Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-21
2004-06-22
Tran, Sinh (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S572000, C455S343100, C455S343200, C455S343300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06754513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a circuit configuration for identification of a mobile station that is associated with a base station used in particular for identification systems. The mobile station can be an ID transmitter that is carried by a user. One significant field of application is remote controls for vehicle technology, in which the ID transmitter carried on the driver's body is used to initiate functions on a vehicle, which is acting as the base station. In particular, these functions include unlocking the door, enabling the immobilizer, and/or initiating functions on the ID transmitter, such as status indications.
An autonomous power supply is generally provided in each of the mobile station and the base station. In order firstly to minimize the physical size and weight of such a power supply, and secondly to maximize the operating life as far as possible, the power consumption of the stations should be kept as low as possible. Minimizing power consumption is of major importance, particularly for portable mobile stations.
The prior art shows various methods for minimizing power consumption. One method envisages that the mobile station is provided with a receiver having a particularly low current draw in order to reduce the power consumption, and that the base station transmits only upon operation by the user. A disadvantage in this case is that the current-saving receivers used have a broad bandwidth and are sensitive to interference so that their range is only short; furthermore, the user convenience is only low, since active operation is always required.
Other methods have been developed in which the receiver and transmitter in the base station and the mobile station do not operate continuously, but only at occasional periods (e.g., on a clock cycle). However, in order to ensure that a transmitted signal is received, the reception duration must be relatively long, namely corresponding to the clock interval of the transmitter. Although providing for activation to take place only on demand, namely on operation by the user, is possible, such an addition is disadvantageous for user convenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a circuit arrangement for identification of a mobile station having an associated base station that combines the advantages of low power consumption and high user convenience.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for identification of a mobile station associated with a base station. The method includes the following steps.
Providing a base station having a transmitter and a receive r; and a mobile station having a first low-power mode, a second high-power mode, a transmitter, a receiver, and a clock transmitter connected to said receiver for switching on the receiver on a clock cycle, a wake-up unit connected downstream of the receiver, an evaluation unit connected downstream of the wake-up unit, and a reception interval lengthening unit with an input and an output, the input connecting to the wake-up unit, and the output connected to the clock transmitter.
Generating a clock signal in the base station with the clock transmitter. Generating a clock signal in the mobile station with the clock transmitter that is equal length as the clock signal in the base station. Transmitting periodically based on the clock signal a base station signal from the base station in the low-power mode. Receiving the base station signal in the mobile station being in the first low-power mode. Determining whether the base station signal is being received in the mobile station. Entering the second high-power mode in the mobile station after the base station signal has been received in the mobile station. Lengthening a time period of reception in synchronism with the clock cycle. And, interchanging identification data between the mobile station and the base station.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method includes producing a wake-up signal in the mobile station. Then, switching of an evaluation unit to an active state once the second high-power mode has been entered. Then, transmitting an unmodulated request signal from the mobile station once the second high-power mode had been entered.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, in the low-power mode, the reception time period of the mobile station is shorter than the transmission time period of the base station. Preferably, the reception time period of the mobile station is one half to one twentieth the transmission time period of the base station. Most preferably, the reception time period of the mobile station is one-tenth the transmission time period of the base station.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the clock period is between one and ten seconds. More preferably, the clock period is between four and six seconds.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the transmission time period is between ten microseconds and one second. More preferably, the transmission time period is between one-hundred microseconds and five milliseconds.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the interchanging of identification data between the mobile station and the base station includes: transmitting a first identification signal by the base station; receiving and evaluating the first identification signal in the mobile station; reverting to the first low power mode in the mobile station if the result is negative and transmitting a second identification signal if the result is positive, and receiving and evaluating the second identification signal in the base station, the base station reverting to the first low-power mode if the result is negative and carrying out an enable function if the result is positive.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the interchanging of identification data between the mobile station and the base station is encrypted based on a changing key. Preferably, this key is a count of the clock transmitter.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method further includes synchronizing the clock transmitters in the base station and in the mobile station. This synchronizing can includes the following steps: checking that the clock in the mobile station and the clock in the base station are unsynchronized and, if this occurs; transmitting a signal for a time period which is at least as long as the clock period minus the time period of reception; transmitting a synchronization signal between the base station and the mobile station, and setting at least one of the mobile station clock transmitter and the base station clock transmitter with the synchronization signal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the synchronization signal is precise with the clock transmitter of the base station.
The invention also encompasses A configuration for identification of a mobile station associated with a base station. The configuration includes the following: a base station having a transmitter and a receiver; and a mobile station having a transmitter and a receiver, and a clock transmitter connected to the receiver for switching on the receiver on a clock cycle, a wake-up unit connected downstream of the receiver, an evaluation unit connected downstream of the wake-up unit, and a reception interval lengthening unit with an input and an output, the input connecting to the wake-up unit , and the output connected to the clock transmitter.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the wake-up unit has an initial evaluation module.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the clock transmitter has an oscillating element and a frequency divider unit. The oscillating element can be a quartz crystal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the frequency divider unit is a programmable counter.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the evaluation unit includes a synchronization module connec
Greenberg Laurence A.
Mayback Gregory L.
Nguyen Huy
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
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