Communication system

• US 20050035873A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mediagram Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mediagram Inc.
• Inventors: Kimura, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.720
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A communication system comprises one or a plurality of first wireless tags for defining a first apparatus location area, one or a plurality of second wireless tags for defining a second apparatus location area, a transmitter, and a receiver. The first and wireless tags store IDs corresponding thereto. The transmitter, when residing in the first or second apparatus location area, outputs a wireless ID read signal to read the ID of the wireless tag in the area, multiplexes the read ID on a communication signal, and transmits the resultant communication signal. The receiver, when residing in the second or first apparatus location area, outputs a wireless ID read signal to read the ID of the wireless tag in the area, determines whether or not an ID identical to the read ID is multiplexed on a received communication signal, and determines that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver itself when the ID is multiplexed. In this way, a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received only by a receiver residing in the other apparatus location area. The wireless tags may be of active type to eliminate the read signal.

Claims

1. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

at least one first wireless tag for defining a first apparatus location area, the first wireless tags storing an ID;

at least one second wireless tag for defining a second apparatus location area, the second wireless tag storing the same ID as the ID stored in the first wireless tag in the first apparatus location area;

a transmitter comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read out the ID of the first or second wireless tag when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, and means for multiplexing the read ID on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read the ID of the second or first wireless tag when the receiver resides in the second or first apparatus location area, means for determining whether or not an ID identical to the read ID is multiplexed on a received communication signal, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when it is determined that the ID identical to the read ID is multiplexed on the transmission signal,

whereby a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first apparatus location area is defined by a plurality of the first wireless tags, each of the first wireless tags storing a different ID from one another; and

the second apparatus location area is defined by a plurality of the second wireless tags, each of the second wireless tags storing the same ID as one of the IDs stored in the first wireless tags, respectively.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first wireless tags is common to at least one of the second wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the ID read signal output from the reading means of the respective transmitter and receiver is one of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, and a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

5. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein upon receipt of the ID read signal, the first and second wireless tags output their own IDs in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

6. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

7. A communication system according to claim 6, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

8. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver and transmitter are personal computers.

9. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.

10. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

at least one first active wireless tag for defining a first apparatus location area, the first active wireless tag storing an ID and actively outputting the ID;

at least one second active wireless tag for defining a second apparatus location area, the second active wireless tag storing the same ID as the ID stored in the first active wireless tag in the first apparatus location area, and actively outputting the ID;

a transmitter comprising reading means for collecting the ID output from the first or second active wireless tag when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, and means for multiplexing the read ID on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read the IDs from the second or first wireless tag, means for determining whether or not an ID identical to the read ID is multiplexed on a received communication signal, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when it is determined that the ID identical to the read ID is multiplexed on the received communication signal,

whereby a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

11. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein:

the first apparatus location area is defined by a plurality of the first active wireless tags, each of the first active wireless tags storing a different ID from one another;

the second apparatus location area is defined by a plurality of the second active wireless tags, each of the second active wireless tags storing the same ID as the ID stored in one of the first active wireless tags, respectively.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first active wireless tags is common to at least one of the second active wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

13. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein each of the first and second active wireless tags is configured to output its own ID in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field strength.

14. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

15. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

16. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein the receiver and transmitter are personal computers.

17. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.

18. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of first wireless tags for defining a first apparatus location area, and a plurality of second wireless tags for defining a second apparatus location area, each of the first and second wireless tags storing ID information provided according to the FEC coding, the ID information being of an ID segment comprised of one or a plurality of divided sections produced by dividing a predetermined ID;

a transmitter comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read the ID information from each of the first or second wireless tags when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, means for decoding the original ID from the read ID information, and means for multiplexing the decoded ID on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read ID information from each of the second or first wireless tags when the receiver resides in the second or first apparatus location area, means for decoding the original ID from the read ID information, means for determining whether or not an ID identical to the decoded ID is multiplexed on a received communication signal, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when the ID identical to the decoded ID is multiplexed on the received communication signal,

whereby a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

19. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first wireless tags is common to at least one of the second wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

20. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein the ID read signal output from the reading means of the respective transmitter and receiver is an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

21. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein upon receipt of the ID read signal, the first and second wireless tags output their own ID information in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

22. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

23. A communication system according to claim 22, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

24. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein the receiver and transmitter are personal computers.

25. A communication system according to claim 18, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.

26. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of first active wireless tags for defining a first apparatus location area, and a plurality of second active wireless tags for defining a second apparatus location area, each of the first and second active wireless tags storing ID information and actively outputting the stored ID information, the ID information being provided according to the FEC coding, and being of an ID segment comprised of one or a plurality of divided sections produced by dividing a predetermined ID;

a transmitter comprising reading means for collecting the ID information from the first or second active wireless tags when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, means for decoding the original ID from the collected ID information, and means for multiplexing the decoded ID on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver including reading means for collecting ID information from the second or first active wireless tags when the receiver resides in the second or first apparatus location area, means for decoding the original ID from the collected ID information, means for determining whether or not an ID identical to the decoded ID is multiplexed on a received communication signal, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when it is determined that the ID identical to the decoded ID is multiplexed on the received communication signal,

wherein a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

27. A communication system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the first active wireless tags is common to at least one of the second active wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

28. A communication system according to claim 26, wherein each the first and second active wireless tag outputs its own ID information in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

29. A communication system according to claim 26, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

30. A communication system according to claim 29, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

31. A communication system according to claim 26, wherein the receiver and the transmitter are personal computers.

32. A communication system according to claim 26, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.

33. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of first wireless tags for defining a first apparatus location area, and a plurality of second wireless tags for defining a second apparatus location area, each of the first and second wireless tags storing ID information provided according to the FEC coding, the ID information being of an ID segment comprised of one or a plurality of divided sections produced by dividing a predetermined ID;

a transmitter comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read the ID information of the first or second wireless tags when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, and means for multiplexing the read ID information on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver comprising reading means for outputting a wireless ID read signal to read ID information of the second or first wireless tags when the receiver resides in the second or first apparatus location area, first decoding means for decoding an original ID from the read ID information, second decoding means for decoding the original ID using some of the read ID information and the ID information multiplexed on a received communication signal, means for determining whether or not the ID decoded by the first decoding means is identical to the ID decoded by the second decoding means, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when the determining means determines that the two IDs are-identical,

whereby a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

34. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the first wireless tags is common to at least one of the second wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

35. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein the ID read signal output from the reading means of the respective transmitter and receiver is an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

36. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein upon receipt of the ID read signal, each of the first and second wireless tags outputs its own ID information in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal having a low field intensity.

37. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

38. A communication system according to claim 37, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

39. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein the receiver and the transmitter are personal computers.

40. A communication system according to claim 33, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.

41. A communication system which allows only an intended receiver(s) to receive a communication signal(s) from a transmitter(s) in an environment in which a plurality of receivers are capable of receiving a communication signal transmitted from the transmitter, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of first active wireless tags for defining a first apparatus location area, and a plurality of second active wireless tags for defining a second apparatus location area, each of the first and second active wireless tags storing ID information provided according to the FEC coding and actively outputting the ID information, the ID information being of an ID segment comprised of one or a plurality of divided sections produced by dividing a predetermined ID;

a transmitter comprising means for collecting the ID information from the first or second active wireless tags when the transmitter resides in the first or second apparatus location area, and means for multiplexing the collected ID information on a communication signal and transmitting the resultant communication signal; and

a receiver comprising means for collecting ID information from the second or first active wireless tags when the receiver resides in the second or first apparatus location area, first decoding means for decoding the original ID from the collected ID information, second decoding means for decoding the original ID using some of the collected ID information and ID information multiplexed on a received communication signal, means for determining whether or not the ID decoded by the first decoding means is identical to the ID decoded by the second decoding means, and means for determining that the communication signal is addressed to the receiver when it is determined that the two IDs are identical,

whereby a signal from the transmitter residing in one of the first and second apparatus location areas can be received by the receiver residing in the other apparatus location area.

42. A communication system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of the first active wireless tags is common to at least one of the second active wireless tags, so that the first apparatus location area at least partially overlaps with the second apparatus location area.

43. A communication system according to claim 41, wherein each of the first and second active wireless tags outputs its own ID in the form of an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, or a radiowave signal, the signal having a low field intensity.

44. A communication system according to claim 41, wherein the transmitter and receiver are a control apparatus and target apparatus to be controlled thereby.

45. A communication system according to claim 44, wherein the control apparatus and target apparatus are a remote control unit and TV receiver set.

46. A communication system according to claim 45, wherein the receiver and the transmitter are personal computers.

47. A communication system according to claim 41, wherein the communication signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver is a wireless communication signal.