High power control signal transmission and low power data signal transmission in a wireless security system

• US 6,294,992 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmit, Thomas P., Adamo, Patrick, Addy, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/063,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/514, 340/531, 340/693.3, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.06, 340/825.44, 455/38.3, 455/127
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/066 Carrier recovery circuits H04L27/2271 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for maximizing transmission power levels in wireless security systems wherein the transmitted power is adjusted depending on the type of signal being transmitted in order to comply with power level restrictions imposed by agency regulations (e.g. Federal Communications Commission). Higher priority control signals messages are transmitted at the maximum permitted or normal output power level and are not compromised by the requirement for transmission of data signals that are transmitted at a reduced power level. In addition, a method and apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems is provided, wherein data signals are exclusively transmitted at a reduced power level during an installation mode leaving only control signals to be transmitted at normal power during normal operation mode. Data information contained in the data signal is stored in a console during installation mode, and retrieved and displayed to the user in response to the control signal during normal operation mode. The reduction in data signal transmissions reduces on-air time, thereby reducing the potential for message clash.

Claims

1. A wireless security system for maximizing transmission power levels, which comprises:

an alarm sensor adapted to transmit a control signal;

a central receiver adapted to receive said control signal;

a central transmitter comprising

a processing unit adapted to generate a modulating signal and a transmission power control signal, said modulating signal comprising a message, said message comprising control and/or data information, said transmission power control signal comprising one of at least two states at any given time dependent upon whether said message comprises data and/or control information,

an oscillator adapted to generate a carrier signal,

a modulator adapted to modulate said carrier signal with said modulating signal, said modulator adapted to control amplification of said modulated carrier signal in accordance with said state of said transmission power control signal, and

an antenna adapted to radiate said modulated carrier signal;

a control system adapted to communicate with said central receiver and said central transmitter; and

a console adapted to receive a data and/or control signal comprising said modulated carrier signal from said central transmitter, said modulated carrier signal comprising said message, decode said message into control and/or data information, perform tasks associated with said control information, and display said data information.

2. The wireless security,system for maximizing transmission power levels of claim 1, wherein said modulator is adapted to control amplification of said modulated carrier signal to a normal power level when said transmission power control signal indicates said modulated carrier signal comprises control information.

3. The wireless security system for maximizing transmission power levels of claim 1, wherein said modulator is adapted to control amplification of said modulated carrier signal to a reduced power level when said transmission power control signal indicates said modulated carrier signal comprises data information.

4. A method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems, which comprises the steps of:

transmitting a data signal comprising display data and an address pointer during an installation mode;

receiving said data signal;

storing said display data in a memory location indicated by said address pointer;

transmitting a control signal comprising said address pointer during a normal operation mode;

receiving said control signal;

retrieving said display data from said memory location indicated by said address pointer; and

displaying said display data.

5. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said data signal is transmitted at a reduced power level.

6. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said control signal is transmitted at a normal power level.

7. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said data signal is transmitted over a reduced distance during said installation mode.

8. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said control signal is transmitted over a normal distance during said normal operation mode.

9. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said steps of transmitting said data signal, receiving said data signal, and storing said display data are selectively iterated.

10. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, wherein said steps of transmitting said control signal, receiving said control signal, retrieving said display data, and displaying said display data are selectively iterated.

11. The method for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 4, further comprising generating a transmission power control signal, said data signal and said control signal transmitted at a power level indicated by said transmission power control signal.

12. An apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems, which comprises:

means for transmitting a data signal comprising display data and an address pointer during an installation mode;

means for receiving said data signal;

means for storing said display data in a memory location indicated by said address pointer;

means for transmitting a control signal comprising said address pointer during a normal operation mode;

means for receiving said control signal;

means for retrieving said display data from said memory location indicated by said address pointer; and

means for displaying said display data.

13. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting said data signal is adapted to transmit said data signal at a reduced power level.

14. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting said control signal is adapted to transmit said control signal at a normal power level.

15. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting said data signal is adapted to transmit said data signal over a reduced distance during said installation mode.

16. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting said control signal is adapted to transmit said control signal over a normal distance during said normal operation mode.

17. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 12, further comprising means for generating a transmission power control signal, said data signal and said control signal transmitted at a power level indicated by said transmission power control signal.

18. An apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems, which comprises:

a transmitter adapted to transmit a data signal comprising display data and an address pointer during an installation mode, said transmitter adapted to transmit a control signal comprising said address pointer during a normal operation mode;

a console adapted to receive said data signal and store said display data in a memory location indicated by said address pointer, said console adapted to receive said control signal, retrieve said display data from said memory location indicated by said address pointer, and display said display data.

19. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said data signal is transmitted at a reduced power level.

20. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said control signal is transmitted at a normal power level.

21. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said data signal is transmitted over a reduced distance during said installation mode.

22. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said control signal is transmitted over a normal distance during said normal operation mode.

23. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said transmitter iteratively transmits said data signal and said console iteratively receives said data signal and stores said display data.

24. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said transmitter iteratively transmits said control signal and said console iteratively receives said control signal, retrieves said display data, and displays said display data.

25. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said transmitter generates a transmission power control signal and transmits said data signal and said control signal at a power level indicated by said transmission power control signal.

26. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said console comprises

a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive said data signal and said control signal,

a memory unit,

a display, and

a microprocessor adapted to derive said display data and said address pointer from said data signal, said microprocessor adapted to store said display data in a location in said memory unit indicated by said address pointer, said microprocessor adapted to derive said address pointer from said control data, retrieve said display data from said location in said memory indicated by said address pointer, and display said display data on said display.

27. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 26, wherein said console further comprises a keypad for manual entry of said display data and said address pointers.

28. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said control signal further comprises a substantially unique preamble adapted to identify said control signal, start bits, control bits and a CRC.

29. The apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems of claim 18, wherein said data signal further comprises a substantially unique preamble adapted to identify said data signal, start bits, control bits and a CRC.