RF base repeater for automated residence management system

• US 6,061,604 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safeguard Delaware, Inc. (Safeguard Scientifics (Delaware), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Inventors: Russ, Robert M., Bassett, William W., Glorioso, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US08/852,102
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.52, 700/90
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system

Abstract

A multi-unit automated space management and communication system for use in association with a structure having a plurality of units. The system includes circuitry that monitors various utility related aspects of each of the plurality of units. The system further includes an automated subsystem disposed in each one of the plurality of units. This subsystem includes at least one appliance, at least one communication medium means, at least one interface means for connecting the at least one appliance apparatus into a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one communication medium means, at least one communication source, operably connected to the at least one communication medium means. The system further includes an external communication interface linking the automated subsystem to the monitoring means in a signal-exchanging relationship. The system still further includes data storage circuits.

Claims

1. A multi-unit automated space management and communication system for use in association with a structure having a plurality of units, said system comprising:

means for monitoring various utility related aspects of each of the plurality of units;

an automated subsystem disposed in each one of the plurality of units, said subsystem including at least one appliance apparatus disposed in the unit, at least one communication medium means operably disposed in the unit, at least one interface means for connecting the at least one appliance apparatus into a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one communication medium means, at least one communication source, operably connected to the at least one communication medium means, for generating at least one first signal relevant to at least one of the at least one appliance apparatus, the at least one communication source being capable of disposing the at least one first signal into the at least one communication medium means, for reception at least one location remote from the communication source, the at least one interface means being operably configured so as to enable at least one of the at least one appliance apparatus to respond to the at least one first signal relevant to the at least one of the at least one appliance apparatus for transmission to locations remote from the at least one appliance apparatus, the at least one interface means being further operably configured so as to be capable of generating at least one second signal representative of at least one characteristic of the at least one appliance apparatus, the at least one interface means further being operably configured so as to be capable of disposing the at least one second signal into the at least one communication medium means, for reception at at least one location remote from the at least one interface means;

an external communication interface linking the automated subsystem in each one of the plurality of units to the monitoring means in a signal-exchanging relationship; and

means for storing data provided from each one of the plurality of automated subsystems associated with each one of the plurality of units.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling one or more of the at least one appliance apparatus disposed in at least one of the plurality of units.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising means for receiving commands from a utility company associated with the controlling means.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a user-interface that allows the user to access the data in the storing means.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising means for receiving commands from a local user associated with the controlling means.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user-interface that allows the user to access the data in the storing means.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the external communication interface includes:

plurality of remote radio frequency transmitter/receivers in each one of the plurality of units associated with each automated subsystem, each one of the plurality of remote radio frequency transmitter/receivers having a current transmission-reception frequency; and

a central radio frequency transmitter/receiver associated with the monitoring and storing means, the central radio frequency transmitter/receiver having a variable transmission-reception frequency.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the external communication interface further includes means for altering the current transmission-reception frequency in each of the plurality of remote radio frequency transmitter/receivers and the variable transmission-reception frequency in the central radio, such that the current and variable frequencies hop between two or more frequencies in synchronization.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the external communication interface further includes means for assigning a communication time slot to each of the plurality of remote radio frequency transmitter/receiver to facilitate communication between each of the plurality of remote radio frequency transmitter/receivers and the central radio transmitter/receiver.