SYSTEM FOR SENSING ALARMS EXTERNAL TO A WIRELESS SHORT RANGE RF NETWORK AND FOR TRANSMITTING SUCH ALARMS TO TRANSCEIVING DEVICES WITHIN THE RF NETWORK

• US 20080153417A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Faheem, Altaf, Bhakta, Dharmesh, Ravi, Kumar, Rybczynski, Eric S.
• Application Number:
  US11/613,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates

Abstract

Short range RF networks for transmitting to a plurality of wireless RF transceiving devices within a defined area. The wireless devices within the defined area each include a short range RF device transceiver enabling the device to wirelessly communicate with a data processor controlled wireless transmission system within said defined area, including a centrally located short range RF system transceiver for transmitting accessed data to the wireless devices. The central system transceiver should have an RF transmission range covering the defined area. An RF channel(s) is set to be used only for alarms. Then if an external alarm is sensed, all transmissions along other channels in the transmission area may be overridden, and the alarm data broadcast over the dedicated channel to all operational wireless devices within the area.

Claims

1. In a wireless short range RF network comprising a plurality of wireless RF transceiving devices within a defined area, a system for dynamically transmitting alarms to said devices comprising:

at least one wireless device within said defined area including a short range RF device transceiver;

a data processor controlled wireless transmission system within said defined area including;

a short range RF system transceiver for transmitting data to said wireless device;

means for detecting an alarm within said defined area; and

means for transmitting said alarm to said at least one wireless device by said system transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said short range RF system transceiver has a transmission range covering said defined area.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one wireless device has an ear masking output.

4. The system of claim 3 including a plurality of said devices within said defined area, each device including a short range RF device transceiver.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said means for transmitting said alarm broadcasts said alarm to said plurality of devices.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for transmitting said alarm broadcasts said alarm to all devices within said defined area having short range RF transceivers.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein:

each of said devices within said defined area has at least one RF channel assigned for said RF transmissions, and at least one additional universal RF channel dedicated for transmitting said alarm to said wireless device; and

means for transmitting broadcasts said alarm on said dedicated channel.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said data processor controlled wireless transmission system further includes means for overriding transmissions to said wireless devices with said transmitted alarm.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein said device is a user hearing aid including:

an audio amplifier; and

said short range RF device transceiver.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein said defined area is the whole area of a motor vehicle.

11. A computer controlled method for dynamically transmitting alarms to a plurality of wireless RF transceiving devices within a defined area in a wireless short range RF network comprising:

transmitting data to at least one of said wireless transceiving devices via short range RF transmission;

detecting an alarm within said defined area; and

transmitting said alarm to said at least one wireless device transceiver.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said short range RF transmission has a transmission range covering said defined area.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one wireless device has an ear masking output.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said data is transmitted to a plurality of said wireless transceiving devices via short range RF transmission.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said step of transmitting said alarm broadcasts said alarm to said plurality of devices.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of transmitting said alarm broadcasts said alarm to all devices within said defined area having short range RF transceivers.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the steps of:

assigning to each of said devices within said defined area at least one RF channel for said RF transmissions, and dedicating at least one additional universal RF channel for transmitting said alarm to said wireless device; and

broadcasting said alarm on said dedicated channel.

18. The method of claim 14 further including the step of overriding transmissions to said wireless devices with said transmitted alarm.

19. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable storage medium for dynamically transmitting alarms to a plurality of wireless RF transceiving devices within a defined area in a wireless short range RF network comprising:

means for transmitting data to at least one of said wireless transceiving devices via short range RF transmission;

means for detecting an alarm within said defined area; and

means for transmitting said alarm to said at least one wireless device transceiver.

20. The computer program of claim 19 wherein said means for transmitting said alarm broadcasts said alarm to all devices within said defined area having short range RF transceivers.

21. The computer program of claim 19 further including means for overriding transmissions to said wireless devices with said transmitted alarm.