Patent ID: 8416735

Claim:
A method for providing wireless data communications between a mobile unit and an access point of a network and between said mobile unit and at least one peripheral device, comprising: providing said mobile unit with a data communications device, said data communications device including an interface to a host processor of said mobile unit, a data communications digital processor including a control program, and a radio transmitter and receiver; operating said data communications device in accordance with said control program in a first WLAN mode to send association requests to said access point according to a first data communications protocol using said radio transmitter and to provide data communications with said network via said access point using said radio transmitter and receiver; operating said data communications device in accordance with an initiating program included in said control program in a second personal area communications mode, wherein said data communications device receives initiation requests from said at least one peripheral device and forms a permanent association therewith using a modification of said first data communication protocol such that said first data communication device communicates directly with said at least one peripheral device using said radio transmitter and receiver.