Patent US6034623A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6034623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Autonomous radio telemetry
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
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Filing: 1997-07-21
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Granted: 2000-03-07
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Expires: 2017-07-21
Abstract
Abstract An improved radio modem is disclosed for use with an autonomous radio telemetry system. The radio modem includes a reprogrammable microprocessor, a radio transceiver, and a serial interface. By providing a software program within the radio modem that converts the serial interface into a general purpose interface to external input/output devices, and by providing additional programmed decision making capability into the radio modem, no external telemetry computer is required to interface with the input/output devices, and the radio modem operates as a combination telemetry computer and radio device. The radio modem also includes a novel reprogrammable state machine architecture for communicating with the input/output devices, and for deciding what actions to take based on the status of the external devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthias Wandel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; G; G06; G06F; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2105; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An improved radio modem for use with a radio telemetry system, the radio modem comprising: means for transmitting and receiving information over a radio frequency data network; interface means for directly connecting the radio modem to a plurality of input/output devices; programmed computer means for communicating information to and from the radio frequency data network via the means for transmitting and receiving and for communicating information to and from the input/output devices via the interface means, and a memory coupled to the programmed computer means for storing a telemetry program, the telemetry program being executed by the programmed computer means in order to interface the radio modem with the input/output devices, wherein the telemetry program includes a plurality of reconfigurable decision state machines that cycle through a series of logical states, wherein the decision state machines are password protected so that a decision state machine can only be reconfigured by an authorized user of the telemetry system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An improved radio modem for use with a radio telemetry system, the radio modem comprising: means for transmitting and receiving information over a radio frequency data network; interface means for directly connecting the radio modem to a plurality of input/output devices; programmed computer means for communicating information to and from the radio frequency data network via the means for transmitting and receiving and for communicating information to and from the input/output devices via the interface means, and a memory coupled to the programmed computer means for storing a telemetry program, the telemetry program being executed by the programmed computer means in order to interface the radio modem with the input/output devices, wherein the telemetry program includes a plurality of reconfigurable decision state machines that cycle through a series of logical states, wherein the decision state machines are password protected so that a decision state machine can only be reconfigured by an authorized user of the telemetry system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
158 words
An improved radio modem for use with a radio telemetry system, the radio modem comprising: means for transmitting and receiving information over a radio frequency data network; interface means for directly connecting the radio modem to a plurality of input/output devices; programmed computer means for communicating information to and from the radio frequency data network via the means for transmitting and receiving and for communicating information to and from the input/output devices via the interface means, a memory coupled to the programmed computer means for storing a telemetry program, the telemetry program being executed by the programmed computer means in order to interface the radio modem with the input/output devices, wherein the telemetry program includes a plurality of decision state machines that cycle through a series of logical states, and a link byte connecting each decision state machine to at least one other machine so that each machine can effect the operation of at least one other machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
An improved radio modem for use with a radio telemetry system, the radio modem comprising: means for transmitting and receiving information over a radio frequency data network; interface means for directly connecting the radio modem to a plurality of input/output devices; programmed computer means for communicating information to and from the radio frequency data network via the means for transmitting and receiving and for communicating information to and from the input/output devices via the interface means, a memory coupled to the programmed computer means for storing a telemetry program, the telemetry program being executed by the programmed computer means in order to interface the radio modem with the input/output devices, wherein the telemetry program includes a plurality of decision state machines that cycle through a series of logical states, and a link byte connecting each decision state machine to at least one other machine so that each machine can effect the operation of at least one other machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A dual-mode radio modem capable of operating in a first mode as a general-purpose radio device in conjunction with a host processing system and in a second mode as a special-purpose stand-alone radio telemetry computer, comprising: an RF transceiver for sending and receiving data; a serial port; and a microprocessor coupled to the RF transceiver and to the serial port, wherein the microprocessor includes a reprogrammable memory for storing a radio configuration and control program that causes the radio modem to operate in one of two modes, a first mode that configures the radio modem to operate as a general-purpose radio device coupled to the host processing system via the serial port, and a second mode that configures the radio modem to operate as a special-purpose telemetry computer by configuring the serial port to directly interface with a plurality of input/output devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A dual-mode radio modem capable of operating in a first mode as a general-purpose radio device in conjunction with a host processing system and in a second mode as a special-purpose stand-alone radio telemetry computer, comprising: an RF transceiver for sending and receiving data; a serial port; and a microprocessor coupled to the RF transceiver and to the serial port, wherein the microprocessor includes a reprogrammable memory for storing a radio configuration and control program that causes the radio modem to operate in one of two modes, a first mode that configures the radio modem to operate as a general-purpose radio device coupled to the host processing system via the serial port, and a second mode that configures the radio modem to operate as a special-purpose telemetry computer by configuring the serial port to directly interface with a plurality of input/output devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
A radio modem, comprising: a radio frequency interface circuit including a modulator and a demodulator; a microprocessor coupled to the radio frequency interface circuit; a serial interface coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the serial interface is directly connected to a plurality of input/output devices that generate telemetry data and respond to telemetry commands; and a programmable memory coupled to the microprocessor, the re-programmable memory encoded with a telemetry management program for directing the operations of the microprocessor in order to control and communicates with the input/output devices over the serial interface, and to manage communication with the radio frequency interface circuit, wherein the telemetry management program includes a plurality of configurable state machines that control the reception of telemetry data from the input/output devices and the transmission of telemetry commands to the input/output devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
A radio modem, comprising: a radio frequency interface circuit including a modulator and a demodulator; a microprocessor coupled to the radio frequency interface circuit; a serial interface coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the serial interface is directly connected to a plurality of input/output devices that generate telemetry data and respond to telemetry commands; and a programmable memory coupled to the microprocessor, the re-programmable memory encoded with a telemetry management program for directing the operations of the microprocessor in order to control and communicates with the input/output devices over the serial interface, and to manage communication with the radio frequency interface circuit, wherein the telemetry management program includes a plurality of configurable state machines that control the reception of telemetry data from the input/output devices and the transmission of telemetry commands to the input/output devices.
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) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |