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Method and apparatus for transmitting status information between remote locations

  • US 4,551,718 A
  • Filed: 06/24/1983
  • Issued: 11/05/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of transmitting status information from a first location to a remote second location comprising the steps of:

  • At the first location;

    (a) monitoring the state of a plurality of devices, each of which is in either an active or inactive state;

    (b) assembling a table of digital codes such that a distinct code is associated with each possible state of each said device;

    (c) determining the current state of each device and assigning the proper digital code for each device in its current state;

    (d) determining if any device has changed from the inactive to the active state;

    (e) transmitting in a predetermined sequence the codes for each device;

    (f) if a change to the active state has occurred for any device, interrupting said predetermined sequence, to transmit the digital code associated with the device that has changed state;

    At the second location;

    (g) receiving said digital codes in the order transmitted;

    (h) comparing the received code with the table to determine the validity of the received code;

    (i) if the received code is valid, decoding the code to determine the device and state represented;

    (j) outputting the status information based on the most recent code received;

    (k) upon reception of any invalid code, inhibiting output so that no status information is output until validity is reestablished; and

    (l) reestablishing validity after the reception of a valid code for each of the monitored devices without reception of an intervening invalid code.

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