Apparatus and method for communicating using multiple channels

• US 20050227650A1
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearcalm Inc.
• Original Assignee: Grayling Wireless, Inc. (Grayling Wireless USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Robby Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/179.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 using different frequencies for the two directions of communication

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating using multiple channels. The apparatus includes a first radio receiver and a controller. The first radio receiver is configured to produce a first receive signal in response to a first radio frequency signal in a first frequency band. The controller has a first receive input for receiving the first receive signal, an audio input for receiving an audio in signal, a selector input for receiving a selector signal, an audio output for producing an audio out signal and a first transmitter output for producing a first transmitter signal. The first transmit output is configured for communication with a radio transmitter operable to transmit a second radio frequency signal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The controller is configured to cause the audio output to produce the audio out signal in response to the first receive signal when the selector signal is in a first state and to cause the first transmitter output to produce the first transmit signal in response to the audio in signal when the selector signal is in a second state.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating using multiple channels, the apparatus comprising:

a first radio receiver configured to produce a first receive signal in response to a first radio frequency signal in a first frequency band;

a controller having a first receive input for receiving said first receive signal, an audio input for receiving an audio in signal, a selector input for receiving a selector signal, an audio output for producing an audio out signal and a first transmitter output for producing a first transmitter signal, said first transmit output being configured for communication with a radio transmitter operable to transmit a second radio frequency signal in a second frequency band different from said first frequency band; and

said controller being configured to cause said audio output to produce said audio out signal-in response to said first receive signal when said selector signal is in a first state and to cause said first transmitter output to produce said first transmit signal in response to said audio in signal when said selector signal is in a second state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein causing said audio output to produce said audio out signal comprises sampling said first receive signal to produce samples and communicating said samples to said audio output.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein causing said first transmitter output to produce said first transmit signal comprises receiving, at said first receive input, samples representing said first receive signal and communicating said samples to said first transmitter output.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a housing for housing said first radio receiver and said controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said housing is operable to be worn on a person.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a microphone in said housing and operable to produce said audio signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a speaker in said housing and operable to produce an audible representation of said audio out signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a selector signal generator on said housing for producing said selector signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said selector signal generator comprises a switch on said housing, said switch having an actuator on said housing to permit a user to control said selector signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an interface configured for communication with the first radio transmitter, said interface being in communication with said first transmit output.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said controller is configured to communicate with said interface to detect whether or not communications can be established with the first radio transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said interface includes a connector and wherein said connector is operable to receive a power signal from the first radio transmitter and wherein said controller is configured to detect said power signal to determine whether or not communications can be established with the first radio transmitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to cause said audio in signal to be communicated to said first transmit output when said controller determines that communications can be established with said first radio transmitter.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said controller has a second receive input, for receiving a second receive signal from a second receiver.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said controller is configured to cause said audio out signal to be produced in response to said second receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is greater than or equal to a threshold and said selector signal is in a first state and to cause said audio out signal to be produced in response to said first receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is less than said threshold and said selector signal is in said first state.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said interface is in communication with said second receive input.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising said second receiver, said second receiver being in communication with said interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a first radio transceiver, said second receiver and said first transmitter being components of said first radio transceiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first radio transceiver includes very high frequency (VHF) radio.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said VHF radio includes a hand-held VHF radio.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said controller is configured to cause said second receive signal to be amplified by a gain adjustable amplifier, and wherein said controller is configured to control said gain adjustable amplifier according to the energy of said second receive signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said controller has a second transmit output for producing a second transmit signal in response to said audio in signal when said selector signal is in said second state.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a second radio frequency transmitter in communication with said second transmit output, said radio frequency transmitter being operable to produce a radio frequency transmit signal in response to said second transmit signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said radio frequency transmitter is configured to produce said radio frequency transmit signal such that said radio frequency transmit signal has a frequency within said first frequency band.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a second radio transceiver, said first radio receiver and said second radio transmitter being components of said second radio transceiver, said second radio transceiver being operable to communicate with a remote radio transceiver.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a remote radio transceiver operable to communicate with said second radio transceiver, said remote radio transceiver being on a breathing apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said controller is operable to communicate with said second radio transceiver to cause said second radio transceiver to receive radio frequency signals on a selected receive channel.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a user interface in communication with said controller and operable to receive user input indicating a desired receive channel change.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said controller is configured to cause said second radio transceiver to communicate with said remote transceiver to cause said remote transceiver to transmit radio frequency signals on a selected transmit channel in said first frequency band.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a user interface in communication with said controller for receiving user input to facilitate selection of said transmit channel.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller has a second transmit output for producing a second transmit signal in response to said audio signal when said selector signal is in said second state.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a second radio frequency transmitter in communication with said second transmit output, said second radio frequency transmitter being operable to produce a radio frequency transmit signal in response to said second transmit signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said radio frequency transmitter is configured to produce said radio frequency transmit signal such that said radio frequency transmit signal has a frequency within said first frequency band.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a second radio transceiver, said first radio receiver and said second radio transmitter being components of said second radio transceiver, said second radio transceiver being operable to communicate with a remote radio transceiver.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a remote radio transceiver operable to communicate with said first radio transceiver, said second radio transceiver being on a breathing apparatus.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said controller is operable to communicate with said second radio transceiver to cause said second radio transceiver to receive radio frequency signals on a selected receive channel.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a user interface in communication with said controller and operable to receive user input indicating a desired receive channel change.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said second radio transceiver is operable to communicate with a remote transceiver operable to receive and transmit signals in said first frequency band and wherein said controller is configured to cause said second radio transceiver to communicate with said remote transceiver to cause said remote transceiver to transmit radio frequency signals on a selected transmit channel in said first frequency band.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a user interface in communication with said controller for receiving user input to facilitate selection of said transmit channel.

40. A method for communicating using multiple channels, the method comprising:

producing a first receive signal in response to a first radio frequency signal in a first radio frequency band;

receiving an audio in signal;

selectively causing an audio output to produce an audio out signal in response to said first receive signal when a selector signal is in a first state and causing a first transmit output to produce a first transmit signal for use by a first transmitter, in response to said audio in signal, when said selector signal is in a second state.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein causing said audio output to produce said audio out signal comprises sampling said first receive signal to produce samples and communicating said samples to said audio output.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein causing said first transmitter output to produce said first transmit signal comprises receiving, at said first receive input, samples representing said first receive signal and communicating said samples to said first transmitter output.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising housing said first radio receiver and said controller in a common housing.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising wearing said housing on a person.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising producing said audio signal.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein producing said audio signal comprises amplifying a signal produced by a microphone.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising emitting an audible representation of said audio out signal through a speaker in said housing.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising producing said selector signal.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein producing said selector signal comprises actuating an actuator on said housing, to permit a user to control a state of said selector signal.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising detecting whether or not communications can be established with the first radio transmitter.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein detecting comprises receiving a power signal from the first radio transmitter and detecting whether or not said power signal is present.

52. The method of claim 50 further comprising causing said audio in signal to be communicated to said first transmit output when said controller determines that communications can be established with said first radio transmitter.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising receiving a second receive signal from a second receiver.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising producing said audio out signal in response to said second receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is greater than or equal to a threshold and said selector signal is in a first state and producing said audio out signal in response to said first receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is less than said threshold and said selector signal is in said first state.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising measuring the energy of said receive signal.

56. The method of claim 54 further comprising controlling the gain of a gain-adjustable amplifier according to the energy of said second receive signal.

57. The method of claim 54 producing a second transmit signal in response to said audio in signal when said selector signal is in said second state.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising producing a radio frequency transmit signal in response to said second transmit signal.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein producing said radio frequency transmit signal comprises producing said radio frequency transmit signal such that said radio frequency transmit signal has a frequency within said first frequency band.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising communicating with a second radio transceiver to cause said second radio transceiver to receive radio frequency signals on a selected receive channel.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising receiving user input indicating a desired receive channel change.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising communicating with a remote transceiver operable to receive and transmit signals in said first frequency band and causing said second radio transceiver to communicate with said remote transceiver to cause said remote transceiver to transmit radio frequency signals on a selected transmit channel in said-first frequency band.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising receiving user input to facilitate selection of said transmit channel.

64. The method of claim 40 further comprising producing a second transmit signal in response to said audio signal when said selector signal is in said second state.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising producing a radio frequency transmit signal in response to said second transmit signal.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein producing said radio frequency transmit signal comprises producing said radio frequency transmit signal such that said radio frequency transmit signal has a frequency within said first frequency band.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising communicate with said first radio transceiver to cause said first radio transceiver to receive and transmit radio frequency signals on a selected receive channel.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising receiving user input to facilitate selection of said receive channel.

69. An apparatus for communicating using multiple channels, the apparatus comprising:

means for producing a first receive signal in response to a first radio frequency signal in a first radio frequency band;

a processor circuit having a first receive input for receiving said first receive signal, an audio input for receiving an audio in signal, a selector input for receiving a selector signal, an audio output for producing an audio out signal and a first transmitter output for producing a first transmitter signal, said first transmit output being configured for communication with a radio transmitter operable to transmit a second radio frequency signal in a second frequency band different from said first frequency band; and

means for selectively causing said audio output to produce an audio out signal in response to said first receive signal when said selector signal is in a first state and causing a first transmit output to produce a first transmit signal for use by a first transmitter, in response to said audio in signal, when said selector signal is in a second state.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said processor circuit is operable to sample said first receive signal to produce samples and to communicate said samples to said audio output.

71. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said processor circuit is operable to receive, at said first receive input, samples representing said first receive signal and to communicate said samples to said first transmitter output.

72. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said means for selectively causing comprises a computer readable medium encoded with codes for controlling said processor circuit.

73. The apparatus of claim 72 further comprising means for housing said first radio receiver and said processor circuit.

74. The apparatus of claim 73 further comprising means for securing said housing on a person.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 further comprising means for producing said audio signal.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said means for producing said audio signal comprises a microphone.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 further comprising a speaker in said means for housing, for emitting an audible representation of said audio out signal.

78. The apparatus of claim 75 further comprising means for producing said selector signal.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said means for producing said selector signal comprises a switch having an actuator on said housing means, to permit a user to control a state of said selector signal.

80. The apparatus of claim 69 further comprising detecting means for detecting whether or not communications can be established with the first radio transmitter.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein said means for detecting comprises means for receiving a power signal from the first radio transmitter and a computer readable medium encoded with codes for controlling said processor circuit to detect whether or not said power signal is being received from said first radio transmitter.

82. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising means for causing said audio in signal to be communicated to said first transmit output when said detecting means determines that communications can be established with said first radio transmitter.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 further comprising means for receiving a second receive signal from a second receiver.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 further comprising a computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing said processor circuit to produce said audio out signal in response to said second receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is greater than or equal to a threshold and said selector signal is in a first state and for directing said processor circuit to produce said audio out signal in response to said first receive signal when the energy of said second receive signal is less than said threshold and said selector signal is in said first state.

85. The apparatus of claim 84 further comprising means for measuring the energy of said receive signal.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said means for measuring the energy of said receive signal comprises a computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing said processor circuit to compute an energy value of a sample of said receive signal.

87. The apparatus of claim 85 further comprising means for amplifying said second receive signal in response to the energy of said second receive signal.

88. The apparatus of claim 69 further comprising means for producing a second transmit signal in response to said audio in signal when said selector signal is in said second state.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said means for producing said second transmit signal comprises a computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing said processor circuit to receive samples at said audio input and to communicate said samples to a second transmit output.

90. The apparatus of claim 88 further comprising means for producing a radio frequency transmit signal in response to said second transmit signal.

91. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said means for producing a radio frequency transmit signal comprises a second radio frequency transceiver operable to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in said first frequency band.

92. The apparatus of claim 91 further comprising means for communicating with said second radio transceiver to cause said second radio transceiver to receive radio frequency signals on a selected receive channel.

93. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said means for communicating comprises a computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing said processor circuit communicate with said second radio transceiver to cause said second radio transceiver to receive radio frequency signals on said selected receive channel.

94. The apparatus of claim 92 further comprising means for receiving user input indicating a desired receive channel change.

95. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein said means for receiving user input comprises a switch.

96. The apparatus of claim 95 further comprising means for communicating with a remote transceiver operable to receive and transmit signals in said first frequency band and for causing said second radio transceiver to communicate with said remote transceiver to cause said remote transceiver to transmit radio frequency signals on a selected transmit channel in said first frequency band.

97. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein said means for communicating comprises a computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing said processor circuit to communicate with said second transceiver to cause said second transceiver to communicate with said remote transceiver causing said remote transceiver to transmit radio frequency signals on a selected transmit channel in said first frequency band.

98. The apparatus of claim 96 further comprising means for receiving user input to facilitate selection of said transmit channel.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said means for receiving user input comprises a switch.

100. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a processor circuit to:

when a selector signal received at the processor circuit is in a first state, cause an audio output of the processor circuit to produce an audio out signal in response to a first receive signal received at the processor circuit from a first radio signal receiver; and

when said selector signal is in a second state, cause a first transmit output of the processor circuit to produce a first transmit signal for use by a first transmitter, in response to an audio in signal received at the processor circuit.

101. The computer readable medium of claim 100 wherein said computer readable medium comprises at least one of a memory device and a network port operable to provide a signal encoded with said codes.