Wireless synchronous time system

• US 7,457,200 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Primex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quartex Division of Primex Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neill, Terrence J., Pikula, Michael A., Gollnick, Robin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US10/876,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/46, 368/52, 368/55, 368/59, 340/309.15, 340/309.16, 340/309.4, 455/68, 455/70, 455/230, 455/231, 455/507
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A wireless synchronous time system comprising a primary master event device and secondary slave devices. The primary event device receives a global positioning systems “GPS” time signal, processes the GPS time signal, receives a programmed instruction, and broadcasts or transmits the processed time signal and the programmed instruction to the secondary slave devices. The secondary slave devices receive the processed time signal and the programmed instruction, select an identified programmed instruction, display the time, and execute an event associated with the programmed instruction. The primary event device and the secondary devices further include a power interrupt module for retaining the time and the programmed instruction in case of a power loss.

Claims

1. A secondary event device for a synchronous event system involving the secondary event device and a primary event device, operation of the secondary event device being at least in part dependent on synchronization and programming information transmitted by the primary event device, the secondary event device comprising:

a receiver operable to wirelessly receive a first internal time and a programmed instruction transmitted by the primary event device, the first internal time being derived from a GPS time signal, the programmed instruction including a time element;

a processor coupled to the receiver and operable to selectively register the programmed instruction;

an internal clock coupled to the receiver to store the first internal time and to increment relative to the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time; and

an event switch operable to execute the registered programmed instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.

2. The secondary event device of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction includes displaying a time.

3. The secondary event device of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction includes executing a pre-determined timed function.

4. The secondary event device of claim 1, further comprising a power interrupt module coupled to the processor and operable to retain the second internal time and the programmed instruction.

5. The secondary event device of claim 1, wherein the programmed instruction further comprises a data packet including a preamble, a sync bit, a packet identification byte, an hour byte, a minute byte, a second byte, a function byte, a checksum byte, and a postamble.

6. The secondary event device of claim 1, further comprising a clock.

7. A method of controlling a timed-system, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, from a primary master device, a first internal time and operational data at a second device including a receiver, the first internal time being derived from a GPS time signal;

selectively storing the operational data in a memory coupled to the receiver;

storing the first internal time in the memory coupled to the receiver to produce a second internal time; and

executing an event at the second device coupled to the receiver based at least in part on the second internal time and the operational data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein executing the event further comprises displaying a time.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the second internal time and the operational data at the power failure.

10. A method of wirelessly synchronizing a timed-system, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving, from a primary master device, a first internal time and operational data at a second receiver, the first internal time being derived from a GPS time signal, the operational data including a preprogrammed time element and a preprogrammed functional element;

selectively registering the operational data in a memory;

setting an internal clock to the first internal time;

incrementing the internal clock relative to the first internal time;

retrieving a second internal time from the internal clock;

displaying the second internal time;

identifying a function from the preprogrammed functional element; and

executing the function when the second internal time matches the preprogrammed time element.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting a power failure and retaining the second internal time and the operational data at the power failure.

12. A second device for a synchronous event system involving the second device and a first device, operation of the second device being at least in part dependent on synchronization and programming information transmitted by the first device, the second device comprising:

a receiver operable to wirelessly receive, from the first device, a first internal time and a programmed instruction, the first internal time being derived from a time signal, the programmed instruction including a time element;

an internal clock coupled to the receiver to store the first internal time and to increment relative to the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time; and

an event switch operable to execute the programmed instruction when the second internal time matches the time element of the programmed instruction.

13. The second device of claim 12, further comprising a power interrupt module coupled to the internal clock and operable to retain the second internal time and the programmed instruction.

14. The second device of claim 12, further comprising a clock.