Wireless event status communication system, device and method

• US 7,498,936 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cufer Asset Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Strauss Acquisitions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Maeng, Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/394,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.26, 340/5.71, 340/540, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.5, 340/529, 340/539.22, 340/679, 340/686.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• 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

Abstract

A wireless event status communication system, device and method are disclosed. In one form, a wireless enabled notification system includes a wireless informer operably associated with an environmental element having more than one operating state and operable to determine a current operating state of the environmental element and to communicate the current operating state via a wireless communication module. The system further includes a remote status notification device operable to receive the communication including the current operating state. The remote status notification device including a processor operable to determine a last current operating state when the remote status notification device is out of range of the wireless informer.

Claims

1. A wireless enabled notification system comprising:

a wireless informer operably associated with an environmental element having more than one operating state, the wireless informer configured to determine a current operating state of the environmental element and to communicate the current operating state via a wireless communication module;

a remote status notification device configured to receive the communication including the current operating state, the remote status notification device including a processor configured to determine a last current operating state when the remote status notification device is out of range of the wireless informer; and

an event detector associated with the remote status notification device, the event detector detecting a predetermined event, wherein the remote status notification device transmits a query signal to the wireless informer in response to the predetermined event to query the current operating state of the environmental element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless informer is configured to communicate a data packet including:

an identification field configured to associate the wireless informer to the remote status notification device; and

a status field configured to provide the current operating state.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote status notification device further comprises a memory configured to store the last current operating state.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the remote status notification device is configured to provide an output in response to the last current operating state.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the output includes no output.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the output includes an audio output.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the output includes a visual output.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote status notification device comprises an acknowledge input button configured to reset an output provided in association with the last current operating state.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

communication means for providing the last current operating state; and

output means for alerting a user to an adverse last current operating state.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the wireless informer comprises a processor configured to determine a current operating state and communicate the current operating state in association with an identifier operably associated with the informer and the remote status notification device.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising an automatic garage door opener system.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a current operating state of a garage door.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the event detector is selected from the group of:

a motion sensor,

a vibration sensor, and

a signal strength sensor.

14. A method for communicating an operating state of a multiple state operating device comprising:

determining an operating state of the multiple state environmental element;

associating the operating state with an identifier operably associated with a remote status notification device and an informer;

transmitting a query signal to the informer in response to a predetermined event detected by an event detector to query the operating state of the multiple state environment element;

communicating the identifier and the current operating state to the remote status notification device in response to the query signal;

receiving the communication using the remote status notification device;

detecting when the remote status notification device is out of range of the informer; and

determining the last operating state received by the remote status notification device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining if the last operating state includes an undesired operating state; and

responsive to determining the last operating state is the undesired operating state, providing an output.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining if the last operating state includes a desired operating state; and

providing no output in response to determining the last operating state includes the desired operating state.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving an inquiry signal communicated by the remote status notification device using the informer; and

communicating the current operating state of the multiple state environmental element in response to the inquiry signal.

18. A wireless enabled communication status notification system comprising:

an automatic garage door opener system including a sensor configured to provide a current operating state and an informer configured to communicate the current operating state;

a remote control device configured to receive a series of communication signals communicated by the automatic garage door opener system, the signals including references to the current operating state of the automatic garage door opener system, the remote control device further including a processor configured to determine a last operating state when the remote control device is out of range of the informer; and

an event detector associated with the remote control device, the event detector detecting a predetermined event, wherein the remote control device transmits a query signal to the automatic garage door opener system in response to the predetermined event to query the current operating state of the sensor.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a wireless informer integrated as a part of the automatic garage door system; and

a remote status notification device integrated as a part of the remote control device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote control device is configured to alter an adverse status detected by the remote status notification device.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising an ultrasonic sensor configured to determine a position of the garage door and communicate a status that includes a reference to the position to a controller of the automatic garage door opener system.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the event detector is selected from the group of:

a motion sensor,

a vibration sensor, and

a signal strength sensor.