Process and device for associating a remote control to a base station

• US 6,445,283 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Pang, Peter, Pavatich, Frank, Pettit, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/331,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.2, 340/10.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/10.32, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/5.1, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/10.41
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Method for allocating a remote controller to a base station, having the following steps: emission of a search signal by the base station, reception of the search signal, comparison with a reference signal, and emission of a “present” signal by the actuation element if the search signal matches the reference signal. If no “present” signal arrives in response to a search signal, emission of a search signal by the base station is repeated after a repetition time has elapsed. Execution of the method is accomplished by way of a base station which has means for detecting the time Ts that has elapsed since emission of a search signal, and by way of a remote controller which switches from an idle state into an active state upon arrival of a search signal.

Claims

1. A base station, comprising:

at least one transmission device emitting a first search signal and a second search signal, the second search signal being emitted immediately after the first search signal;

a reception device receiving a particular signal from a remote controller;

a first arrangement determining if the particular signal has arrived at the base station; and

a second arrangement determining a time period which has elapsed starting from a time when the at least one transmission device emits the second search signal,

wherein the at least one transmission device repeats the emission after the time period elapses if the particular signal has not arrived at the base station in response to a receipt of the first search signal.

2. The base station according to claim 1, wherein, after the predetermined signal arrives at the base station, the base station initiates an allocation dialog with the remote controller by transmitting a test signal to the remote controller.

3. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the second search signal includes an address of the remote controller.

4. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission device includes a plurality of transmission devices emitting a plurality of further search signals, and wherein the further search signals include a datum identifying a transmitter from which the further search signals are derived.

5. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the reception device receives the first and second search signals.

6. The base station according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third arrangement determining a further repetition time period of third-party search signals generated by third-party base stations.

7. The base station according to claim 1, wherein, only if further search signals are not being transmitted by further base stations simultaneously with the second search signal, the at least one transmission device emits the second search signal.

8. The base station according to claim 1, wherein, if further search signals generated by third-party base stations arrive at the base station simultaneously with the second search signal, the base station delays the at least one transmission device from emitting the second search signal.

9. The base station according to claim 1,

wherein, if a further search signal generated by a third-party base station is simultaneously present with the second search signal emitted by the at least one transmission device, the base station determines a waiting time period in a randomly controlled manner, and

wherein the at least one transmission device transmits the second search signal after the waiting time period.

10. An apparatus for allocating a remote controller to a base station, comprising:

a transmission device emitting first and second search signals and being arranged in the base station, the second search signal being transmitted immediately following the first search signal; and

a processing device being arranged in the remote controller, the processing device including an arrangement which;

receives further search signals, and

transmits a particular signal if the second search signal matches a reference signal,

wherein, if the particular signal has not arrived in response to a receipt of the first search signal, the transmission device emits another search signal after a predetermined repetition time period.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the base station and the remote controller establish an allocation dialog therebetween, and wherein the second search signal and the allocation dialog are capable of utilizing predetermined carrier signal forms.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the base station and the remote controller establish an allocation dialog therebetween, and wherein the allocation dialog uses high-frequency signals.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second search signal is an ultrasonic signal.

14. A method for allocating a remote controller to a base station, comprising the steps of:

(a) emitting a first search signal by the base station;

(b) emitting a second search signal by the base station, the second search signal being emitted immediately after the first search signal;

(c) receiving the second search signal by the remote controller;

(d) in the remote controller, comparing the second search signal to a reference signal;

(e) emitting a particular signal by the remote controller if the second search signal matches the reference signal;

(f) if the particular signal has not arrived at the base station in response to a reception of the first search signal, repeating step (a) after a predetermined repetition time period.