Method of notifying an apparatus in a system

• US 7,400,880 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydrometer Electronic GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hydrometer Electronic GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Jurgen, Pohler, Ulrich, Hanft, Andreas, Churt, Kerstin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US10/822,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20040209599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/421, 455/41.1, 455/405, 455/561, 455/564, 340/870.02, 379/106.07
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of announcing an apparatus to a system containing a central apparatus and at least one individual apparatus is distinguished in that the announcement is effected by optical communication, preferably in the infrared range. In that respective information about the apparatuses in the system is stored in the central apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of announcing an individual apparatus to a system containing a central apparatus, which comprises the steps of:

announcing the individual apparatus to the system using exclusively optical communication;

storing information about the individual apparatus in the system in the central apparatus;

after completing the announcing step, outputting a confirmation signal by at least one of an apparatus registering the announcing and the central apparatus; and

after completing the announcing step, the individual apparatus communicating further information only through radio communications.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the announcing is effected to the central apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises performing the optical communication unidirectionally from the individual apparatus doing the announcing to an apparatus for registering the announcing.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the system as a radio network.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the system as a data acquisition and data collection system.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises performing the optical communication in an infrared range.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the system as a consumption data acquisition and collection system reporting information relating to at least one of electricity consumption, water consumption, gas consumption and heat cost data.

8. A method of announcing an individual apparatus to a system containing a central apparatus, which comprises the steps of:

announcing the individual apparatus to the system using exclusively optical communication;

storing information about the individual apparatus in the system in the central apparatus;

after completing the announcing step, the individual apparatus communicating further information only through radio communications;

announcing an intermediary apparatus to the central apparatus;

announcing the individual apparatus to the intermediary apparatus resulting in an announcement; and

forwarding the announcement of the individual apparatus from the intermediary apparatus to the central apparatus.

9. A system, comprising:

a first apparatus being a central apparatus having a first optical interface for performing optical communication and a first radio module; and

a second apparatus selected from the group consisting of an individual apparatus and an intermediary apparatus and having a second optical interface for performing optical communication with said first optical interface, the optical communication only providing information about said second apparatus for announcing a presence of said second apparatus to said first apparatus, said second apparatus having a second radio module for transmitting further information to said first apparatus, after said second apparatus announces its presence to said first apparatus, said first apparatus outputting a confirmation signal.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein:

the system is a data acquisition and data collection system;

said central apparatus is a master data collector;

said intermediary apparatus is a data collector; and

said individual apparatus is a terminal apparatus and data communication between said apparatuses is effected by way of radio.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the system is a consumption data acquisition and collection system reporting information relating to at least one of electricity consumption, water consumption, gas consumption and heat cost data.

12. A system, comprising:

a first apparatus being a central apparatus having a first optical interface for performing optical communication;

a second apparatus being an individual apparatus and having a second optical interface for performing optical communication; and

a third apparatus being an intermediary apparatus and having a third optical interface for performing optical communication, said third optical interface communicating with said first and second optical interfaces, the optical communication providing information about said second and third apparatuses for announcing a presence of said second and third apparatuses to said first apparatus.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

the system is a data acquisition and data collection system;

said central apparatus is a master data collector;

said intermediary apparatus is a data collector; and

said individual apparatus is a terminal apparatus and data communication between said first, second and third apparatuses is effected by way of radio.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system is a consumption data acquisition and collection system reporting information relating to at least one of electricity consumption, water consumption, gas consumption and heat cost data.