METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A REMOTE DEVICE AND AN OPERATOR

• US 20090262002A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetracam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tetracam, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, John F., Oldham, Donald, King, Gerry, Mahin, Matthew, Tyson, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,674,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/20 using radiated signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention allow sensors positioned on or near a remotely controlled device to monitor the status and/or internal conditions of the device and transmit the status information through a data link to a receiver station, or control station, where the information can be provided to a user or operator via sensory stimulation signals. Such sensory stimulation signals can include auditory stimulation signals that can convey the information to the user while allowing the user to maintain visual attention on the remote device. A remote station can obtain information from sensors operably connected to the remote device. The sensor information can be transmitted as digital information from the remote station to a control station, or receiver station, where it is converted to sensory stimulation signals, such as sounds. Such sounds can include tones, alarms, speech, other audible sounds, or combinations thereof. An operator controlling the remote device can, upon receiving the sensory stimulation signals, provide input signals for controlling the remote device.

Claims

1. A remote device system, comprising:

a remote device;

a remote station positioned on the remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor gathers information pertaining to the remote device,

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal incorporating the information from the at least one sensor; and

a receiver station, wherein the remote device is physically separated from the receiver station;

wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter;

a user sensory stimulation system, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes the information from the signal and presents at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the information from the signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is physically separated from the user.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is positioned on the user.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user sensory stimulation system comprises a sound speaker.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sound speaker is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user so as to deliver sound to the user via the sound speaker.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control station further comprises a second transmitter, wherein the remote station further comprises a second receiver, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to the second receiver, wherein the control signal provides input for controlling the remote device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control signal provides user input for controlling the remote device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is station array.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a terrain vehicle.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is an air vehicle.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a water vehicle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one audible stimulation.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one sound comprises a voice.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one sound comprises words.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one touch stimulation.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one smell.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one visual stimulation.

19. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional remote device

a corresponding at least one additional remote station, each of the at least one additional remote station comprises;

at least one additional sensor, wherein the at least one additional sensor gathers information pertaining to the remote device,

at least one additional transmitter, wherein the at least one additional transmitter transmits at least one additional signal incorporating the information from the at least one additional sensor,

wherein the receiver receives the at least one additional from the at least one additional transmitter, wherein the audio playback system decodes the information from the at least one additional signal and presents at least one additional sensory stimulation to the user, wherein the at least one additional sensory stimulation is related to the information from the at least one additional signal.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote station further comprises first central processing unit capable of receiving the information gathered by the at least one sensor.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the first central processing unit is capable of processing the information received from the at least one sensor.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit accessible memory for receiving and storing information from the at least one sensor.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the memory is nonvolatile.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein the remote station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the first central processing unit.

25. The system according to claim 20, wherein the remote station further comprises at least one sensor expansion connector capable of relaying information to the first central processing unit.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver station comprises a second central processing unit capable of receiving the received signal from the receiver and decoding the information from the receiving signal.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the receiver station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the second central processing unit.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the user interface allows the user to provide input for controlling the remote devices.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the user interface allows the user to request desired information.

30. A remote device locating system, comprising:

a remote device;

a remote station positioned on the remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal; and

a receiver station, wherein the remote device is physically separated from the receiver station;

wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter;

a user sensory stimulation system, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes a location of the remote device from the signal and presents at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the location of the remote device.

31. A method for communicating with remote device, comprising:

positioning a remote station on a remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

a transmitter, at least one sensor; and

gathering information pertaining to the remote device, via the at least one sensor;

transmitting a signal incorporating the information from the at least one sensor; and

positioning a receiver station physically separated from the receiver station, wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, and

a user sensory stimulation system, receiving the signal from the transmitter via the receiver;

decoding the information from the signal; and

presenting at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the information from the signal.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is physically separated from the user.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is positioned on the user.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the user sensory stimulation system comprises a sound speaker.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the sound speaker is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user so as to deliver sound to the user via the sound speaker.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver station further comprises a second transmitter, wherein the remote station further comprises a second receiver, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to the second receiver, wherein the control signal provides input for controlling the remote device.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the control signal provides user input for controlling the remote device.

39. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is stationary.

40. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is a terrain vehicle.

41. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is an air vehicle.

42. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is a water vehicle.

43. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one audible stimulation.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least one sound comprises a voice.

45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least one sound comprises words.

46. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one touch stimulation.

47. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one smell.

48. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one visual stimulation.

49. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote station further comprises first central processing unit capable of receiving the information gathered by the at least one sensor.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the first central processing unit is capable of processing the information received from the at least one sensor.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit accessible memory for receiving and storing information from the at least one sensor.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the memory is nonvolatile.

53. The method according to claim 49, wherein the remote station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the first central processing unit.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein the remote station further comprises at least one sensor expansion connector capable of relaying information to the first central processing unit.

55. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver station comprises a second central processing unit capable of receiving the received signal from the receiver and decoding the information from the receiving signal.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the receiver station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the second central processing unit.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the user interface allows the user to provide input for controlling the remote devices.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein the user interface allows the user to request desired information.

59. A method of locating a remote device, comprising:

positioning a remote station on a remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal; and

positioning a receiver station physically separated from the remote device;

wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter; and

a user sensory stimulation system, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes a location of the remote device from the signal,

presenting at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the location of the remote device.