System and method for wireless data exchange between an appliance and a handheld device

• US 7,099,649 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geberit International Ag (Geberit AG)
• Original Assignee: Geberit Technik AG
• Inventors: Watson, Thomas J., Patterson, Wade C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/035,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/505, 340/539.1, 455/92, 455352-353, 455/88, 455/227, 137/624.11, 462/3
• US Class Current: 455/353
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

A wireless data exchange system is disclosed. The system includes an electronically operated appliance including a transmitter, a receiver, and a control module configured to communicate with the transmitter and receiver. The control module provides a primary mode of operation and a secondary mode of operation and includes control logic configured to selectively change the mode of operation of the electronically operated appliance. A communication device adapted to be held in the hand of a user is configured to cooperate with the transmitter and the receiver to impart instructions wirelessly to the control logic in order to change the mode of operation of the electronically operated appliance upon receipt of a command from a user. A method of exchanging data wirelessly between an apparatus and a communication device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wireless data exchange system comprising:

an electronically operated fluid dispensing device comprising;

a transmitter;

a first receiver;

a second receiver; and

a control module configured to communicate with said transmitter, said first receiver, and said second receiver, said control module being configured to provide a primary mode of operation in which the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is operable and a secondary mode of operation in which the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is not operable and including control logic configured to selectively change the mode of operation of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, wherein said primary mode of operation comprises a sensing mode and said secondary mode of operation comprises a communication mode, said first receiver being configured to operate in said sensing mode and said second receiver being configured to operate in said communication mode; and

a communication device adapted to be held in the hand of a user and configured to cooperate with said transmitter and said second receiver to receive data wirelessly from said control logic regarding the operation of the single electrically operated fluid dispensing device and to impart instructions wirelessly to said control logic to change the mode of operation of the electronically operated fluid dispensing device upon receipt of a command from a user which changes said mode of operation of said control module from said primary mode of operation to said secondary mode of operation.

2. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises an active infrared emitter configured to selectively emit sensing signals capable of being received by said first receiver and communication signals capable of being received by said communication device.

3. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 2, wherein said second receiver comprises an infrared detector capable of detecting a communication signal and said first receiver comprises an infrared detector capable of detecting a sensing signal.

4. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 1, wherein said communication device includes a communication receiver and a microprocessor, and wherein said communication receiver and said microprocessor cooperate to receive signals from the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, identify the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device and determine the operating status of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device.

5. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 4, wherein said communication device further includes an emitter that communicates with said microprocessor to transmit signals to the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device in response to signals received from the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, the transmitted signals including instructions that change the operating parameters of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device.

6. A wireless data exchange system for use in an electrically operated fluid dispensing system, said wireless data exchange system comprising:

a transmitter which is associated with a single electrically operated fluid dispensing system;

first and second receivers which are associated with the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system;

a control module which is associated with the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system and which is operatively connected to communicate with said transmitter and said first and second receivers, said control module being configured to provide a primary mode of operation in which the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is operable and a secondary mode of operation in which the single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is not operable, said control module including control logic configured to selectively change the mode of operation of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, wherein said primary mode of operation comprises a sensing mode and said secondary mode of operation comprises a communication mode, said first receiver being configured to operate in said sensing mode and said second receiver being configured to operate in said communication mode; and

a communication device adapted to be held in the hand of a user and configured to cooperate with said transmitter and said second receiver, said communication device communicating with said control module to cause said control module to switch from said primary mode of operation to said secondary mode of operation, wherein said communications device receives data wirelessly from said control logic regarding the operation of the single electrically operated fluid dispensing device and imparts instructions wirelessly to said control logic to change the mode of operation of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device as commanded by a user when said control module is in said secondary mode of operation.

7. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 6, wherein said transmitter comprises:

an active infrared emitter configured to selectively emit sensing signals capable of being received by said first receiver and communication signals capable of being received by said communication device.

8. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 7, wherein said second receiver comprises:

an infrared detector capable of detecting a communication signal; and

wherein said first receiver comprises;

an infrared detector capable of detecting a sensing signal.

9. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 6, wherein said communication device comprises:

a communication receiver; and

a microprocessor, wherein said communication receiver and said microprocessor cooperate to receive signals from the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, identify the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device and determine the operating status of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device.

10. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 9, wherein said communication device further comprises:

an emitter that communicates with said microprocessor to transmit signals to the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device in response to signals received from the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, the transmitted signals including instructions that change the operating parameters of the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device.

11. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 6, additionally comprising:

a timer which begins timing a fixed period whenever said control module switches from said primary mode of operation to said secondary mode of operation, said timer causing said control module to switch from said secondary mode of operation to said primary mode of operation when said timer reaches the end of said fixed period.

12. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 11, wherein said control module is adapted to cause fluid to flow from the single electrically operated fluid dispensing device in response to an object in sufficiently close proximity to said first receiver reflecting a signal from said transmitter to said first receiver.

13. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 12, wherein said communication device is adapted to allow the period of time that fluid will flow from the single electrically operated fluid dispensing device following detection of an object in proximity to said first receiver.

14. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 6, additionally comprising:

a computer connected to the Internet, wherein said communication device is adapted for connection to said computer to provide operational information regarding the single electronically operated fluid dispensing device which operational information is transmitted on the Internet; and

a server also connected to the Internet, said server receiving said operational information and storing it in a database.

15. A wireless data exchange system as defined in claim 6, additionally comprising:

a second transmitter which is associated with a second single electrically operated fluid dispensing system;

third and fourth receivers which are associated with the second single electrically operated fluid dispensing system; and

a second control module which is associated with the second single electrically operated fluid dispensing system and which is operatively connected to communicate with said second transmitter and said third and fourth receivers, said second control module being configured to provide a primary mode of operation in which the second single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is operable and a secondary mode of operation in which the second single electrically operated fluid dispensing system is not operable, said second control module including second control logic configured to selectively change the mode of operation of the second single electronically operated fluid dispensing device, wherein said primary mode of operation comprises a sensing mode and said secondary mode of operation comprises a communication mode, said third receiver being configured to operate in said sensing mode and said fourth receiver being configured to operate in said communication mode;

wherein said communication device can communicate with said second control module to cause said second control module to switch from said primary mode of operation to said secondary mode of operation, wherein said communications device receives data wirelessly from said second control logic regarding the operation of the second single electrically operated fluid dispensing device and imparts instructions wirelessly to said second control logic to change the mode of operation of the second single electronically operated fluid dispensing device as commanded by a user when said second control module is in said secondary mode of operation.