Wireless synchronous time system

• US 20050058157A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quartex Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Terrence J., Pikula, Michael A., Gollnick, Robin W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/503
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.

Claims

1. A synchronous event system comprising:

a primary event device including a first receiver operable to receive a GPS time signal, a first processor coupled to the first receiver and operable to process the GPS time signal, a memory coupled to the first processor and operable to store a programmed instruction including a time element, an internal clock coupled to the first processor to store the time component and to increment relative to the stored GPS time signal thereafter to produce a first internal time, and a transmitter coupled to the first processor and operable to transmit the first internal time and the programmed instruction; and

a secondary event device having a second receiver operable to wirelessly receive the first internal time and the programmed instruction, a second processor coupled to the second receiver and operable to selectively register the programmed instruction, an internal clock coupled to the second receiver to store the time component and to increment relative to the stored time component thereafter to produce a second internal time, and an event switch operable to execute the registered programmed instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction includes displaying a time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction includes executing a pre-determined timed function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary event device further includes a power interrupt module coupled to the first processor and operable to retain the first internal time and the programmed instruction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless secondary event device further includes a power interrupt module coupled to the second processor and operable to retain the second internal time and the programmed instruction.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the first internal time and the programmed instruction at approximately a frequency of between 72 and 76 MHz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction further comprises a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary event device further comprises a channel switch, a time zone switch, and a daylight savings bypass switch.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary event device further comprises a display coupled to the first processor and operable to display a time, a day, a date, and a reception status.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary event device further comprises a programmer input connector coupled to the processor and operable to receive programming information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless secondary event device includes a clock.

12. A method of synchronizing an event system, the method comprising:

receiving an event signal at a primary event device;

processing the event signal;

wirelessly transmitting the processed event signal;

wirelessly receiving the processed event signal at a second receiver; and

executing an event with the processed event signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein executing the event further comprises displaying a time.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting a power failure at the primary event device and retaining the processed event signal at the power failure.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting a power failure at the secondary event device and retaining the processed event signal at the power failure.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the processed event signal is transmitted at approximately a frequency of between 72 and 76 MHz.

17. The method of claim 12, where wirelessly transmitting the processed event signal further comprises transmitting a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the event signal comprises global positioning system signals.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

selecting a channel;

selecting a time zone; and

selecting a daylight savings bypass switch.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a reception indication.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a programmer input.

22. A method of controlling a timed-system, the method comprising:

receiving a GPS time signal at a primary master device;

retrieving operational data from a memory;

wirelessly transmitting the GPS time signal and the operational data;

wirelessly receiving the GPS time signal and the operational data at a second device including a second receiver;

selectively storing the operational data in a second memory coupled to the second receiver;

storing the GPS time signal in the second memory coupled to the second receiver; and

executing an event at the second device coupled to the second receiver with the GPS time signal and the operational data.

23. The method of claim 22, executing the event further comprises displaying a time.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the time component and the operational data at the power failure.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the GPS time signal and the operational data are transmitted by the primary master device at approximately a frequency of between 72 and 76 MHz.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein wirelessly transmitting the GPS time signal and the operational data by the primary master device further comprises transmitting a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

selecting a channel;

selecting a time zone; and

selecting a daylight savings bypass switch.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying a reception indication.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a programmer input.

30. A method of wirelessly synchronizing a timed-system, the method comprising:

receiving a GPS time signal at a primary master device;

setting the GPS time signal in a first internal clock;

incrementing the first internal clock relative to the GPS time signal;

retrieving operational data including a preprogrammed time element and a preprogrammed functional element from a memory;

retrieving an first internal time from the first internal clock;

wirelessly transmitting the first internal time and the operational data;

wirelessly receiving the first internal time and the operational data at a second receiver;

selectively registering the operational data in a second memory;

setting a second internal clock to the internal time;

incrementing the second internal clock relative to the first internal time;

retrieving a second internal time from the second internal clock;

displaying the second internal time;

identifying a function from the preprogrammed function element; and

executing the function when the second internal time matches the preprogrammed time element.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the first internal clock and the operational data at the power failure.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the second internal clock and the operational data at the power failure.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the GPS time signal and the operational data are transmitted by the primary master device at approximately a frequency of between 72 and 76 MHz.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein wirelessly transmitting the internal time and the operational data by the primary master device further comprises transmitting a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

selecting a channel;

selecting a time zone; and

selecting a daylight savings bypass switch.

36. The method of claim 30, farther comprising displaying a reception indication.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising receiving a programmer input.

38. A method of wirelessly synchronizing a timed-system, the method comprising:

receiving a GPS time signal at a primary master device;

setting the GPS time signal in a first internal clock;

incrementing the first internal clock relative to the GPS time signal;

retrieving a first internal time from the first internal clock;

wirelessly transmitting the first internal time;

wirelessly receiving the first internal time at a second receiver;

setting a second internal clock coupled to the second receiver to the first internal time;

incrementing the second internal clock relative to the first internal time;

retrieving a second internal time from the second internal clock time; and

displaying the second internal time.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the first internal clock and the operational data at the power failure.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the second internal clock and the operational data at the power failure.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the GPS time signal and the operational data are transmitted by the primary master device at approximately a frequency of between 72 and 76 MHz.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein wirelessly transmitting the GPS time signal and the operational data by the primary master device further comprises transmitting a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

43. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

selecting a channel;

selecting a time zone; and

selecting a daylight savings bypass switch.

44. The method of claim 38, further comprising displaying a reception indication.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising receiving a programmer input.