REMOTE UNIT LINK QUALITY MONITORING

• US 20130342345A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSP Group Ltd. (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Jochen Kilian
• Inventors: Naim, Yaron, Kilian, Jochen, Itkin, Yuval
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0258 System arrangements wherein both parent and child units can emit and receive
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength

Abstract

A method and range monitoring system for verifying that communication between two communicating units is of satisfactory quality and that the units are within a predetermined range from one another, wherein the units are in non-continuous communication. One or both units test that the quality and distance by sending a signal to the other unit, and expecting a response signal. If no response signal is received, an alert is fired. The check is initiated upon a trigger, such as a timer, a sensed motion, or a user-initiated event such as when the user presses a button.

Claims

1. A method for verifying communication between a first unit and a second unit, the first unit adapted to communicate with the second unit, the first unit being a mobile unit or a stationary unit and the second unit being a mobile unit or a stationary unit, the method comprising:

the first unit receiving a trigger event;

the first unit sending a request signal to the second unit;

the first unit determining that a response signal was not received from the second unit or that a response signal is of low quality or intensity was received; and

firing an alert,

wherein the two units are adapted to communicate in a non-continuous manner.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising testing a quality or intensity parameter of the response signal.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising testing a quality or intensity parameter of the request signal and reporting results within the response signal.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising testing that the first unit and the second unit are at most a predetermined distance apart.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is a timer event.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the timer event depends on a distance between the first unit and the second unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is initiated by a user of the first unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is a sensed motion event.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first unit is a mobile part of a baby monitor and the second unit is a stationary part of a baby monitor.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first unit is a handset of a cordless phone and the second unit is a base station of the cordless phone.

11. A monitoring system for verifying communication between a first unit and a second unit, the first unit adapted to communicate with the second unit, the first unit being a mobile or a stationary unit and the second unit being a mobile or a stationary unit, the monitoring system comprising:

an event receiving component for receiving a trigger event;

a signal sending component for sending a signal to the second unit;

a signal receiving component for receiving a signal from the second unit; and

an alert firing component for firing an alert if a response signal was not received from the second unit or that a response signal is of low quality or intensity was received,

wherein the first unit and the second unit are adapted to communicate in a non-continuous manner.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising a range testing component for determining that the first unit and the second unit are at most a predetermined distance apart.

13. The monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising a signal testing component for testing a quality or intensity parameter of the response signal.

14. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is a timer event.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the timer event depends on a distance between the first unit and the second unit.

16. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is initiated by a user of the first unit.

17. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the trigger event is a sensed motion event.

18. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the first unit is a mobile part of a baby monitor and the second unit is a stationary part of a baby monitor.

19. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the first unit is a stationary part of a pet monitor and the second unit is a mobile part of a pet monitor.

20. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the first unit is a handset of a cordless phone and the second unit is a base station of the cordless phone.