Patent attributes
An apparatus to facilitate wireless communication where one side of the link is designed for ultra-low power consumption. The apparatus comprises two types of transceivers: a full function transceiver (called the “Controller”) and a reduced function transceiver (called the “Terminal”), which are normally connected in a “star” network configuration (i.e. several Terminals communicating with one Controller). The Controller communicates with Terminals directly using chirp signals which contain the modulated data to be transmitted. The Terminal communicates with the Controller by re-transmitting “carrier” chirp signals which have been sent to it by the Controller. In this way the Terminal does not generate any of its own RF signals, thereby reducing its power consumption. The Terminals may not communicate directly with each other, only indirectly through the Controller.
