U.S. patent application number 15/764262 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-25 for wearable wireless access point.
This patent application is currently assigned to VORBECK MATERIALS CORP.. The applicant listed for this patent is VORBECK MATERIALS CORP.. Invention is credited to TRENTICE V BOLAR, MATHEW A HUDSPETH, JOHN S LETTOW, SRIRAM MANIVANNAN.
Application Number | 20180310360 15/764262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57835063 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180310360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LETTOW; JOHN S ; et
al. |
October 25, 2018 |
WEARABLE WIRELESS ACCESS POINT
Abstract
Embodiments relate to systems and methods to enable
communication between computing devices. The system comprises a
cellular-based RF source. A mobile computing device(s) is
communicatively coupled to the RF source via a first wireless
signal received thereby at a first signal strength. An antenna(s)
is positioned proximate to the surface of a wearable item and
comprises a conductor element(s) fabricated using a polymer(s) and
fully exfoliated graphene sheets. A control circuit(s) is
positioned proximate to the surface and in communication with the
antenna. The control circuit communicates, via the antenna, with
the RF source via a second wireless signal; communicates, via a
second antenna, with the mobile device via a third wireless; and
cause the mobile device to communicate with the RF source via the
third wireless signal when it's strength is greater than the first
wireless signal.
Inventors: |
LETTOW; JOHN S; (WASHINGTON,
DC) ; MANIVANNAN; SRIRAM; (BALTIMORE, MD) ;
HUDSPETH; MATHEW A; (CATONSVILLE, MD) ; BOLAR;
TRENTICE V; (WASHINGTON, DC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VORBECK MATERIALS CORP. |
JESSUP |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
VORBECK MATERIALS CORP.
JESSUP
MD
|
Family ID: |
57835063 |
Appl. No.: |
15/764262 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
July 22, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US16/43680 |
371 Date: |
March 28, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62196281 |
Jul 23, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 76/14 20180201;
H04W 76/15 20180201; H04B 17/318 20150115; H04W 88/08 20130101;
H04W 36/30 20130101; H04W 52/245 20130101; G06F 1/163 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 88/08 20060101
H04W088/08; G06F 1/16 20060101 G06F001/16; H04W 76/14 20060101
H04W076/14; H04W 76/15 20060101 H04W076/15; H04W 36/30 20060101
H04W036/30 |
Claims
1. A system to enable communication between computing devices
comprising: a radio frequency ("RF") source included in a cellular
network; a mobile computing device communicatively coupled to the
RF source via a first wireless signal received by the mobile
computing device at a first signal strength, the first wireless
signal modulated via a cellular communication protocol; a wearable
item having a surface; an antenna positioned proximate to the
surface and comprising a conductor element, the conductor element
comprising a polymer and fully exfoliated graphene sheets; a
control circuit positioned proximate to the surface and
communicatively coupled to the antenna; the control circuit
configured to: communicate, via the antenna, with the RF source via
a second wireless signal received by the antenna at a second signal
strength, the second wireless signal modulated via the cellular
communication protocol; and communicate, via a second antenna
communicatively coupled to the control circuit, with the mobile
device via a third wireless signal received by the mobile device at
a third signal strength, the third wireless signal modulated via a
non-cellular wireless communication protocol; and cause the mobile
device to communicate with the RF source via the third wireless
signal when the third signal strength is greater than the first
signal strength.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a plurality
of antennas conductively coupled together in an antenna array; and
the control circuit is configured to: communicate, via an antenna
of the plurality of antennas, with the RF source via the second
wireless signal, each of the plurality of antennas receiving the
second wireless signal at a particular second signal strength;
identify an antenna of the plurality of antennas receiving the
second wireless signal at a strongest second signal strength; and
deactivate an antenna of the plurality of antennas that is not the
identified antenna.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured
to identify the antenna at predetermined intervals.
4. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a sensor configured
to capture an acceleration of an antenna of the plurality of
antennas; and wherein identify the antenna comprises identifying,
using sensor data, the antenna of the plurality of antennas when
the captured acceleration data of the antenna of the plurality of
antennas exceeds a threshold rate.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein identifying the antenna of the
plurality of antennas receiving the second wireless signal at the
strongest second signal strength comprises comparing the second
signal strength of each antenna of the plurality of antennas and
thereby identify an antenna of the plurality of antennas associated
with the strongest second signal strength.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein identifying the antenna of the
plurality of antennas receiving the second wireless signal at the
strongest second signal strength comprises identifying an antenna
of the plurality of antennas receiving the particular second signal
strength at a threshold signal strength or greater.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is
selectively positioned proximate to the surface.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is selectively
positioned proximate to the surface.
9. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a sensor conductively
coupled to the control circuit and configured to capture the second
signal strength of an antenna of the plurality of antennas; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to store the captured
second signal strength in a logical table comprising: a plurality
of logical rows each comprising an object identification number
(MD) to identify that particular logical row, each logical row of
the plurality of logical rows corresponding to a record of
information; a plurality of logical columns intersecting the
plurality of logical rows to define a plurality of logical cells,
each logical column of the plurality of logical columns comprising
an OID to identify that particular logical column; and an indexing
element configured to index data stored in the logical table.
10. A method to enable communication between computing devices,
comprising: communicating, via a control circuit communicatively
coupled to an antenna, with a radio frequency ("RF") source via a
first wireless signal received by the antenna at a first signal
strength, the RF source conductively coupled to a mobile device via
a second wireless signal, the mobile device receiving the second
wireless signal at a second signal strength, the control circuit
positioned proximate to a surface of a wearable item, the RF source
included in a cellular network, the antenna comprising a conductor
element, the conductor element comprising a polymer and fully
exfoliated graphene sheets; communicating, via the control circuit,
with the mobile device via a third wireless signal received by the
mobile device at third signal strength; and causing, via the
control circuit, the mobile device to communicate with the RF
source via the third wireless signal when the third signal strength
is greater than the second signal strength.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating with the RF
source comprises: communicating, via the control circuit
communicatively coupled to the antenna, with the RF source via the
first wireless signal, the antenna comprising a plurality of
antennas conductively coupled together in an antenna array, each of
the plurality of antenna receiving the first wireless signal at a
particular first signal strength; identifying, via the control
circuit, an antenna of the plurality of antennas receiving the
first wireless signal at a strongest first signal strength; and
deactivating, via the control circuit, an antenna of the plurality
of antennas that is not the identified antenna.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the antenna
comprises comparing, via the control circuit, the first signal
strength of each antenna of the plurality of antennas to one
another thereby identifying an antenna of the plurality of antennas
receiving the first wireless signal at a strongest first signal
strength.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the antenna
comprises identifying, via the control circuit, an antenna of the
plurality of antennas comprising a first signal strength greater
than a threshold signal strength.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing, via a
sensor communicatively coupled to the control circuit, an
acceleration rate of an antenna of the plurality of antennas;
wherein identifying the antenna comprises identifying the antenna
of the plurality of antennas when the captured acceleration rate of
the antenna exceeds a threshold rate.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: capturing, via a
sensor conductively coupled to the control circuit, the first
signal strength of an antenna of the plurality of antennas; and
storing, via the control circuit, the captured first signal
strength in a logical table comprising: a plurality of logical rows
each comprising an object identification number (OID) to identify
that particular logical row, each logical row of the plurality of
logical rows corresponding to a record of information; a plurality
of logical columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to
define a plurality of logical cells, each logical column of the
plurality of logical columns comprising an OID to identify that
particular logical column; and an indexing element that indexes
data stored in the logical table.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a 371 of International Application No.
PCT/US16/43680 filed Jul. 22, 2016, which claims the benefit of
Provisional Application No. 62/196,281 filed Jul. 23, 2015. Both
applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Wireless electronic devices are devices that can store,
process, and/or transmit data and are generally perceived to be a
part of modern life. For example, data can be wirelessly
transmitted via radio frequency ("RF") signals. However, RF signal
strength can be attenuated due to a variety of factors (e.g.,
distance between transmitter and receiver, electrically conductive
materials, wave reflections, as well as other RF attenuating
factors). Users of portable wireless electronic devices typically
desire data transfer rates comparable to their home and/or primary
networks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an environment,
generally 100, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a RF transmission
scheme, generally 200, in accordance with several embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of components of a computing
device, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section view of a layer of WWAP
110, in accordance with several embodiments.
[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section view of a layer of WWAP
110, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates operation steps of the system to enable
communication between computing device of FIG. 1, according to
several embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a table structure of a logical table, in
accordance with several embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The descriptions of the various embodiments have been
presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be
exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many
modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the
described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to
best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical
application or technical improvement over technologies found in the
marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to
understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0011] In the figures, elements having an alphanumeric designation
may be referenced herein collectively or in the alternative, as
will be apparent from context, by the numeric portion of the
designation only. Further, the constituent parts of various
elements in the figures may be designated with separate reference
numerals which shall be understood to refer to that constituent
part of the element and not the element as a whole. General
references, along with references to spaces, surfaces, dimensions,
and extents, may be designated with arrows.
[0012] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general
principles of exemplary embodiments. Reference throughout this
specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "some
embodiments", "an implementation", "some implementations", "some
applications", or similar language means that a particular feature,
structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment,"
"in some embodiments", "in some implementations", and similar
language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily,
all refer to the same embodiment.
[0013] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments,
systems, devices, and methods are provided herein useful to
enabling communication between computing devices. In some
embodiments, the system comprises one or more radio frequency
("RF") sources included in a cellular network (e.g., cell
site/tower, base transceiver station, telecommunication node, as
well as any computing device that can transmit and/or receive
RF's). Each mobile computing devices may be communicatively coupled
to one of the RF sources via a first wireless signal received by
the mobile computing device at a first signal strength. The first
wireless signal can be modulated via a cellular communication
protocol.
[0014] The system, for example, may also comprise one or more
wearable items each having a surface(s). At least one antenna can
be positioned proximate to one of the surfaces and comprise one or
more conductor elements, in accordance with an embodiment. In some
aspects, each conductor element may comprise a polymer(s) and fully
exfoliated graphene sheets. In other embodiments, one or more
control circuits can be positioned proximate to the surface and
communicatively coupled to at least one of the antennas. In yet
still other embodiments, at least one of the control circuit may be
configured to communicate, via the antenna(s), with the RF source
via a second wireless signal received by the antenna(s) at a second
signal strength, the second wireless signal modulated via the
cellular communication protocol(s).
[0015] For example, at least one of the control circuits may be
configured to communicate, via a second antenna(s) communicatively
coupled to the control circuit, with the mobile device(s) via a
third wireless signal(s) received by the mobile device at a third
signal strength, the third wireless signal modulated via a
non-cellular wireless communication protocol(s). In some
embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to cause each of
the mobile devices to communicate with one of the RF sources via
the third wireless signal(s) when the third signal strength is
greater than the first signal strength.
[0016] In some embodiments, one or more of the antennas comprise a
plurality of antennas conductively coupled together in one or more
antenna arrays. For example, at least one of the control circuits
may be configured to communicate, via one or more antennas of the
plurality of antennas, with one or more of the RF sources via the
second wireless signal, each of the plurality of antennas receiving
the second wireless signal at a particular second signal strength;
identify one or more antennas of the plurality of antennas
receiving the second wireless signal at a strongest second signal
strength; and deactivate the antennas of the plurality of antennas
that are not identified.
[0017] In other embodiments, the control circuits can be configured
to identify the antenna at predetermined intervals. The system may
further comprise one or more sensors each configured to capture an
acceleration of at least one of the antennas of the plurality of
antennas, in accordance with several embodiments. For example, the
step of identifying at least one of the antennas can comprise
identifying, using sensor data, the antennas of the plurality of
antennas when the captured acceleration data of the identified
antenna exceeds a threshold rate. In still other embodiments, the
step of identifying the antennas of the plurality of antennas
receiving the second wireless signal at the strongest second signal
strength can comprise comparing the second signal strength of each
antenna of the plurality of antennas and thereby identify antennas
of the plurality of antennas that are associated with the strongest
second signal strength.
[0018] In yet still other embodiments, the step of identifying
antennas of the plurality of antennas receiving the second wireless
signal at the strongest second signal strength can comprise
identifying antennas of the plurality of antennas receiving the
particular second signal strength at a threshold signal strength or
greater. In several embodiments, one or more of the control
circuits can each be selectively (e.g., user-defined) positioned
proximate to the surface (i.e., have various attachment
points/sites on one or more surfaces of the wearable item). In
other embodiments, one or more of the antennas can be selectively
(e.g., user-defined) positioned proximate to the surface (i.e.,
have various attachment points/sites on one or more surfaces of the
wearable item).
[0019] In additional embodiments, the system may further comprise
one or more sensors each conductively coupled to at least one of
the control circuits and configured to capture the second signal
strength of one or more antennas of the plurality of antennas. For
example, each control circuit can be configured to store the
captured second signal strength in one or more logical tables each
comprising: a plurality of logical rows each comprising an object
identification number (OID) to identify that particular logical
row, each logical row of the plurality of logical rows
corresponding to a record of information; a plurality of logical
columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to define a
plurality of logical cells, each logical column of the plurality of
logical columns comprising an OID to identify that particular
logical column; and one or more indexing elements each configured
to index data stored in the logical table. In some embodiments, the
logical table may function and be structured in a similar manner
compared to the data storage and retrieval system
[0020] In several embodiments, the method may comprise
communicating, via a control circuit(s) communicatively coupled to
at least one antenna, with a radio frequency ("RF") source(s) via a
first wireless signal received by the antenna at a first signal
strength, each of the RF sources can be conductively coupled to one
or more mobile devices via a second wireless signal, each mobile
device can receive the second wireless signal at a second signal
strength. For example, each of the control circuits can be
positioned proximate to a surface of a wearable item, at least one
of the RF sources can be included in at least one cellular network.
Each antenna, for example, may comprise one or more conductor
elements each comprising a polymer(s) and fully exfoliated graphene
sheets.
[0021] In several embodiments, the method may comprise
communicating, via the control circuit(s), with at least one of the
mobile devices via a third wireless signal received by each of the
mobile devices at third signal strength. In other embodiments, the
method may comprise causing, via one or more of the control
circuits, at least one of the mobile devices to communicate with
one or more of the RF sources via the third wireless signal when
the third signal strength is greater than the second signal
strength. In yet still other embodiments, the step of communicating
with at least one of the RF sources comprises communicating, via at
least one of the control circuits communicatively coupled to the
antenna, with at least one of the RF sources via the first wireless
signal, at least one of the antennas can comprise a plurality of
antennas conductively coupled together in one or more antenna
arrays.
[0022] Here, for example, each of the plurality of antennas can
receive the first wireless signal at one or more particular first
signal strengths. In some embodiments, the step of communicating
with at least one of the RF sources comprises identifying, via one
or more of the control circuits, one or more antennas of the
plurality of antennas receiving the first wireless signal at a
strongest first signal strength; and deactivating, via one or more
of the control circuits, at least one of the antennas of the
plurality of antennas that is not an identified antenna.
[0023] In other embodiments, the step of identifying the antenna
comprises comparing, via one or more of the control circuits, the
first signal strength of each antenna of the plurality of antennas
to one another thereby identifying antennas of the plurality of
antennas receiving the first wireless signal at a strongest first
signal strength. In yet still other embodiments, the step of
identifying the antenna(s) comprises identifying, via at least one
of the control circuits, at least one of the antennas of the
plurality of antennas comprising a first signal strength greater
than a threshold signal strength. In several embodiments, the
method further comprises capturing, via one or more sensors
communicatively coupled to at least one of the control circuits, an
acceleration rate for one or more antennas of the plurality of
antennas. In other embodiments, the step of identifying the
antenna(s) can comprise identifying the antenna(s) of the plurality
of antennas when the captured acceleration rate of the antenna
exceeds a threshold rate.
[0024] In several embodiments, the method can comprise capturing,
via one or more sensors each conductively coupled to one or more of
the control circuits, the first signal strength of an antenna of
the plurality of antennas; and storing, via one or more of the
control circuit, the captured first signal strength in one or more
logical tables. Here, for example, a logic table may comprise a
plurality of logical rows each comprising one or more object
identification numbers (OID) to identify that particular logical
row (e.g., each logical row of the plurality of logical rows may
correspond to one or more records of information); a pluralities of
logical columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to
define a plurality of logical cells, each logical column of the
plurality of logical columns can comprise one or more OIDs to
identify that particular logical column; and one or more indexing
elements that indexes data stored in one or more of the logical
table.
[0025] Mobile devices, such as computing tablets, wearable
computing devices, and cellular ("cell") phones, are generally
perceived as a part of modern life. Mobile devices can communicate
with other computing devices via electrical conductors (i.e. wired
communication) and/or radio frequency ("RF") waves (i.e. wireless
communication). In some aspects, mobile device users may desire the
ability to engage in wireless communication (e.g., data transfer,
data downloads, media streaming, etc.) regardless of their current
environment. Users typically desire an ability to transfer data at
a rate that is comparable to that achieved on their home/primary
network. Users typically desire a signal strength capable of
supporting such data transfers. However, data transfer rate
typically deteriorate in relation to RF signal strength
deterioration.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system to enable
communication between computing devices, generally 100, in
accordance with some embodiments. For example, system 100 may
include one or more radio frequency ("RF") sources 120 and one or
more computing devices 130, wherein each computing device can
communicate with a RF source 120 via a transmission line 140. In
some embodiments, source 120 can be a computing device that
transmits and receives RF signals, such as a cell phone tower (i.e.
a Base Transceiver Station). For example, RF source 120 can be a
network equipment component that facilitates wireless communication
between mobile devices, such as computing device 130, and a
network, e.g., a cellular network. In some embodiments, RF source
120 can be a raised structure that supports one or more antennas as
well as one or more sets of transmitters, receivers, transceivers,
digital signal processors, control electronics, global positioning
receivers for timing (e.g., CDMA2000/IS-95 or GSM systems) primary
and backup electrical power sources, and sheltering. In other
embodiments, RF source 120 can be a base transceiver station. For
example, RF source 120 can transmit and/or receive one or more
wireless signals that are modulated via one or more wireless
communication protocols (e.g., GSM, CDMA, wireless local loop,
Wi-Fi, WiMAX, a wide area network, a cellular communication
protocol, as well as any wireless communication protocol that is
compatible with mobile computing devices).
[0027] In certain embodiments, computing device 130 can be a mobile
computing device that can transmit and/or receive data wirelessly.
In some aspects, mobile computing devices are computing devices
that can be held and operated in the user's hand. For example,
computing device 130 can be a cellular phone, a computing tablet, a
phablet, a wearable computing device, a laptop computer, a desktop
computer, or any computing device that can transmit and/or receive
data wirelessly with RF source 120. In some embodiments, computing
device 130 can communicate wirelessly, e.g., RF source 120, using
any appropriate IEEE protocol, such as 802.11 and/or 802.15
[0028] For example, signal strength can affect the quality of
wireless communication between computing devices, e.g., computing
device 130 and RF source 120. Signal strength can refer to the
transmitter power as received by a reference antenna at a distance
from the transmitting antenna and may be expressed in terms of
dB-microvolts per meter ("dBmV/m") for high-powered transmissions,
such as broadcasting, as well as dB-microvolts per meter ("dB
.mu.V/m") or decibels above a reference level of one milliwatt
("dBm") for low-powered systems, such as mobile computing
devices.
[0029] For example, although there are cell phone base stations
installed across many nations globally, there may still exist areas
having reduced RF reception (e.g., basements, building interiors,
rural and/or urban areas having few or no base stations, an area
having one or more environmental conditions that can reduce RF
reception). Such environmental conditions may include, but are not
limited to, weather, distance between receiver and transmitter,
physical impediments such as fauna, buildings, being beyond or near
the transmission range of source RF transmitters as well as
structural impediments, such as walls and ceilings, which can block
or reduce RF transmission rates, and similar physical
structures
[0030] Such environmental conditions may also include, but are not
limited to, users being away from one's home network, in the case
of mobile devices that only communicate via Wi-Fi or similar
non-cellular IEEE communication protocols. For example, standard
construction walls can reduce the RF transmission distance by up to
50%. Metal enclosures, reflective insulation materials, reflective
window treatments, as well as RF interference can degrade RF signal
strength.
[0031] In some embodiments, communication between computing device
(e.g., computing devices 130 and RF sources 120) can be facilitated
via wearable wireless access point ("WWAP") 110 (discussed below).
In other embodiments, WWAP 110 can be an apparatus worn on the
person of a mammal, such as a human, a canine, a cat, or a horse,
that facilitates communication between computing devices (e.g.,
computing device 130 and RF source 120), in accordance with some
embodiments. WWAP 110 can, for example, be a wearable container,
e.g., baggage items or garment items. In some embodiments,
applicable baggage items can include, but are not limited to,
backpacks, suitcases, purses, shoulder bags, duffle bags, luggage,
pouches, pocketbooks, and similar items. In certain embodiments,
applicable garment items include, but are not limited to shirts,
trousers, skirts, dresses, vests, uniform, headwear, collars,
vests, saddles, harnesses, as well as any garment items that can be
worn by mammals.
[0032] In some embodiments, WWAP 110 may comprise one or more
communication devices 112, batteries 116, data stores 119, devices
118, and sensors 117 each conductively coupled to one or more
control circuits 108. For example, control circuit 108 can be
configured to perform one or more of the steps, functions, and/or
procedures disclosed in the instant application. In certain
embodiments, battery 116 is a power source that can comprises one
or more electrochemical cells with external connections provided to
power a device (e.g., the one or more control circuits 108). In
other embodiments, battery 116 can be permanently or selectively
affixed to the WWAP 110. In yet still other embodiments, battery
116 can comprise one or more primary cells and/or secondary cells.
For example, battery 116 can be conductively coupled to solar
panels (not shown), which may be affixed to one or more surfaces of
WWAP 110.
[0033] In several embodiments, data store 119 can be an information
repository for the storage and management of data (e.g., data
captured by sensors 117). In certain embodiments, data store 119
comprises several interconnected repositories (e.g., parallel
systems, distributed databases, self-referential databases, and
similar database systems). Here, one or more repositories may be
located external to WWAP 110. In an embodiment, data store 119
comprises one or more self-referential databases. In an embodiment,
data stores 199 can store information in an index structure to
facilitate rapid searches. For example, text from each cell can be
stored in a key word index which itself can be stored in the table.
In several embodiments, the text cells may include pointers to the
entries in the key word index and the key word index contains
pointers to the cells. Here, this two way association can provides
for extended queries. In certain embodiments, data stores 119 can
store information in one or more logical tables each comprising: a
plurality of logical rows each comprising an object identification
number (OID) to identify that particular logical row, each logical
row of the plurality of logical rows corresponding to a record of
information; a plurality of logical columns intersecting the
plurality of logical rows to define a plurality of logical cells,
each logical column of the plurality of logical columns comprising
an OID to identify that particular logical column; and one or more
indexing elements each configured to index data stored in the
logical table.
[0034] In certain embodiments, the structure of the table 700 can
be a logical structure and not necessarily a physical structure.
Here, memory 524 may be configured in accordance with several
embodiments and need not store the table 700 contiguously. In other
embodiments, the table 700 may further comprise a plurality of rows
710 and a plurality of columns 720. In yet still other embodiments,
a row may corresponds to a record while a column corresponds to an
attribute of a record and the defining characteristics of the
column are stored in a row 708. The intersection of a row and a
column comprises a particular cell, in accordance with several
embodiments. For example, each row may be assigned a unique object
identification number (OID) stored in column 720 and each column
also is assigned a unique OID, indicated in brackets and stored in
row 708. For example, row 710 has an OID equal to "Sensor 1" while
the column 722 has an OID equal to "COMPARE CYCLE 1". As will be
described more fully below, for example, the OID's for both rows
and columns may be used as pointers and a cell 734 may store an
OID. The method for assigning the OID's will also be discussed
below.
[0035] In certain embodiments, each row, corresponding to a record,
may include information in each column; however, a row need not,
and generally will not, have data stored in every column. For
example, the type of information associated with a column is known
as a `domain`. Standard domains supported in most database systems
include text, number, date, and Boolean. The present invention
includes other types of domains such as the OID domain that points
to a row or column. The present invention further supports
`user-defined` domains, whereby all the behavior of the domain can
be determined by a user or programmer. For example, a user may
configure a domain to include writing to and reading from a storage
medium and handling operations such as equality testing and
comparisons. In an embodiment, individual cells may be accessed
according to their row and column OID's.
[0036] For example, using the cell as the unit of storage improves
many standard data management operations known in the art that
previously required the entire object or record (e.g., versioning,
security, hierarchical storage management, appending to remote
partitions, printing, and other standard data operations known in
the art). Each column has an associated column definition, which
determines the properties of the column, such as the domain of the
column, the name of the column, whether the column is required and
other properties that may relate to a column, in accordance with
certain embodiments. The table 700 supports columns that include
unstructured, free text data. In certain embodiments, the system
must generate a unique OID when columns and rows are formed. In
other embodiments, OID domains can be used to store OID's, which
are pointers to other records. For example, an efficient query can
use these OID's to go directly to another record, rather than
searching through columns. In some embodiments, the logical tables
may be structured and/or operationally defined in a manner similar
to the logical tables disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,604 filed
Mar. 28, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0037] In some embodiments, device 118 can be a computing device
configured to utilize any appropriate wireless communication
protocol known in the art to communicate with one or more RF
sources 120 (e.g., LTE, GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA, Band 2/25 (1850 MHz),
Band 4 (1710-1755/2110-2155 MHz), Band 5 (824-894 MHz), Band 13
(746-787 MHz), Band 17 (704-746 MHz), and/or Band 12 (699-746 MHz),
as well as any high speed wireless communication protocol). In
certain embodiments, device 118 can comprise one or more copies of
antenna 114. For example, device 118 may comprise a multiple copies
of antenna 114 conductively coupled together in one or more antenna
arrays.
[0038] Device 118 can be configured to selectively utilize one or
more of the antennas 114 conductively coupled thereto to
communicate with one or more computing devices (e.g., RF sources
120), in accordance with some embodiments. Antennas 114 may be
selected for such communication when their received signal strength
is the highest amongst other antennas 114 and/or at least a
threshold signal strength, in accordance with certain embodiments.
Antenna 114 can be a dipole antenna, fractal antenna, patch
antenna, and/or any conductive element that can be used to
communicate with RF source 120, in accordance with certain
embodiments.
[0039] For example, each of the antennas 114 of the antenna array
may comprise a plurality of conductive elements each oriented at a
different angle relative to each other and/or RF source 120 and
thereby increase the probability that a desired signal strength can
be achieved for one or more particular antennas 114. Mammalian body
tissue is typically a lossy medium; hence waves propagating through
mammalian body tissue may attenuate greatly prior to reaching the
specific receiver. RF waves travel more slowly in a lossy medium.
Not to be limited by theory, the further an antenna is positioned
away from the body the closer its performance is to that in free
space, which may also be influenced by antenna type, structure, and
matching circuit. WWAP 110 may include one or more insulating
layers on which antennas 114 may be positioned to reduce any
"lossy" effect the antennas 114 may experience, in accordance with
some embodiments.
[0040] For example, each antenna 114 can comprise one or more
conductive elements, in accordance with some embodiments. For
example, one or more of the conductive elements can be formed using
a conductive composition ("the composition"). The composition can
comprise one or more polymers and fully exfoliated single sheets of
graphene, in accordance with some embodiments. Antenna 114, for
example, can be printed on to a surface of a substrate and then
affixed to WWAP 110 or printed directly on to a surface of WWAP
110. Antenna 114 may comprise one or more flexible conductive
components and/or materials that facilitate conformance to dynamic
and/or non-uniform surfaces, such as mammalian body types, in
accordance with certain embodiments.
[0041] In some embodiments, the composition, substrates, and/or
graphene sheets can be derived, printed, applied, and/or formed
utilizing a variety of methods, including but not limited to
methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,901 B2 to Prud'Homme et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,485 B2 to Crain et al., U.S. Pat. No.
8,278,757 B2 to Crain et al., and U.S. Patent Application No.
2011/0189452 A1 to Lettow et al., which are each hereby
incorporated herein in their entirety. The graphene sheets
preferably have a maximum surface area of 2630 m.sup.2/g, in
accordance with certain embodiments. In several embodiments, the
graphene sheets are present in the polymer as a three-dimensional
percolated network (e.g., a continuous three dimensional network
comprising continuous chains of graphene sheets). In other
embodiments, the three-dimensional percolated network comprises a
graphene sheet network comprising nanometer scale separation at the
contact points between individual sheets. In yet still other
embodiments, individual graphene sheets may comprise imperfections
in its lattice network (i.e., kinks) that facilitate the
interlocking of individual graphene sheets in the percolated
network.
[0042] Communication device 112 can be an electronic device that
facilitates communication between computing devices 130 and WWAP
110 using one or more wireless communication standard known in the
art, in accordance with an embodiment. For example, communication
device 112 may comprise one or more electronic components (e.g.,
one or more transceivers that can communicate via one or more
frequencies; one or more software- and/or hardware-based
controllers that can control the reception and transmission
functions of the transceiver; one or more duplexers and/or a
diplexers).
[0043] Communication device 112, in certain embodiments, can
comprise one or more antennas 115 that may be utilized to
communicate with computing device (e.g., mobile devices 130) via
transmission line 142 using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and/or other similar
wireless local area networking protocols that facilitates
communication between computing devices 130 and WWAP 110. In
certain embodiments, the antennas 115 can comprise conductive
elements comprised of metals, metallic materials, conductive
polymers, and/or the composition (discussed above). For example,
antennas 115 can be formed utilizing methods similar to those of
antennas 114.
[0044] WWAP 110, in some embodiments, can communicate with
computing device 130 and source 120 via RF transmission lines 142
and 144, respectively. For example, usage of WWAP 110 is preferred
when computing device's 130 received signal strength associated
with transmission line 142 is greater than computing device's 130
received signal strength associated with transmission line 140
(e.g., because of the greater gain of antennas 114 compared to the
antenna(s) of computing device 130). Transmission line 144 can
typically include one or more wireless signals modulated according
to one or more wireless communication protocols (e.g., LTE, 3G, 4G,
or similar high speed data communication protocols).
[0045] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a RF transmission scheme
(`scheme"), generally 200, in accordance with some embodiments. For
example, scheme 200 can involve source(s) 120 and computing
device(s) 130 in communication with WWAP 110, via transmission line
B and transmission line A, respectively. In certain embodiments, RF
transmission line A can comprise wireless signals modulated
according to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or similar wireless local area
networking communication protocols. RF transmission line B, in
other embodiments, can comprise wireless signals modulated
according to 4G, 3G, LTE, and/or or similar high speed wireless
communication protocols.
[0046] As discussed above, users can utilize WWAP 110, to
facilitate communication between RF sources 120 and computing
devices 130. In certain embodiments, WWAP 110 can comprise a
plurality of antennas 114 (e.g., antennas 114a and 114b) each
having a particular orientation relative to RF source 120.
Computing device 130 and RF source 120 can typically communicate
wirelessly with each other directly (e.g., via transmission line
140 discussed above), but the signal strength computing device 130
is insufficient to support communication of a desired quality
(e.g., a threshold signal strength) due to environmental conditions
(discussed above).
[0047] In some embodiments, the signal strength received at each
particular copy of antenna 114 are compared to each other ("compare
cycle"). For example, during each compare cycle, in response to
determining that the computing device's 130 received signal
strength is insufficient (e.g., below a threshold signal strength)
for desired communication, communication between device 118 and RF
source 120 is initiated. Antennas 114a and 114b are activated. In
response to determining that antenna 114b is receiving a stronger
signal (e.g., a higher dBm value) associated with transmission
signal B compared to antenna 114a, antenna 114a is deactivated.
[0048] In certain embodiments, compare cycles can be initiated at
pre-determined time intervals. In other embodiments, compare cycles
can be initiated in response to determining that an antenna 114 is
receiving a signal below a threshold signal strength. In some
embodiments, compare cycles can be initiated when acceleration data
captured by sensor 117 (e.g., functioning as an accelerometer or
similar device) reflects an acceleration value greater than a
threshold acceleration rate. For example, sensor 117 can be a
computing device that captures acceleration data. When the captured
acceleration data is greater than a predetermined threshold
acceleration rate, WWAP 110 is assumed to have changed orientation
relative to RF source 120. In response to determining one or more
orientational changes associated with WWAP 110, a compare cycle is
initiated. Such orientational changes may have a negative impact on
reception and should be monitored to ensure that one or more
antennas 114 are oriented relative to RF source 120 in a manner to
receive RF signals at a threshold signal strength or more.
[0049] In still other embodiments, sensor 117 can be a computing
device that captures positional information associated with the
WWAP 110. For example, compare cycles can be initiated in response
to determining that positioned information captured via sensor 117
reflects that WWAP 110 has traversed a distance that is greater
than a threshold distance.
[0050] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of components of computing
devices 110, in accordance with several embodiments. Data
processing system 500, 600 is representative of any electronic
device capable of executing machine-readable program instructions.
Data processing system 500, 600 may be representative of a smart
phone, a computer system, PDA, or other electronic devices.
Examples of computing systems, environments, and/or configurations
that may represented by data processing system 500, 600 include,
but are not limited to, personal computer systems, server computer
systems, thin clients, thick clients, wearable computer, hand-held
or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based
systems, network PCs, minicomputer systems, and distributed cloud
computing environments that include any of the above systems or
devices.
[0051] Communication device 112 includes respective sets of
internal components 500 and external components 600 as illustrated
in FIG. 3. Each of the sets of internal components 500 includes one
or more processors 520, one or more computer-readable RAMs 522 and
one or more computer-readable ROMs 524 on one or more buses 526,
and one or more operating systems 528 and one or more
computer-readable tangible storage devices 530. Data can be stored
on one or more of the respective computer-readable tangible storage
devices 530 for execution by one or more of processors 520 via one
or more of the respective RAMs 522 (which typically include cache
memory). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the
computer-readable tangible storage devices 530 is a magnetic disk
storage device of an internal hard drive. Alternatively, each of
the computer-readable tangible storage devices 530 is a
semiconductor storage device, such as ROM 524, EPROM, flash memory
or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that can
store a computer program and digital information.
[0052] Internal components 500 also include a R/W drive or
interface 532 to read from and write to one or more portable
computer-readable tangible storage devices 636, such as a CD-ROM,
DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk or
semiconductor storage device. Data can be stored on one or more of
the respective portable computer-readable tangible storage devices
636, read via the respective R/W drive or interface 532 and loaded
into the respective computer-readable tangible storage devices
530.
[0053] Each set of internal components 500 also includes network
adapters or interfaces 536 such as a TCP/IP adapter cards, wireless
Wi-Fi interface cards, or 3G or 4G wireless interface cards or
other wired or wireless communication links. Data can be downloaded
to communication device 112, respectively, from an external
computer via a network (for example, the Internet, a local area
network or other, wide area network) and respective network
adapters or interfaces 536. From the network adapters or interfaces
536, data is loaded into the respective computer-readable tangible
storage devices 530. The network may comprise copper wires, optical
fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches,
gateway computers and/or edge servers.
[0054] Each of the sets of external components 600 can include a
computer display monitor 620, a keyboard 630, and a computer mouse
634. External components 600 can also include touch screens,
virtual keyboards, touch pads, pointing devices, and other human
interface devices. Internal components 500 also include device
drivers 540 to interface to computer display monitor 620, keyboard
630 and computer mouse 634. The device drivers 540, R/W drive or
interface 532 and network adapters or interfaces 536 comprise
hardware and software (stored in storage device 530 and/or ROM
524).
[0055] Computer program code for carrying out operations of at
least one of the embodiments may be written in any combination of
one or more programming languages, including an object oriented
programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and
conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The program
code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the
user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the
user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the
remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network ("LAN") or a wide area
network ("WAN"), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, though the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider).
[0056] FIGS. 4 and 5 each illustrate a cross section view of WWAP
110, in accordance with some embodiments. Although FIGS. 4 and 5
discuss device 118 and antenna 114, such discussion can be applied
to communication device 112 and antenna 115 as well. In certain
embodiments, antenna 114 can applied to a surface of layer 400 of
WWAP 110. In other embodiments, applicable application methods
include, but are not limited to, screen printing,
electrohydrodynamic printing, and additive manufacturing (e.g., "3D
printing"). Device 118 can be affixed to antenna 114 via one or
more connection points 440, in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0057] For example, connection points 440 can be solder points,
matching connectors, electrically conductive adhesive, or other
applicable conductive coupling method. Although not shown,
communication device 112 can be further affixed to antenna 114
and/or layer 400 via an adhesive (e.g., a non-electrically
conductive adhesive that may allow thermal conduction). In other
embodiments, antenna 114 and device 118 can be applied to a surface
of layer 500 of WWAP 110 distal to each other. In yet still other
embodiments, connection 550 can be applied on to and/or within
layer 400 to conductively couple device 118 and antenna 114. For
example, connection 550 may comprise a conductive tab, a conductive
adhesive, and/or soldering material, a metallic material, metals,
conductive polymers, as well as similar electrically conductive
materials.
[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates operation steps of the system to enable
communication between computing device of FIG. 1, according to
several embodiments. At step 640, device 118 s. via control
circuit(s) 108 communicatively coupled to antenna(s) 114, with RF
source(s), e.g., RF source 120, via a first wireless signal
received by the antenna at a first signal strength. For example, RF
source 120 can be conductively coupled to a mobile device (e.g.,
computing device 130) via a second wireless signal, the mobile
device receiving the second wireless signal at a second signal
strength. In some embodiments, the control circuit(s) 108 can be
positioned proximate to a surface(s) of a wearable item. In other
embodiments, the RF source 120 can be a component of a cellular
network.
[0059] In yet still other embodiments, antenna(s) 114 may comprise
a conductor element(s). For example, each conductor element may
comprise a polymer and fully exfoliated graphene sheets. In several
embodiments, communicating with the RF source(s) comprises the
communication device(s) 112 communicating via the control
circuit(s) communicatively coupled to the antenna(s) 114, with the
RF source(s) 120 via the first wireless signal (step 645). Here,
for example, antenna 114 can comprise a plurality of antennas
conductively coupled together in one or more antenna arrays each
receiving the first wireless signal at a particular first signal
strength. At step 650, an antenna(s) of the plurality of antennas
can be identified that receives the first wireless signal at a
strongest first signal strength, in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0060] At step 652, deactivating, via the control circuit, an
antenna(s) of the plurality of antennas that is not an identified
antenna is deactivated, in accordance with several embodiments. At
step 655, identifying the antenna can comprises comparing, via the
control circuit, the first signal strength of each antenna of the
plurality of antennas to one another thereby identifying an
antenna(s) of the plurality of antennas that are receiving the
first wireless signal at a strongest first signal strength, in
accordance with certain embodiments. In several embodiments,
identifying the antenna(s) may comprises identifying one or more
antennas of the plurality of antennas that may comprise a first
signal strength greater than a threshold signal strength (step
660).
[0061] In additional embodiments, at step 670, communication device
112 can communicate, via the control circuit(s) 108, with the
mobile device via a third wireless signal received by the mobile
device at third signal strength. In some embodiments, at step 675,
the mobile device is caused to communicate with the RF source(s)
via the third wireless signal when the third signal strength is
greater than the second signal strength. At step 680, capturing,
communicatively coupled to the control circuit, via a sensor(s),
e.g., sensor 117, an acceleration rate of one or more antennas of
the plurality of antennas, in accordance with several embodiments.
In certain embodiments, identifying the antenna can comprise
identifying the antenna(s) of the plurality of antennas when the
captured acceleration rate of the antenna exceeds a threshold
acceleration rate.
[0062] At step 685, in additional embodiments, capturing, one or
more sensors conductively coupled to the control circuit, via a
sensor(s), e.g., sensor 117, the first signal strength of an
antenna(s) of the plurality of antennas. In other embodiments, the
captured first signal strength can be stored in a logical table
(step 690). In some embodiments, data store 119 can include file(s)
150. In other embodiments, file(s) 150 can comprise data captured
by one or more sensors 117, in accordance with some
embodiments.
[0063] In certain embodiments, the logical table can comprise a
plurality of logical rows each comprising one or more object
identification numbers (OID) to identify that particular logical
row, where each logical row of the plurality of logical rows can
correspond to one or more records of information. In other
embodiments, the logical table can comprise a plurality of logical
columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to define a
plurality of logical cells, where each logical column of the
plurality of logical columns comprising an OID to identify that
particular logical column. In yet still other embodiments, data
stored in the logical table can be indexed by an indexing
element(s).
[0064] In some embodiments, a system and a corresponding method
performed by the system, comprises: one or more radio frequency
("RF") sources included in a cellular network (e.g., cell
site/tower, base transceiver station, telecommunication node, as
well as any computing device that can transmit and/or receive
RF's). Each mobile computing devices may be communicatively coupled
to one of the RF sources via a first wireless signal received by
the mobile computing device at a first signal strength. The first
wireless signal can be modulated via a cellular communication
protocol.
[0065] The system, for example, may also comprise one or more
wearable items each having a surface(s). At least one antenna can
be positioned proximate to one of the surfaces and comprising one
or more conductor elements. Each of the conductor elements may
comprise a polymer(s) and fully exfoliated graphene sheets. One or
more control circuits can be positioned proximate to the surface
and communicatively coupled to at least one of the antennas. At
least one of the control circuit may be configured to communicate,
via the antenna(s), with the RF source via a second wireless signal
received by the antenna(s) at a second signal strength, the second
wireless signal modulated via the cellular communication
protocol(s).
[0066] At least one of the control circuits may be configured to
communicate, via a second antenna(s) communicatively coupled to the
control circuit, with the mobile device(s) via a third wireless
signal(s) received by the mobile device at a third signal strength,
the third wireless signal modulated via a non-cellular wireless
communication protocol(s). The control circuit may be configured to
cause each of the mobile devices to communicate with one of the RF
sources via the third wireless signal(s) when the third signal
strength is greater than the first signal strength.
[0067] In some embodiments, one or more of the antennas each
comprise a plurality of antennas conductively coupled together in
one or more antenna arrays. For example, at least one of the
control circuits may be configured to communicate, via one or more
antennas of the plurality of antennas, with one or more of the RF
sources via the second wireless signal, each of the plurality of
antennas receiving the second wireless signal at a particular
second signal strength; identify one or more antennas of the
plurality of antennas receiving the second wireless signal at a
strongest second signal strength; and deactivate the antennas of
the plurality of antennas that are not identified.
[0068] In other embodiments, the control circuits can be configured
to identify the antenna at predetermined intervals. The system may
further comprise one or more sensors each configured to capture an
acceleration of at least one of the antennas of the plurality of
antennas, in accordance with several embodiments. For example, the
step of identifying at least one of the antennas can comprise
identifying, using sensor data, the antennas of the plurality of
antennas when the captured acceleration data of the identified
antenna exceeds a threshold rate. In still other embodiments, the
step of identifying the antennas of the plurality of antennas
receiving the second wireless signal at the strongest second signal
strength can comprise comparing the second signal strength of each
antenna of the plurality of antennas and thereby identify antennas
of the plurality of antennas that are associated with the strongest
second signal strength.
[0069] In yet still other embodiments, the step of identifying
antennas of the plurality of antennas receiving the second wireless
signal at the strongest second signal strength can comprise
identifying antennas of the plurality of antennas receiving the
particular second signal strength at a threshold signal strength or
greater. In several embodiments, one or more of the control
circuits can each be selectively (e.g., user-defined) positioned
proximate to the surface (i.e., have various attachment
points/sites on the surface and/or on other surfaces of the
wearable item). In other embodiments, one or more of the antennas
can be selectively (e.g., user-defined) positioned proximate to the
surface (i.e., have various attachment points/sites on the surface
and/or on other surfaces of the wearable item).
[0070] In additional embodiments, the system may further comprise
one or more sensors each conductively coupled to at least one of
the control circuits and configured to capture the second signal
strength of one or more antennas of the plurality of antennas. For
example, each control circuit can be configured to store the
captured second signal strength in one or more logical tables each
comprising: a plurality of logical rows each comprising an object
identification number (OID) to identify that particular logical
row, each logical row of the plurality of logical rows
corresponding to a record of information; a plurality of logical
columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to define a
plurality of logical cells, each logical column of the plurality of
logical columns comprising an OID to identify that particular
logical column; and one or more indexing elements each configured
to index data stored in the logical table.
[0071] In several embodiments, the method may comprise
communicating, via a control circuit(s) communicatively coupled to
at least one antenna, with a radio frequency ("RF") source(s) via a
first wireless signal received by the antenna at a first signal
strength, each of the RF sources can be conductively coupled to one
or more mobile devices via a second wireless signal, each mobile
device can receive the second wireless signal at a second signal
strength. For example, each of the control circuits can be
positioned proximate to a surface of a wearable item, at least one
of the RF sources can be included in at least one cellular network.
Each antenna, for example, may comprise one or more conductor
elements each comprising a polymer(s) and fully exfoliated graphene
sheets.
[0072] In several embodiments, the method may comprise
communicating, via the control circuit(s), with at least one of the
mobile devices via a third wireless signal received by each of the
mobile devices at third signal strength. In other embodiments, the
method may comprise causing, via one or more of the control
circuits, at least one of the mobile devices to communicate with
one or more of the RF sources via the third wireless signal when
the third signal strength is greater than the second signal
strength. In yet still other embodiments, the step of communicating
with at least one of the RF sources comprises communicating, via at
least one of the control circuits communicatively coupled to the
antenna, with at least one of the RF sources via the first wireless
signal, at least one of the antennas can comprise a plurality of
antennas conductively coupled together in one or more antenna
arrays.
[0073] Here, for example, each of the plurality of antennas can
receive the first wireless signal at one or more particular first
signal strengths. In some embodiments, the step of communicating
with at least one of the RF sources comprises identifying, via one
or more of the control circuits, one or more antennas of the
plurality of antennas receiving the first wireless signal at a
strongest first signal strength; and deactivating, via one or more
of the control circuits, at least one of the antennas of the
plurality of antennas that is not an identified antenna.
[0074] In other embodiments, the step of identifying the antenna
comprises comparing, via one or more of the control circuits, the
first signal strength of each antenna of the plurality of antennas
to one another thereby identifying antennas of the plurality of
antennas receiving the first wireless signal at a strongest first
signal strength. In yet still other embodiments, the step of
identifying the antenna(s) comprises identifying, via at least one
of the control circuits, at least one of the antennas of the
plurality of antennas comprising a first signal strength greater
than a threshold signal strength. In several embodiments, the
method further comprises capturing, via one or more sensors
communicatively coupled to at least one of the control circuits, an
acceleration rate for one or more antennas of the plurality of
antennas. In other embodiments, the step of identifying the
antenna(s) can comprise identifying the antenna(s) of the plurality
of antennas when the captured acceleration rate of the antenna
exceeds a threshold rate.
[0075] In several embodiments, the method can comprise capturing,
via one or more sensors each conductively coupled to one or more of
the control circuits, the first signal strength of an antenna of
the plurality of antennas; and storing, via one or more of the
control circuit, the captured first signal strength in one or more
logical tables. Here, for example, a logic table may comprise a
plurality of logical rows each comprising one or more object
identification numbers (OID) to identify that particular logical
row (e.g., each logical row of the plurality of logical rows may
correspond to one or more records of information); a pluralities of
logical columns intersecting the plurality of logical rows to
define a plurality of logical cells, each logical column of the
plurality of logical columns can comprise one or more (Ms to
identify that particular logical column; and one or more indexing
elements that indexes data stored in one or more of the logical
table.
[0076] As various modifications could be made in the constructions
and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from
the scope of some of the embodiments, it is intended that all
matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather
than limiting. Thus the breadth and scope of the embodiments should
not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments,
but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims
appended hereto and their equivalents.
* * * * *