WIRELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20030153263A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleetwood Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fleetwood Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Glass, Michael S., Derks, Harry G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A wireless response system includes a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units communicating with the base unit over a wireless communication link. The base unit sends polling commands to the response units over the wireless communication. The response units send the response data to the base unit over the wireless communication link in response to the polling signals. The response data is entered in the respective response units by a user.

Claims

1. A wireless response system, comprising:

a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units communicating with said base unit over a wireless communication link;

said base unit sending polling signals to said response units over said wireless communication link;

said response units sending response data to said base unit over said wireless communication link in response to the polling signals, the response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user;

wherein a time of response is determined for at least some of said response data, said time of response being a time that the corresponding response data was entered by a user, said time of response determined at least from time data that is obtained at said base unit and time data that is obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

2. The response system of claim 1 including a first timer at said base unit and a second timer at each of said response units, said first timer providing said time data obtained at said base unit, said second timers providing said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

3. The response system of claim 2 wherein time data obtained at said base unit comprises a value of said first timer when said base station sends a respective one of said polling signals.

4. The response system of claim 3 wherein said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units comprises a value of a respective one of said second timers, said respective one of said second timers being initiated upon response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user.

5. The response system of claim 2 wherein said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units comprises a value of a respective one of said second timers, said respective one of said second timers being initiated upon response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user.

6. The response system of claim 1 wherein said response units return the value of the time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units with said response data.

7. The response system of claim 1 wherein said base unit calculates said time of response from time data obtained at said base unit and time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

8. The response system of claim 1 wherein said time of response is used to determine the respective times that the users entered response data with said response unit.

9. The response system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication link comprises at least one chosen from an RF link and IR link.

10. A wireless response system, comprising:

a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units communicating with said base unit over a wireless communication link;

said base unit sending polling signals to said response units over said wireless communication link;

said response units sending response data to said base unit over said wireless communication link in response to one of the polling signals, the response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user;

said response units including a resolution timer, wherein frequency of response data being collected by that response unit is limited by said resolution timer.

11. The response system of claim 10 wherein said response units collect response data no more than once per time interval established by said resolution timer.

12. The response system of claim 11 wherein said response units collect response data that is a synthesis of response data entered in the respective response unit by the user during the time interval.

13. The response system of claim 10 wherein a value of said resolution timer being selectable.

14. The response system of claim 13 wherein said resolution timer is selectable by commands sent by said base unit over said wireless communication link.

15. The response system of claim 10 wherein said base unit determining a time of response for at least some of said response data, said time of response being a time that the corresponding response data was entered by a user.

16. The response system of claim 15 wherein said time of response is determined at least from time data obtained at said base unit and time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

17. The response system of claim 10 wherein said response units include buffers, response data being collected with said buffers, and response data being retrieved from said buffers over said wireless communication link.

18. The response system of claim 10 wherein said wireless communication link comprises at least one chosen from an RF link and an IR link.

19. A wireless method of retrieving response data from a plurality of users, comprising:

providing a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units;

communicating between said response units and said base unit over a wireless communication link;

sending polling signals from said base unit to said response units over said wireless communication link;

entering response data in the respective response unit by a user;

sending response data from said response units to said base unit over said wireless communication link in response to one of the polling signals; and

determining a time of response for at least some of said response data, said time of response being a time that the corresponding response data was entered by a user, including determining said time of response at least from time data that is obtained at said base unit and time data that is obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

20. The method of claim 19 including providing a first timer at said base unit and a second timer at each of said response units, providing said time data obtained at said base unit with said first timer and providing said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units with said second timers.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein time data obtained at said base unit comprises a value of said first timer when said base station sends a respective one of said polling signals.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units comprises a value of a respective one of said second timers, and including initialing a respective one of said second timers upon response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units comprises a value of a respective one of said second timers, and including initialing a respective one of said second timers upon response data being entered in the respective response unit by a user.

24. The method of claim 23 including sending with said response units the respective value of said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units with said response data.

25. The method of claim 19 including sending with said response units the respective value of said time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units with said response data.

26. The method of claim 19 including calculating with said base unit the time of response from time data obtained at said base unit and time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

27. The method of claim 19 including using said time of response to determine the respective times that the users entered response data with said response unit.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said wireless communication link comprises at least one chosen from an RF link and an IR link.

29. A wireless method of retrieving response data from a plurality of users, comprising:

providing a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units;

communicating between said response units and said base unit over a wireless communication link;

sending polling signals from said base unit to said response units over said wireless communication link;

entering response data in the respective response unit by a user;

sending response data from said response units to said base unit over said wireless communication link in response to one of the polling signals; and

providing a resolution timer at the response units and limiting frequency of response data being collected by that response unit which is limited by said resolution timer.

30. The method of claim 29 including said response units collecting response data no more than once per time interval established by said resolution timer.

31. The method of claim 30 including said response units collecting response data that is a synthesis of response data entered in the respective response unit by the user during the time interval.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein a value of said time interval being selectable.

33. The method of claim 32 including selecting said time interval by commands sent by said base unit over said wireless communication link.

34. The method of claim 29 including determining a time of response for at least some of said response data, said time of response being a time that the corresponding response data was entered by a user.

35. The method of claim 34 including determining said time of response at least from time data obtained at said base unit and time data obtained at the corresponding one of said response units.

36. The method of claim 29 including providing buffers at said response units, collecting the response data with said buffers and retrieving said response data from said buffers over said wireless communication link.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein said wireless communication link comprises at least one chosen from an RF link and an IR link.