Method of radio transmission between a radio transmitter and radio receiver

• US 5,973,601 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Campana Jr
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Campana Jr
• Inventors: Campana, Thomas J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/982,532
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 375/202, 375/200, 375/354, 340/825.14, 340/825.2, 340/573.4, 370/498, 370/503, 370/509, 370/514
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/18 Monitoring during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence

Abstract

An antenna assembly providing selectable omnidirectional or directional reception of radio transmissions in a frequency band in accordance with the invention includes an electrically conductive reflector (432) defining a cavity (702) having a bottom (708), an opening (714) and a surface (704 and 706) extending from the bottom to the opening and an electrical output (763); an electrically conductive loop (431) coupled to ground and having an electrical outlet (766) for coupling to an RF amplifier (407), the loop being positioned between the bottom opening of the cavity; a RF switch (406) having an input (760) and first and second outputs (762 and 764), the RF switch having a first switching state electrically connecting the input to the first output and a second switching state electrically connecting the input to the second output, the first switch output being electrically coupled to ground and the second switch output being electrically coupled to the output of the electrically conductive loop; and wherein the first switching state provides the directional reception and the second switching state provides the omnidirectional reception of the radio transmissions.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a radio transmitter relative to a radio receiver to which the radio transmitter transmits a radio transmission comprising:

periodically transmitting radio transmissions from the radio transmitter with each transmission including at least one group of data bits encoding a repeat of at least one digit of an identification code which identifies the radio transmitter and synchronization information with the synchronization information upon reception being used for synchronizing a clock of the radio receiver.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one group of data bits comprises:

a plurality of groups of data bits with each group of data bits including a plurality of identification digits of the identification code and the synchronization information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the at least one group of data bits comprises a plurality of frames with each frame comprising a plurality of identification digits of the identification code and the synchronization information.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the plurality of groups of data bits, including a plurality of digits of the identification code.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

7. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the plurality of groups of data bits, including a plurality of digits of the identification code.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

each group of data bits includes error correction code.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

11. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

each group of data bits includes error correction code.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

13. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the at least one group of data bits comprises a plurality of frames comprising a plurality of identification digits of the identification code and the synchronization information.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein:

the at least one group of data bits comprises a plurality of frames comprising a repeat of a plurality of the identification digits and the synchronization information; and

further comprising

at least one additional frame including a repeat of at least one identification digit of the identification code.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the at least one group of data bits, comprising an additional frame containing a repeat of at least one additional identification digit of the identification code.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

19. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the at least one group of data bits, encoding a repeat of at least one additional identification digit of the identification code.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

21. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein:

each frame includes error correction code.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

23. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

24. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the at least one group of data bits includes bits which encode an indicator of status of a user of the transmitter.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the at least one group of data bits, encoding a repeat of at least one additional identification digit of the identification code.

26. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

27. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

each group of data bits includes error correction code.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

29. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

30. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the at least one group of data bits further includes:

bits which encode additional information.

31. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the at least one group of data bits, encoding a repeat of at least one additional identification digit of the identification code.

32. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein:

each group of data bits includes error correction code.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

34. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

35. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

each group of data bits includes error correction code.

36. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

37. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.

38. A method of transmission between a radio transmitter and a radio receiver comprising:

periodically transmitting radio transmissions from the radio transmitter with each transmission including at least one group of data bits encoding a repeat of at least one digit of an identification code which identifies the radio transmitter and synchronization information with the synchronization information upon reception being used for synchronizing a clock of the radio receiver.

39. A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein the at least one group of data bits includes:

a plurality of groups of data bits with each group of data bits including a plurality of identification digits of the identification code and the synchronization information.

40. A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein:

the at least one group of data bits comprises a plurality of frames with each frame comprising a plurality of identification digits of the identification code and the synchronization information.

41. A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein the periodically transmitted radio transmissions further comprise:

another group of data bits, transmitted after the at least one group of data bits, encoding a repeat of at least one additional identification digit of the identification code.

42. A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein:

each periodic radio transmission is on a different carrier frequency.