Patent US770443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4742335A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4742335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sequential and/or random polling system with virtually instantaneous response time
Assignee: ADT Services GmbH
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Filing: 1986-06-18
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Granted: 1988-05-03
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Expires: 2006-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A communication system in which a controller ordinarily polls addressable transponders in a sequential or random manner normally allows the transponders to respond only in their respective assigned time period. Certain of the transponders are connected to allow response in a predefined time segment from those transponders so connected if (1) the transponder is in fact programmed for response during this predefined time segment, and (2) the predefined time segment is now occuring. By providing the predefined time segment at the same position in the response time period of each transponder, a "public time" is provided to allow virtually instantaneous identification and verification of a high priority interrupt (such as a holdup alarm). In addition the transponders programmed to respond during public time on a high priority basis can be subdivided into separate groups, and the groups can be identified at the controller.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Vogt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:19
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B26/00; G08B26/001; G08B26/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one preferred time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which time segment one or more transponders can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously have been specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one preferred time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which time segment one or more transponders can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously have been specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 1, in which said predefined time segment occurs within one or more of said time periods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 1, including means for assigning some of said transponders to a first group and others of said transponders to a second group, such that said first and second groups are separately identifiable while the transponders are simultaneously responding to the controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 2, in which certain of said transponders include additional means operable to cause said certain transponders to include said predefined time segment within said certain transponders' time periods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 1, in which said predefined time segment occurs within each of said time periods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 5, in which said predefined time segment occurs at the same interval within each of said time periods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with a plurality of transponders, at least some of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by using a polling technique whch incorporates successive time periods, to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder during one of said time periods, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one public time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which public time one or more transponders, from one or more specified groups, can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously replying have bee specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with a plurality of transponders, at least some of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by using a polling technique whch incorporates successive time periods, to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder during one of said time periods, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one public time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which public time one or more transponders, from one or more specified groups, can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously replying have bee specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 7, in which said public time occurs within one or more of said time periods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 7, including means for assigning some of said transponders to a first group and others of said transponders to a second group, such that said first and second groups are separately identifiable while the transponders are simultaneously responding to the controller in a public time segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 8, in which said public time occurs at the same relative position within each of said time periods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 8, in which certain of said transponders include additional means operable to cause said certain transponders to include or not include said public time within said certain transponders' time periods, thus defining a group of transponders capable of responding in the public time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 11, in which said public time occurs at the same relative position within each of said time periods.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with a plurality of transponders, which transponders have different addresses, and in which the controller and transponders communicate by using a sequential polling technique which incorporates successive time periods to allow communication between the controller and successively selected transponders, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one public time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which public time one or more transponders, from one or more specified groups, can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously replying have been specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with a plurality of transponders, which transponders have different addresses, and in which the controller and transponders communicate by using a sequential polling technique which incorporates successive time periods to allow communication between the controller and successively selected transponders, and means, including the controller, for defining at least one public time segment which occurs at a predetermined time in a poll, during which public time one or more transponders, from one or more specified groups, can simultaneously reply to the controller regardless of whether the transponders simultaneously replying have been specifically addressed by the controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 13, in which said public time occurs at the same interval within each of said time periods.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 13, including means for assigning some of said transponders to a first group and others of said transponders to a second group, such that said first and second groups are separately identifiable while the transponders are simultaneously responding to the controller in a public time segment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 14, in which certain of said transponders include option select means, operable to enable said certain transponders to respond or not respond during said public time within said certain transponders' time periods, but to respond only if a high-priority alarm is present at one of said certain transponders.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 16, in which a first group of said certain transponders also includes group select means, operable to identify to the controller that any of said first group transponders replying during said public time are in fact connected in said first group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 17, in which a second group of said transponders, which is different from said first group, also includes group select means, operable to identify to the controller that any of said second group transponders replying during said public time are in fact connected in said second group.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of polling a plurality of addressable transponders in a regular manner to effect bidirectional data transmission, in which certain of said transponders include means for effecting a high-priority interrupt which differs from the usual data transmission, including the steps of: regularly polling the transponders to effect usual data transmission, in which each successive transponder communicates with the controller during a predetermined time period; allocating, for certain of said transponders, a predefined time segment in the time period of each of said certain transponders during which a high-priority interrupt can be transmitted to the controller even though that particular transponder has not been addressed; and identifying to the controller that a high-priority interrupt signal has been transmitted from one of said certain transponders.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of polling a plurality of addressable transponders in a regular manner to effect bidirectional data transmission, in which certain of said transponders include means for effecting a high-priority interrupt which differs from the usual data transmission, including the steps of: regularly polling the transponders to effect usual data transmission, in which each successive transponder communicates with the controller during a predetermined time period; allocating, for certain of said transponders, a predefined time segment in the time period of each of said certain transponders during which a high-priority interrupt can be transmitted to the controller even though that particular transponder has not been addressed; and identifying to the controller that a high-priority interrupt signal has been transmitted from one of said certain transponders.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 19, comprising the further step of continuing the regular polling for a predetermined number of time periods, to confirm initiation of the high-priority interrupt by at least one of said certain transponders.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 20, and including, after said predetermined number of time periods and confirmation of the high-priority interrupt, the additional steps of: terminating the regular polling of all transponders; and initiating a poll of only said certain transponders, to effect a predetermined action subsequent to confirmation of the high-priority interrupt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21, and including, after completion of the poll of only said certain transponders, the additional step of: returning to the method of polling the transponders in a regular manner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-03 | 1991-11-02 | 1992-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-03 | 1995-11-02 | 1996-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-03 | 1999-11-02 | 2000-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |