Wirefree Intercom Having Secure Transmission System and Process

• US 20070254687A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Nassimi, Shary
• Application Number:
  US11/381,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless intercom having a microcontroller that is programmed to place the intercom into a power saving sleep mode unless actively receiving or transmitting signals. The microcontroller of the intercom is interconnected to a transceiver for sending and receiving digital data packets, and to a code for converting the digital packets to analog sound signals, and vice versa. The intercom awakens periodically to determine whether any appropriate transmissions have been received. Unless the signals detected by the intercom include the appropriate identification, the intercom is placed back into sleep mode. The intercom is further programmed to move transmissions to an unused channel that is not one of the user selectable channels, thereby providing secure communications among multiple intercom units being used in a system.

Claims

1. A digital communication device, comprising:

a digital transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital data over a plurality of channels;

a microcontroller interconnected to said digital transceiver for controlling which channel in said plurality of channels said transceiver uses for transmitting and receiving said digital data;

a channel selector for allowing a user to select at least one channel from a subset of said plurality of channels;

wherein said microcontroller is programmed to playback said digital data if said transceiver receives a transmission over a first channel corresponding to said at least one channel selected by said user; and

wherein said microcontroller is further programmed to switch said transceiver to a second channel for transmitting and receiving subsequent transmissions of digital data if said first channel corresponds to said at least one channel selected by said user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said second channel is outside said subset of said plurality of channels.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said channel selector allows a user to select all channels in said subset.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said subset of channels comprises four channels.

5. The device of claim 1, further including a timer for measuring a predetermined time period.

6. The device of claim 6, wherein said timer is reset each time said transceiver receives or sends a transmission over said second channel.

7. The device of claim 7, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to switch said transceiver back to said at least one channel selected by the user when said timer expires.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said second channel is outside said subset of channels.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one preselected channel is selected by a user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said subset comprises four channels.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said user may select all four channels.

8. The method of controlling a digital communication device including a digital transceiver for transmitting and receiving digital data over a plurality of channels and a microcontroller interconnected to said transceiver to provide for secure communication, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmission over a first channel;

checking to determine whether said first channel corresponds to at least one preselected channel in a subset of said plurality of channels;

switching said transceiver to a second channel if said first channel corresponds to said at least one preselected channel in said subset; and

playing back said digital data if said first channel corresponds to said at least one preselected channel in said subset.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

starting a timer after said digital data is played back;

resetting said timer if said transceiver transmits or receives a transmission over said second channel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of switching said transceiver back to said first channel if said timer expires.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said timer is started whenever said transceiver sends a transmission.

16. A system of provided for secure communications between two or more intercoms, wherein one of said intercoms comprises a transceiver for transmitting digital data over a plurality of channels and a microcontroller interconnected to said transceiver, said system comprising:

circuitry for allowing a user to select at least one channel;

circuitry for confirming whether a transmission including digital data received by said intercom over a first channel corresponds to said user selected channel;

circuitry for switching said transceiver to a second channel if said first channel corresponds to said at lease one user selected channel; and

circuitry for playing back said digital data if said first channel corresponds to said at least one user selected channel.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said circuitry for allowing a user to select at least one channel allows said user to select from a predetermined subset of said plurality of channels.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said second channel is outside said predetermined subset of said plurality of channels.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising circuitry for switching said transceiver back to said first channel when said transceiver is no longer transmitting or receiving over said second channel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said predetermined subset of said plurality of channels comprises four channels.