Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-16
2001-09-11
Woo, Stella (Department: 2643)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S002010, C455S500000, C455S508000, C455S466000, C434S336000, C434S350000, C434S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289222
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a one-way or single channel communication network that utilizes electromagnetic radiation in free air space. Such a one-way network is useful for recording group responses to a prompt such as an action, a question, or a stimulus; particularly in those gatherings that require the completion of the registration of all responses in a time span of the order of minutes.
1. Background of the Invention
Many communication network systems have been proposed previously. Most are not wireless and such wired systems would be more expensive to implement because of the costs associated with the purchase and installation of the electrical wires or optical fibre cables. Also, they are extremely difficult to transport to and use in another location. Those systems that are wireless also have disadvantages or limitations. For example, a system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,022 uses infrared (IR) transmission in free air space, but it is not a single-channel system since it entails back and forth or multi-channel communications among the units attached to the network. A multichannel system would be costlier than a single-channel one because each transmitter must also be a receiver. There are also the complications resulting from the need to keep track of the status of all transceivers.
2. Prior Art
Another wireless, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,870, uses a one-way radio-frequency (RF) transmission but the message transmitted is not at a single frequency, not a coded signal, and not tagged with a senders ID. A system employing multi-frequency transmission will cost more than one that uses one frequency. Also, without an ID tagged on the signal the systems utility is limited to that of polling function. One other wireless system is the infrared remote controller used in consumer electronics products and in opening and locking car doors. It is a single channel communication, but it is not a network because there is only the combination of one transmitter and one receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a free-forming one-way network (FON) of a simple design leading to low production costs, ease of use, and portability. A free-forming one-way network is a single-channel communication network system in which the messages transmitted by the network participants flow only to a central receiver and the network can be comprised of any combination of participants.
According to the present invention therefore there is provided a free-forming one-way network, comprising
a plurality of wireless transmitters for the network participants, each said transmitter being adapted to transmit a short message, in the form of a short burst of coded radiation signals at a single or narrow-band frequency in free open air, in response to a prompt such as an action, a question or a stimulus;
a central wireless receiver for detecting the messages sent by the transmitters;
means for decoding and digitizing these messages;
central processing means for receiving, storing and analysing the decoded and digitized messages; and
means for acknowledging to the sender the receipt of the message he or she sent.
In this way, there is provided a one-way or single-channel communication network utilizing electromagnetic radiation signals of a fixed single or narrow-band frequency in free air space, and comprising of a plurality of transmitters and a central receiver in which each message is encoded in a wave train. In a preferred arrangement each signal may be tagged with a sender identity (ID). The central receiver, which can be a single unit or a plurality of units connected in cascade, detects the messages in the free air space and sends them along to a central processing unit (CPU) for message handling.
In a preferred embodiment there may be provided a small display panel on the individual transmitter to show the message to be sent plus the number of attempts to send a message within a preset time. The system may include a central display panel, and the acknowledging means may comprise a change (for example of a colour) of a characteristic symbol on a central display screen visible to the sender providing a confirmation that the message has been received, and each symbol on the display screen may show the number of times a message was received from the corresponding transmitter within a present time.
Even where the transmitters include an ID tag, the CPU means may be provided with an option to ignore that tag or to retain it, depending on the intended application of the system (eg education or mere polling).
The free forming aspect of the system stems from the portability of the ID-encoded transmitters which enable any combination of transmitters to form a communication network, and a plurality of combinations to form a plurality of networks.
A plurality of transmitters (Ts) and receiver (R) comprise the hardware of the FON. Each T has an integrated circuit (IC) and a radiation emitter which are housed inside a pocket-size casing. The memory bank of the IC chip stores the user ID number and a simple message. The message is written on the Ts memory when the user presses on of the buttons on the keypad of the T, and the tagged message is transmitted to the free air space as a sort burst of radiation wave train. If desired, the T can be equipped with a display panel to show the message to be sent and the number of attempts a message was sent. The R consists of similar ICs but with a radiation detector instead of a radiation emitter. It receives the tagged messages transmitted by the plurality of Ts, decodes these in the order received, and sends along the digitized form of the messages to the CPU for analysis and storage. An important preferred feature of the FON is the feedback signal acknowledging to the particular sender that the message has been received, and this could be as simple as a change in the colour of the corresponding labelled block on a central display screen. An added confirmation is to display along with the labelled block the number of times a message has been received since the sender can attempt to send a message more than once.
The reception, analysis and storage of messages detected by the R are handled by the FON software. Before the start of each session, an option is exercised on whether or not the ID tagged to each message will be processed by the CPU. When a session is started, a file name for that session is entered and a data file in the CPU is created. For each round of responses to be solicited in the session, a timer is turned on and a graphic display of the plurality of the Ts as appropriately labelled boxes is projected onto a display screen for all to see. Every message received is stored in the data file. After the preset time has elapsed, all responses are analysed and the summarily results projected for all to see. The cycle is repeated for the next round until the end of the session, at which time an end-of-file is marked on the data file, and the entire file is written onto a data storage device like a hard disk for future retrieval.
The utility of the FON is simplest to envision in an instructional session for job training or education. When the instructor asks a question, generally only a few in the audience would raise their hands in order to be called to respond. Many would not participate actively for fear of being embarrassed. With the use of the FON, all in the audience are equipped with a T and, thus, all can answer in private without any risk of embarrassment Since most instructional questions can be cast in the form of multiple choice, the message can be as simple as a one-digit number tagged with the corresponding ID. This ID can be the unit number of the T, seat number, social security number, or student ID number. The unique free-forming feature of the FON is manifested when personalized IDs are used. For example, in an educational institution like a university, college, or high school, each on of the entire student body can be provided with their own personal pocket-size T which
Cue Nelson
Lee Che Kin
Tam Wing Yim
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Tieu Binh K.
Woo Stella
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