilized. Also, in at least some embodiments, it would be advantageous if an improved wireless communication device, and/or system/method implementing such device, could be developed that was capable of restricting its operation so as to only communicate with other devices being operated by the same user. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present inventors have recognized that wireless communication devices capable of communication via one or more electromagnetic wireless modes of communication could also be configured so as to be capable of communication in a capacitive wireless mode (or modes) of communication in a manner that would address one or more of the above-described limitations. In some such embodiments, such dual mode wireless communication devices could be operated normally in a capacitive wireless mode of communication rather than an electromagnetic wireless mode of communication, and operated in an electromagnetic wireless mode of communication only when the capacitive wireless mode of communication was unavailable or inadequate for conducting the desired communications, so as to conserve power of the devices. Also, in some such embodiments, the wireless communication device could be configured to identify other wireless devices that were capable of both electromagnetic and capacitive wireless communications, and limit its electromagnetic wireless communications to only those devices that were capable of both types of communications. 
         [0007]    In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a first communication device configured for communications with a second communications device. The first communication device includes a first transceiver allowing the first communication device to send and receive electromagnetic communication signals, and a second transceiver allowing the first communication device to send and receive capacitive communication signals. The first communication device additionally includes a control device coupled to the first and second transceivers, whereby the first communication device is configured for achieving both electromagnetic communications and capacitive communications, respectively, with the second communication device. 
         [0008]    Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of communicating. The method includes transmitting a capacitive communication signal from a first communication device to a second communication device, and transmitting an electromagnetic communication signal from either the first communication device to the second communication device or from the second communication device to the first communication device. The transmitting of the capacitive communication signal precedes, occurs simultaneously with, or occurs after the transmitting of the electromagnetic communication signal. 
         [0009]    Further, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of operating a first communication device. The method includes operating the first communication device in a first mode such that the first communication device is capable of conducting communications with a second communication device by way of a capacitive communication link, and operating the first communication device in a second mode such that the first communication device is capable of conducting communications with the second communication device by way of a RF wireless communication link. The first communication device normally operates in the first mode so that a power dissipation associated with the operating in the second mode is limited. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary group of wireless communication devices, at least some of which are capable of intercommunications by way of each of an electromagnetic wireless communication network and a capacitive wireless communication network; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing exemplary components of one of the wireless communication devices of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3-5  are three flow charts showing various exemplary steps of operation of one or more of the wireless communication devices of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an improved wireless communication system  2  in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention is shown. The wireless communication system  2  includes multiple wireless communication devices, namely, a cellular telephone  4 , a mono-headset  6 , a wrist wearable communication device  8 , and a wireless-enabled personal computer  10 . Three of the devices shown, namely, the cellular telephone  4 , the mono-headset  6  and the wrist wearable communication device  8  are in the possession of, and carried by, a human person  12 . The personal computer  10 , depending upon the embodiment or operational circumstance, can be also in the possession of and be in contact with (or even possibly be carried by) the person  12 . However, in the present embodiment it is intended that the personal computer  10  be a device that is not in contact with, and is somewhat remote from, the person  12 . 
         [0014]    Further as shown, the wireless communication devices  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  each are capable of communicating via a RF wireless communication protocol with one another (and possibly with other devices, not shown). When any two or more of the wireless communications devices  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  are in communication with one another by way of the RF wireless communications protocol, the communicating devices form a RF wireless communication network  14  as shown. The RF (radio frequency) wireless communication network  14  is intended to be representative of any one or more communications links connecting any two or more wireless communication devices, where communication by way of the link(s) occurs by way of any one or more of a variety of different types of RF wireless communication protocols. 
         [0015]    For example, the wireless communication devices  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  forming the network  14  could be configured for communication by way of the Bluetooth communication protocol or the Zigbee communication protocol. Alternatively, the wireless communication devices could be configured for communication in accordance with an ultra-wide band communication protocol. Still, in additional circumstances, one or more of the wireless communication devices could be configured for communication via more than one wireless communication protocol. For example, the cellular telephone  4  could be configured for communication by way of the Bluetooth protocol and also be capable of communication via a conventional cellular communication protocol (e.g., CDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, etc.). Thus, the RF wireless communication network  14  is intended to be representative of multiple RF wireless communication networks, where one of the networks involves Bluetooth and another of the networks involves communication by way of some other RF wireless communication protocol. 
         [0016]    In at least some embodiments of the present invention, the RF wireless communication network  14  is intended to be representative of a personal area network (PAN) allowing for communication between devices that are positioned within several meters of one another (e.g., approximately 10 meters in the case of Bluetooth communications and approximately 30 meters in the case of Zigbee communications). The wireless communication devices, when operated in such a manner, typically would have relatively high transmit power (and/or current) requirements, for example, on the order of 30-40 mA. Further, although  FIG. 1  shows the network  14  to be a RF wireless communication network, the present invention is equally intended to encompass embodiments in which another type of electromagnetic wireless communication network is used instead of, or in addition to, a RF wireless communication network (e.g., a microwave wireless communication network). 
         [0017]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , at least three of the wireless communication devices shown, namely, the cellular telephone  4 , the mono-headset  6  and the wrist wearable communication device  8 , are further capable of communication by way of a second wireless communication technology that is a capacitive wireless communication technology. More particularly, when two or more of the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  are communicating with one another by way of one or more links using the capacitive wireless communication technology, a capacitive wireless communication network  16  is formed. Further as shown, the capacitive wireless communication network  16  relies upon signals being transmitted via the body of the person  12  and, more particularly, by way of skin  18  of the person  12 . Typically, in order for one of the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  to communicate with another one of those devices by way of the capacitive wireless communication technology so as to form the network  16 , the two communicating devices must each be in either direct or near direct contact with the skin  18  of the person  12  (e.g., positioned 0-2 cm away from the skin) or at least within a short distance therefrom (e.g., within a range of up to one meter away from the person). Although a variety of capacitive wireless communication technologies of this type are available or presently being developed, one exemplary capacitive wireless communication technology is the Skinplex communication technology available from Ident Technology AG of Wesling, Germany. 
         [0018]    Communication among the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  by way of the capacitive wireless communication network  16  requires significantly less power/current than communication via the RF wireless communication network  14 . While as discussed above the wireless communication devices  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  each can typically require 30-40 mA of current draw when communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14 , even when operating in a standby mode, the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  only draw approximately 0.2 mA when communicating via the capacitive wireless communication network. In the future, the current draw associated with communicating via a capacitive wireless communication network could be much less, e.g., as little as 0.005 mA or less. Thus, communication among the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  by way of the capacitive wireless communication network  16  is much less power intensive than communication among those devices (and potentially other devices such as the personal computer  10 ) by way of the RF wireless communication network  14 . 
         [0019]    Thus, the system  2  of  FIG. 1  is an exemplary communication system having multiple wireless communication devices that are capable of two manners or modes of communication, namely, a RF wireless communication mode and a capacitive wireless communication mode. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , more specifically, it is the wireless communication devices  4 ,  6  and  8  that are capable of both modes of communication, while the personal computer  10  is only capable of the RF wireless communication mode of communication (however, in other embodiments, the personal computer  10  could also be capable of communicating in both modes). At the same time,  FIG. 1  is intended to be representative of any collection of more than one wireless communication device (e.g., as few as two devices) that are capable of communicating with one another by way of both a RF (or other electromagnetic) wireless communication technique and a capacitive wireless communication technique. In some such embodiments, like the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , only a subset of the total number of communicating devices will be capable of communicating in both modes. 
         [0020]    Further, while  FIG. 1  shows the cellular telephone  4 , the mono-headset  6 , the wrist wearable communication device  8  and the personal computer  10 , these communication devices are only intended to be exemplary. The present invention is intended to encompass communication systems involving two or more wireless communication devices that can be any of a variety of different types of wireless communication devices including, for example, a variety of types of telephones including not just cellular telephones but also other types of wireless telephones, walkie-talkies, a variety of types of wireless-enabled computers including desktop, notebook or laptop computers, a variety of personal digital assistants, handheld computers or other handheld devices, intercom systems, pagers, wireless devices embedded within eyewear such as glasses, wireless devices embedded within garments, various types of headsets, stereos (including car stereos), speakers, and a variety of other devices. 
         [0021]    As will be described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in some embodiments, the dual mode wireless communication devices (e.g., the devices  4 ,  6  and  8  of  FIG. 1 ) are configured to operate such that the devices communicate (or are ready for communicating) in only one of the two modes at any given time. That is, at certain times the wireless communication devices only communicate via the RF wireless communication network  14  and at other times the devices only communicate via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 . However, the present invention is also intended to encompass embodiments where both modes of communication are used or available at the same time, as well as embodiments where communication via one of the modes is always occurring (or available) while communication via the other mode only occurs (or is available) at a limited time or times. 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , there is provided a block diagram illustrating exemplary internal components  30  of the cellular telephone  4  of  FIG. 1 . Although particularly intended to be representative of the internal components of the cellular telephone  4 , the block diagram likewise is possibly representative (depending on the embodiment) of the internal components of the mono-headset  6  and the wrist wearable communication device  8  that are also capable of two modes of wireless communication, and is generally intended to be representative of the internal components of other wireless or mobile communication devices capable of dual mode communications. It will further be understood that the wireless-enabled computer  10  shown in  FIG. 1  also has or can have many or all of the same (or similar) components as are shown in  FIG. 2  as being part of the cellular telephone  4  and as are described in further detail below, albeit to the extent that in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  the computer is not configured for communications via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , the computer need not include the components specifically allowing for such communications. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the internal components  30  of the cellular telephone  4  include a processor  34 , several wireless transceivers  35 , a memory portion  36 , one or more output devices  38 , and one or more input devices  40 . The processor  34  can be any of a variety of different processing devices including, for example, a microprocessor. In at least some embodiments, the internal components  30  include a user interface (not shown) that comprises one or more of the output devices  38  and one or more of the input devices  40 . The internal components  30  can further include a component interface  42  to provide a direct connection to auxiliary components or accessories for additional or enhanced functionality. The internal components  30  preferably also include a power supply  44 , such as a battery, for providing power to the other internal components while enabling the overall cellular telephone to be portable. 
         [0024]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention in which the cellular telephone  4  is capable of both RF (or other electromagnetic) wireless communications and capacitive wireless communications, the wireless transceivers  35  include both at least one transceiver allowing for RF wireless communications and at least one transceiver allowing for capacitive wireless communications. In the particular embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the wireless transceivers  35  include, in addition to a capacitive wireless transceiver  33 , two distinct RF wireless transceivers, namely, a cellular RF wireless transceiver  31  and a personal area network (PAN) RF wireless transceiver  32 . The cellular RF wireless transceiver  31  allows for conventional RF wireless communications between the cellular telephone  4  and another cellular device such as a base station/cell tower (not shown), while it is the PAN RF wireless transceiver  32  that allows for communication with other wireless communication devices that are located within a short range such as the particular other devices  6 ,  8  and  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, in the present embodiment, it is the PAN RF wireless transceiver  32  that allows the cellular telephone  4  to communicate with the devices  6 ,  8  and  10  via the RF wireless communication network  14  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the cellular RF wireless transceiver  31  can be configured for allowing communications in accordance with any of a variety of cellular wireless communication protocols including, for example, CDMA, CDMA2000 and GSM, among others. The PAN RF wireless transceiver  32  can be configured for allowing communications in accordance with any of a variety of PAN wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, or ultra-wideband protocols. In alternate embodiments, the RF wireless transceiver  32  need not be specifically a PAN RF wireless transceiver. The capacitive wireless transceiver  33  can be configured for communications in accordance with any of a variety of capacitive communication protocols including Skinplex as described above. 
         [0026]    The internal components  30  can operate independently and in conjunction with one another to perform a number of functions. For example, upon receiving wireless signals, the internal components  30  detect communication signals and the transceivers  35  in particular are capable of demodulating the communication signals to recover incoming information, such as voice data and/or other data, transmitted by the wireless signals. After receiving the incoming information from one or more of the transceivers  35 , the processor  34  formats the incoming information for the one or more output devices  38  and/or for storage in the memory portion  36 . Similarly, for transmission of wireless signals, the processor  34  formats outgoing information, which can (but need not) be activated by the input devices  40 , and conveys the outgoing information to one or more of the transceivers  35  for modulation to communication signals. 
         [0027]    Further as shown in  FIG. 2 , the input and output devices  3   8 ,  40  of the internal components  30  can include a variety of types of visual, audio and/or mechanical input and output devices. For example, the output device(s)  38  can include a visual output device  46  such as a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode indicator, an audio output device  48  such as a speaker, alarm and/or buzzer, and/or a mechanical output device  50  such as a vibrating mechanism. Likewise, by example, the input devices  40  can include a visual input device  52  such as an optical sensor (for example, a camera), an audio input device  54  such as a microphone, and a mechanical input device  56  such as a flip sensor, keyboard, keypad, selection button, touch pad, touch screen, capacitive sensor, motion sensor, and switch. 
         [0028]    Actions that actuate one or more of the input devices  40  can include, but are not limited to, opening of the cellular telephone, unlocking the phone, moving the phone to actuate a motion, moving the phone to actuate a location positioning system, pressing of a button on the phone, and operating the phone. Additionally as shown in  FIG. 2 , the internal components  30  can also include a location circuit  58 . Examples of the location circuit  58  include, but are not limited to, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a triangulation receiver, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other information-collecting device that can identify a current location of the cellular telephone  4  (or of one or more of its internal components  30 ). 
         [0029]    The memory portion  36  of the internal components  30  can include any number of a variety of different types of memory devices such as random access memory (RAM) devices, and can be used to store and retrieve data. Typically, although not necessarily, operation of the memory portion  36  in storing and retrieving data is governed by commands from the processor  34 . The data that is stored by the memory portion  36  can include, but need not be limited to, operating systems (or other systems software), applications, and data. Each operating system in particular includes executable code that controls basic functions of the cellular telephone  4 , such as interaction among the various internal components  30 , communication with external devices via the transceivers  35  and/or the component interface  42 , and storage and retrieval of applications and data to and from the memory portion  36 . 
         [0030]    As for the applications, each application includes executable code that operates in conjunction with the operating system to provide more specific functionality for the cellular telephone  4 , such as file system service and handling of protected and unprotected data stored in the memory portion  36 . Exemplary applications can include, for example, a discovery application for discovering media on behalf of a user and his/her phone and a download user agent responsible for downloading the media object described by the download descriptor. As for the data that is potentially stored in the memory portion  36 , such data can include, for example, non-executable code or information that can be referenced and/or manipulated by an operating system or application for performing functions of the cellular telephone  4 . Further for example, the data can include files having data with any of a variety of formats, purposes, types or uses including, for example, audio files, photographic or image files, text files, or other data files. 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, one or more (typically, each) of the dual mode wireless communication devices in a system such as the system  2  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., the devices  4 ,  6  and  8 ) operates in a manner such that the device switches between RF wireless communications (e.g., via the RF wireless communication network  14 ) and capacitive wireless communications (e.g., via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 ). In some such embodiments, including the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the device more particularly operates in a capacitive mode of operation involving the capacitive wireless communication network  16  normally, but then at certain other times switches to a RF mode of operation involving the RF wireless communication network  14 . By operating normally in the capacitive mode, and only operating in the RF mode at times where it is appropriate or necessary, power dissipation in the device (as well as the system of devices) is reduced. 
         [0032]    In particular with reference to  FIG. 3 , upon starting operation at a step  60 , the wireless communication device enters a normal, capacitive communication mode in which the device conducts communications via the capacitive wireless communication network  16  at a step  62 . The wireless communication device continues to operate in this normal operational mode until such time as the capacitive wireless communication network  16  fails or is interrupted, at a step  64 . The capacitive wireless communication network  16  can fail for any of a variety of reasons including, for example, when the person holding the wireless device or with respect to whom the wireless device is in proximity sets down the device or otherwise moves away from the device such that the capacitive link is no longer maintainable. When a failure or interruption occurs, the device switches to an alternate, RF communication mode in which the device conducts (or attempts to conduct) communications via the RF wireless communication network  14 . This can involve “turning on” the appropriate RF wireless transceiver of the device (e.g., the transceiver  32  of  FIG. 2 ), as indicated by step  66 . Thus, subsequently, as shown in step  68 , the device is communicating by way of the RF wireless communication network  14 . 
         [0033]    While the RF wireless communication network  14  is operational at step  68 , the wireless device continues to determine whether the capacitive wireless communication network  16  is again in service. Once the capacitive wireless communication network  16  is reestablished at a step  70 , the wireless communication device then proceeds to communicate by way of that network and discontinues communication via the RF wireless communication network  14 . Thus the RF wireless transceiver is turned off at a step  72  and the device returns to its normal, capacitive mode of operation at the step  62 . Although in the present embodiment it is the capacitive communication mode of operation that is the normal mode of operation and it is the RF mode of operation that is the alternate (non-normal) mode of operation, in alternate embodiments, this need not be the case. For example, in some alternate embodiments, once the wireless communication device begins communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14 , it will remain in the RF mode until such time as there is a failure in the RF wireless communication network. In further alternate embodiments, the RF mode can be the normal mode of operation and the capacitive mode could be the alternate mode of operation. In still additional embodiments, the wireless device can be capable of operating in three (or even more) modes, with two or more of the modes being different RF (or other electromagnetic communication) modes (e.g., cellular vs. PAN) or even different capacitive modes. 
         [0034]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , in additional embodiments of the invention, the wireless communication device (e.g., the cellular telephone  4 ) not only switches from a capacitive mode to a RF mode when the capacitive wireless communication network  16  fails, but also switches between those modes when an event occurs that renders the capacitive mode inadequate for the communication purpose. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , upon starting operation at a step  74 , the wireless communication device enters a normal capacitive mode of communications, in which the wireless device communicates via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , at a step  76 . Next, at a step  78 , an event occurs that renders the capacitive wireless communication network  16  inadequate for the desired communications. For example, as shown in step  78 , the wireless device can intend to transmit voice or even image data that is of sufficient volume that the data rate of the capacitive wireless communication network  16  is inadequate for transmitting the data and the higher data rate of the RF wireless communication network  14  is appropriate. Also for example, the quality of the service provided by the capacitive wireless communication network might be become inadequate due to noise or for some other reason. 
         [0035]    When such an event occurs, the wireless device turns on its RF transceiver (e.g., the transceiver  32  of  FIG. 2 ) at a step  80  and then begins communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14 , at a step  82 . So long as the higher data rate of the RF wireless communication network  14  is required, that network remains operational as indicated by step  82 . However, once the need for the data rate of the RF wireless communication network  14  expires, at a step  84 , the RF transceiver is then turned off at a step  86  and the wireless device reverts to communication via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , thus returning to step  76 . Therefore, by following this set of operational steps, the wireless device further minimizes power dissipation by limiting operation of the wireless device in the RF mode to those circumstances in which communication via the RF wireless communication network  14  is necessary, or at least preferable, to communication via the capacitive communication network  16 . It should further be noted that, while in some embodiments the wireless device would switch to the RF mode in both of the circumstances shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in other embodiments the wireless device would only switch in one of those circumstances. 
         [0036]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , the wireless communication device, by way of its dual mode operational capability, in at least some embodiments is further able to operate in a manner in which it identifies a subset of wireless communication devices from a larger set of other wireless communication devices. More particularly, the wireless communication device determines a subset of other wireless communication devices that are not only capable of communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14  but also are capable of communicating via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 . Such operation can be desirable in various circumstances including, for example, circumstances where a given wireless communication device is in the possession of a first person who not only is in possession of one or more other wireless devices but also is in a crowd of other people who are themselves in possession of further wireless devices, all of which are potentially capable of communicating by way of the RF wireless communication network  14  with the given wireless communication device of the first person. By determining a subset of the other devices that are capable of communicating both by way of the RF wireless communication network  14  and by way of the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , the given wireless communication device of the first person is able to identify those of the other wireless devices that are in the possession of (e.g., carried by or at least within close proximity of) the first person. 
         [0037]    More particularly as shown in  FIG. 5 , the given wireless communication device of the first person, which can be the cellular telephone  4  of  FIG. 1 , after starting operation at a step  88  operates so as to be in communication via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , as indicated by step  90 . Over time, the wireless communication device detects various other wireless devices that are capable of communication via the capacitive communication network  16  as those devices also enter into communication via the network, as represented by step  92 . These are devices that are in contact with, or at least in close proximity to, the first person (e.g., devices  6  and  8  of  FIG. 1 ). Further, as indicated by a step  94 , as the given wireless communication device detects the presence of these other wireless devices via the capacitive communication network  16 , the given wireless communication device generates a list A of those detected devices. 
         [0038]    Further as shown, at some time, the given wireless communication device enters into communications via the RF wireless communication network  14 . As indicated by a step  96 , this can occur when a transceiver such as the PAN RF transceiver  32  of  FIG. 2  is turned on. As a result, the RF wireless communication network  14  is operational as shown at a step  98 . Once the given wireless communication device begins communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14 , it identifies other wireless devices that are in communication via that network, as indicated by a step  91 . To the extent that the RF wireless communication network  14  in the present embodiment is a PAN, this operation serves to identify wireless communications devices that are physically proximate to the first wireless communications device. These could include, for example, each of the devices  6 ,  8  and  10  of  FIG. 1 . Once the given wireless communication device detects and identifies the other wireless devices that are present and capable of communicating via the RF wireless communication network  14 , the given wireless communication device generates a list B of those identified devices, at a step  93 . 
         [0039]    By virtue of the information received from the other identified wireless devices, the given wireless communication device is capable of determining correspondences between the devices in the list B that are capable of RF communication and the devices in the list A that are capable of capacitive communication. Upon such correspondences, the given wireless communication device then generates a filtered version of the list B that includes only those of the other wireless devices that are capable of communicating via both the RF wireless communication network  14  and the capacitive wireless communication network  16 , that is, those of the devices in list B that have a corresponding entry in list A, at a step  95 . The filtered version of the list B is then used, at a step  97 , by the given wireless communication device to restrict its interaction with other wireless devices via the RF wireless communication network  14 . 
         [0040]    That is, at step  97 , RF pairing by the given wireless communication device only occurs with the items on the filtered list B, and thus the given wireless communication device only interacts via the RF wireless communication network  14  with those other wireless devices that are also capable of communicating via the capacitive wireless communication network  14 . Since RF communication is restricted to those devices that are capable of communicating via the capacitive wireless communication network, RF communications by the given wireless communication device thus are typically restricted to only those devices that are in the possession of the same, first person who is in possession of the given wireless communication device. For example, in the system of  FIG. 1 , the cellular phone  4  will restrict its communications via the network  14  to the headset  6  and wrist wearable communication device  8 , and not communicate with the computer  10 . Finally, at a subsequent time as indicated by a step  99 , the RF transceiver is turned off (either for reasons such as those discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  or for other reasons) and the given wireless communication device returns to the capacitive mode of operation at the step  90 . 
         [0041]    The present invention is intended to encompass many variations of the devices, systems and functionality described above. For example, it is also a possibility that the detection operation described with respect to  FIG. 5  can allow for the given wireless communication device to instruct other wireless devices to turn off when they are no longer in communication via the capacitive wireless communication network  16 . Further, in some embodiments, the ability to exchange information via the capacitive wireless communication network permits a RF link to be automatically established with no intervention from the user. That is, while typically a user must actively approve a wireless connection for each new device through a host device (e.g., the phone  4 ), in some embodiments of the present invention the capacitive communication capability of a device can be the determining factor as to whether that device is allowed to be in RF communications with another device such as the host device. 
         [0042]    Additionally, in some embodiments, to avoid other devices being automatically being added when they come into contact with a user, a host device (such as the phone  4 ) can be set to different modes (e.g., accept all, accept only selected, or off). Thus, in a variety of manners, the present invention can provide a simple, intuitive mechanism for establishing desired, and sometimes restricted, communications among various wireless devices. Further, while the embodiment described above with respect to  FIG. 5  envisions limiting the RF communications of a given device to those devices that are also capable of capacitive communications, in alternate embodiments the reverse could be the case, where the capacitive communications of a given device with respect to other devices was limited to those other devices that were also capable of RF communications. Also, while in the above-discussed embodiments it is envisioned that the body of a human being will serve as a medium for capacitive wireless signals, the present invention is also intended to encompass embodiments where some other living (e.g., a live animal) or inanimate object serves as a medium for capacitive wireless signals. 
         [0043]    It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.