Monitoring system for radio communication apparatus

• US 5,027,427 A
• Filed: 05/30/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Application Number:
  US07/358,103
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 455/50, 455/54, 455/57, 455/63, 455/67, 455/226, 370/13, 370/14, 370/17, 340/825.01, 340/825.06, 340/825.16, 371/29.1, 371/32
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A monitoring system and method for a radio communication apparatus, including a base station and a plurality of portable units, for monitoring a state of each of the portable units. The base station transmits a first asking signal to each of the portable units at each occurrence of a first predetermined time period. Each portable units replys to the first asking signal only when a state of the portable units becomes abnormal. The base station also transmits a second asking signal to each of the portable units at each occurrence of a second predetermined time period. Each portable units replys to the second asking signal to indicate an operation state of the portable unit.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a radio communication apparatus including a base station and a plurality of portable units, said system for monitoring a set of each said portable units through said base station, and comprising:

means disposed in said base station for transmitting a first asking signal to each of said portable units at occurrences of a first predetermined period;

means disposed in each of said portable units for replying a response signal in response to said first asking signal only when an operation state of said portable unit becomes abnormal;

means disposed in said base station for transmitting a second asking signal to each of said portable units in response to said response signal and at occurrences of a second predetermined period which is longer in time than said first predetermined period; and

means disposed in each of aid portable units for transmitting a state signal to said base station in response to said second asking signal, said state signal indicating an operation state of said portable unit.

2. A monitoring system for a radio communication apparatus including a base station and a plurality of portable units, said system for monitoring an operational state of each of said portable units through said base station, and comprising:

means disposed in said base station for transmitting a first asking signal to each of said portable units at occurrences of a first predetermined period;

means disposed in each of said portable units for replying a response signal in response to said first asking signal only when a state of said portable unit becomes abnormal;

means disposed in said base station for transmitting a second asking signal to each of said portable units in response to said response signal;

means disposed in said base station for transmitting a third asking signal to each of said portable units at occurrences of a second predetermined period, said second predetermined period being longer than said first predetermined period; and

means deposed in each of said portable units for transmitting a state signal to said base station in response to said second or third asking signal, said state signal indicating an operation state of said portable unit.

3. A monitoring method for a radio communication apparatus including a base station and a plurality of portable units, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first requiring signal from said base station to each of said portable units at occurrences of a first predetermined cycle period;

replying a first response signal from a portable unit to said base station only when said portable unit has a change of an operation state;

transmitting a second requiring signal from said base station to each of said portable units when said base station receives said first response signal from said portable unit;

transmitting a third requiring signal from said base station to each of said portable units at occurrences of a second predetermined cycle period, said second predetermined cycle period being longer than said first predetermined cycle period; and

replying a second response signal from each of said portable units to said base station in response to said second or third requiring signal, said second response signal including information of the operation state in each of said portable units.

4. A radio communication system including one base station and portable units existing around said base station, said system for monitoring a state of each of said portable units by said base station, and comprising:

first means belonging to said base station for polling said units sequentially for the presence of a change in their operation states, said first means performing said polling at each occurrence of a first predetermined time period;

second means belonging to each of said portable units for storing presence of a change in the operation state thereof;

third means belonging to each of said portable units for informing said base station of the change in the operation state thereof;

fourth means belonging to said base station for acknowledging the presence of a change in the operation state of any one or more of said portable units;

fifth means belonging to said base station for forwarding in response to the acknowledgement of an operation state change, a first requirement for requiring information of the operation state of each of said portable units to be transmitted;

sixth means belonging to each of said portable units for transmitting the information of the operation state thereof to said base station upon reception of the requirement;

seventh means belonging to said base station for forwarding a second requirement for requiring information of the operation state of each of said portable units thereof to be transmitted, said seventh means performing said requiring at each occurrence of a second predetermined period of which is substantially longer in time with respect to said first predetermined time; and

eighth means belonging to said each of said portable units for transmitting the information of the operation state thereof to said base station upon reception of said second requirement.