Communication system capable of broadcast messaging and transponder polling
First Claim
1. A communication system in which a controller, which provides timing, is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, said system comprising:
- means for periodically transmitting a broadcast message simultaneously to all of said transponders;
means for transmitting an acknowledge message, responsive to receipt of said broadcast message, from one of said transponders;
to said controller responsive to a new input existing at said one of said transponders;
means for polling said transponders by sequentially transmitting signals corresponding to their individual addresses using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, wherein said means for polling is activated to poll all of the transponders only if at least said one of the transponders has acknowledge the broadcast message by transmitting an acknowledge message to said controller; and
means for polling high priority transponders first by starting the polling at address zero, said high priority transponders having addresses, which are the lowest of addresses assigned to transponders.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by periodically transmitting a broadcast message simultaneously to all transponders, transmitting an acknowledge message indicative of a new input received by at least one of the transponders, and individually polling all of the transponders using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, wherein the polling is only activated subsequent to the transmission of the acknowledge message. Periodic polls of all transponders in sequence provide supervision of the integrity of the system.
31 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A communication system in which a controller, which provides timing, is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, said system comprising:
-
means for periodically transmitting a broadcast message simultaneously to all of said transponders; means for transmitting an acknowledge message, responsive to receipt of said broadcast message, from one of said transponders;
to said controller responsive to a new input existing at said one of said transponders;means for polling said transponders by sequentially transmitting signals corresponding to their individual addresses using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, wherein said means for polling is activated to poll all of the transponders only if at least said one of the transponders has acknowledge the broadcast message by transmitting an acknowledge message to said controller; and means for polling high priority transponders first by starting the polling at address zero, said high priority transponders having addresses, which are the lowest of addresses assigned to transponders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeGSBS Development Corp. (SPX Corporation)
-
Original AssigneeGeneral Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
-
InventorsMullins, Leo, Lee, Tim, Oliver, Bill, Slack, Mike, Becker, Don, Robins, Cathy
-
Primary Examiner(s)Ng, Jin F.
-
Assistant Examiner(s)Lefkowitz, Edward
-
Application NumberUS07/696,497Time in Patent Office679 DaysField of Search340/505, 340/502, 340/501, 340/518, 340/825.07, 340/825.08, 340/825.09, 340/825.10, 340/825.11, 340/825.12, 340/825.13, 340/825.54US Class Current340/505CPC Class CodesG08B 26/004 with common interrogation o...
