Wireless synchronous time system

• US 7,499,379 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quartex Division of 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:
  US12/062,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368 46- 47, 368/52, 368 72- 74, 340/309.16, 340/309.8, 340/309.9, 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 method of synchronizing an event system. The method includes receiving a first signal at a primary device. The first signal includes a time component. The method also includes processing the first signal to produce a second signal. The second signal includes the processed time component and an instruction. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device, wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device, wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device, wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device, and executing an event with the third signal.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing an event system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal at a primary device, the first signal including a time component;

processing the first signal to produce a second signal, the second signal including the processed time component and an instruction;

wirelessly transmitting the second signal to a repeating device;

wirelessly receiving the second signal at the repeating device;

wirelessly transmitting a third signal from the repeating device;

wirelessly receiving the third signal at a secondary device; and

executing an event with the third signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the second signal at the repeating device to produce the third signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component for daylight savings.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the time component for time zone changes.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the second signal includes modifying the instruction.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the second signal includes removing the instruction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second signal to the repeating device includes transmitting the second signal on a first frequency.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein wirelessly transmitting the third signal to the second device includes transmitting the third signal on a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.