Infrared Communication System and Method

• US 20070165523A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Berezowski, Daniel Hawkinson, Dominick Testa, Mark Bohanon
• Original Assignee: Andrew Berezowski, Daniel Hawkinson, Dominick Testa, Mark Bohanon
• Inventors: Berezowski, Andrew, Bohanon, Mark, Testa, Dominick, Hawkinson, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

A wireless communications capability enables field personnel to communicate with a remote control console of a distributed system. A hand held communications unit generates console related messages that are coupled, via local devices to the remote console.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A communications method comprising:

establishing a plurality of spaced apart nodes;

originating a wireless communication directed to one of the nodes from a location proximate to another of the spaced apart nodes;

receiving the communication at the one node; and

transmitting the received communication to the another node.

11. A method as in claim 10 which includes:

determining that the received communication is not directed to the receiving node.

12. A method as in claim 11 where transmitting is responsive to determining.

13. A method as in claim 10 which includes communicating with at least one common node.

14. A method as in claim 13 where the wireless communication is directed to the one common node.

15. A method as in claim 14 which includes forwarding the communication from the receiving node to the common node.

16. A method as in claim 13 where the wireless communication is directed to a node different than the receiving node.

17. A method as in claim 16 where the wireless communication is directed to the receiving node.

18. A method as in claim 16 where the wireless communication is directed to a plurality of different nodes.

19. A method as in claim 12 which includes sensing at least one type of ambient condition at a plurality of nodes.

26. A method as in claim 19 where sensing includes at least one of sensing a movement of a member from a first to a second position;

sensing a presence of an individual, sensing a gas concentration, sensing a temperature, or sensing a smoke level.

27. A method as in claim 19 which includes establishing a time and location record indicative of an individual'"'"'s presence in a region.

28. A method as in claim 10 which includes establishing a time and location, record indicative of an individual'"'"'s presence in a region adjacent to the one node.

29. A method as in claim 10 where transmitting includes transmitting between nodes using a wired medium.

20-25. -25. (canceled)

30. A communications method comprising:

establishing a plurality of spaced apart nodes;

originating a wireless communication directed to one of the nodes from a location proximate to another of the spaced apart nodes;

receiving the communication at the one node; and

transmitting, via a wired medium, the received communication to the another node; and

creating a record of the transmitted communication.