Wireless synchronous time system

• US 7,539,085 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• 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:
  US12/062,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368 46- 47, 368/52, 368 72- 74, 340/309.16, 340 3- 94, 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 keeping system includes a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device includes a receiving unit to receive a first signal having a time component, a processor coupled to the receiving unit and operable to process the signal to produce a processed time component, an internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time, and a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal having the first internal time and an event having an instruction and a time element. The secondary device includes a transceiving unit to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal, an internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the internal time to produce a second internal time, and an event switch operable to execute the instruction when the second internal time matches the time element.

Claims

1. A wireless synchronous time keeping system comprising:

a primary device including

a first receiving unit to receive a first signal, the first signal including a time component,

a first processor coupled to the first receiving unit and operable to process the first signal to produce a processed time component;

a first internal clock to store the processed time component and to increment the component thereafter to produce a first internal time, and

a transmitting unit to transmit a second signal, the second signal including the first internal time and an event, the event including an instruction and a time element; and

a secondary device including

a transceiving unit to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal,

a second internal clock to store the first internal time and to increment the first internal time thereafter to produce a second internal time, and

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

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiving unit includes a second receiving unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiving unit includes a second transmitting unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiving unit transmits the third signal to the primary device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first receiving unit is further operable to receive the third signal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the second signal at a frequency of approximately 154 MHz.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the transceiving unit transmits the third signal at a frequency of approximately 154 MHz.