Wireless synchronous time system

• US 20050111304A1
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quartex Division of Primex Incorporated, Quartex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quartex Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Terrence J., Pikula, Michael A., Gollnick, Robin W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/00 Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals G04G11/00, G04G13/00 take precedence; electronic timers G04F1/005; pulse delay circuits H03K5/13; electronic time-delay switches H03K17/28; electronic time-programme switches which automatically terminate their operation after the programme is completed H03K17/296
• 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 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/20 the radio signal being an AM/FM standard signal, e.g. RDS

Abstract

A method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device, where the first signal includes a time component, and processing the first signal to produce a second signal, where the second signal includes the time component and an instruction. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, and wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, where the third signal includes the time component and the instruction. The method further includes wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device and executing an event with the third signal.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a synchronous event system for operation, the system including a primary device having a first internal clock and a secondary device having a second internal clock, the method comprising:

positioning the primary device in a first location wherein a power source is accessible and a first signal including a time component is accessible;

establishing a transmitting range from the first location in which the primary device can transmit a second signal; and

positioning the secondary device in a second location, the second location being within the transmitting range of the primary device and wherein the power source is not accessible.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source is an alternating current outlet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an alternate power source to the secondary device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alternate power source is generally portable.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the alternate power source includes a battery.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the alternate power source includes a solar panel.

7. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal and produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element; and

a secondary device including

a second receiving unit to receive the second signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time,

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element, and

a sensor operable to provide feedback.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is operable to determine whether the instruction was executed.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is operable to determine whether to execute the instruction.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondary device further includes a memory operable to store the feedback provided by the sensor.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory includes non-volatile memory.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes a motion detector.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondary device further includes speaker operable to generate a sound based on the feedback of the sensor.

14. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element; and

a secondary device including

a second receiving unit to receive the second signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time,

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element, and

a memory module operable to store time adjustment information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the time adjustment information includes daylight savings information.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the time adjustment information includes time zone information.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the memory module is further operable to record operation of the secondary device.

18. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element; and

a secondary device including

a transceiving unit to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time, and

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transceiving unit includes a second receiving unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the transceiving unit includes a second transmitting unit.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the transceiving unit transmits the third signal to the primary device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first receiving unit is further operable to receive the third signal.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the second signal at a frequency of approximately 154 MHz.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the transceiving unit transmits the third signal at a frequency of approximately 154 MHz.

25. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produced a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element; and

a secondary device including

a second receiving unit to receive the second signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time,

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element, and

an indicator.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the indicator is operable to indicate whether the secondary device is receiving the second signal.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the indicator includes a light emitting diode.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the light emitting diode flashes in response to receiving the second signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the light emitting diode flashes in response to not receiving the second signal.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the light emitting diode flashes after not receiving the second signal after a period of time elapses.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the indicator is operable to indicate the execution of the instruction.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the indicator includes a speaker operable to provide an audible indication.

33. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element, and

a secondary device including

a second receiving unit to receive the second signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time,

a memory operable to store one or more messages,

a display operable to display the one or more message, and

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element, wherein the instruction includes displaying at least one of the one or more message on the display.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary device further includes a programmer input connector operable to receive programming information including the one or more messages.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the secondary device further includes a clock.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the instruction further includes displaying a time on the clock.

37. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time,

a memory to store one or more messages;

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time, at least one of the one or more messages, and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element, and

a secondary device including

a second receiving unit to receive the second signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time,

a display operable to display the at least one of the one or more message, and

an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element, wherein the instruction includes displaying the at least one of the one or more message on the display.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the primary device further includes a programmer input connector operable to receive programming information including the one or more messages.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the secondary device further includes a clock.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the instruction further includes displaying a time on the clock.

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

receiving a first signal at a primary device, the first signal including a time component;

processing the first signal to produce a second signal, the second signal including the processed time component and an instruction;

wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device;

wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device;

wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device;

wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device; and

executing an event with the third signal.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising processing the second signal at the repeating device to produce the third signal.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component for daylight savings.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component for time zone changes.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the instruction.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein processing the second signal includes removing the instruction.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the repeating device includes transmitting the second signal on a first frequency.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein wirelessly transmitting the third signal to the second device includes transmitting the third signal on a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

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

receiving a first signal at a repeating device, the first signal including a first time component;

processing the first signal at the repeating device to produce a second time component;

wirelessly transmitting a second signal to a primary device, the second signal including the second time component;

wirelessly receiving the second signal at the primary device;

processing the second signal at the primary device to produce a third time component;

wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the primary device, the third signal including the third time component and an instruction;

wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device; and

executing an event with the third signal.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein processing the first signal includes modifying the first time component.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein processing the first signal includes modifying the first time component for daylight savings.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein processing the first signal includes modifying the time component for time zone changes.

54. The method of claim 59, wherein receiving the first signal at the repeating device includes receiving the first signal on a first frequency.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the primary device includes transmitting the second signal on a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the primary device includes transmitting the second signal on a second frequency that is generally lower than the first frequency.