Method for transmitting at least one information data record between a mobile trigger apparatus and at least one fixed station

• US 7,835,690 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peiker Acustic GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Peiker Acustic GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Bürg, Ulrich, Richter, Lutz P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tu X
• Application Number:
  US11/727,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

For the transmission of at least one information data record between a mobile trigger apparatus (9) and at least one fixed station (7a-d), the transmission is effected via an ad hoc network, with a distance between the mobile trigger apparatus (9) and the fixed station (7a-d) being able to be greater than the latter'"'"'s transmission and reception range by virtue of the transmission then being effected using at least one mobile transmission apparatus (13a/b; 15a-c; 19a/b). The information data record is transmitted to the nearest fixed station (7a-d) directly or via the at least one mobile transmission apparatus (13a/b; 15a-c; 19a/b) or via further mobile transmission apparatuses. The invention is intended to permit data transmission at low transmission and reception power as quickly as possible from a mobile apparatus to a remote fixed station.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting at least one information data record between a mobile trigger apparatus and at least one fixed station, wherein the transmission is effected via an ad hoc network, and a distance between the mobile trigger apparatus and the fixed station being able to be greater than the latter'"'"'s transmission and reception range by virtue of the transmission then being effected using at least one mobile transmission apparatus, by virtue of the information data record being transmitted to the station via the at least one mobile transmission apparatus or via a further mobile transmission apparatus, wherein the information data record is transferred using one or more mobile transmission apparatuses which are moving in their direction of travel toward the fixed station and the data record is only forwarded to the most distant mobile transmission apparatus which is in the reception range.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger apparatus and all the transmission apparatuses send with the same transmission and reception range up to a manufacturing tolerance.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein each mobile apparatus stores cartographic data, and from these, using a position finding unit, each mobile apparatus is, for respective current surroundings within a prescribed surroundings radius, provided with the cartographic data for at least one of the fixed stations, preferably for a plurality of the fixed stations, and a trigger signal prompts the mobile trigger apparatus to generate the information data record containing its current location, a trigger identifier and an identifier for the mobile trigger apparatus, the position finding unit of the mobile trigger apparatus to ascertain cartographic data for the mobile transmission apparatus in the surroundings, and then, if one of the mobile transmission apparatuses is situated between the mobile trigger apparatus and the fixed station, it transmits the information data record for forwarding to the fixed station, and this data record is transmitted from this or these mobile transmission apparatuses to the station, particularly to a nearest fixed station, via further mobile transmission apparatuses.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each mobile apparatus stores cartographic data, and from these, using a position finding unit, each mobile apparatus is, for respective current surroundings within a prescribed surroundings radius, provided with the cartographic data for at least one of the fixed stations, preferably for a plurality of the fixed stations, and a trigger signal prompts the mobile trigger apparatus to generate the information data record containing its current location, a trigger identifier and an identifier for the mobile trigger apparatus, the position finding unit of the mobile trigger apparatus to ascertain cartographic data for the mobile transmission apparatus in the surroundings, and then, if one of the mobile transmission apparatuses is situated between the mobile trigger apparatus and the fixed station, it transmits the information data record for forwarding to the fixed station, and this data record is transmitted from this or these mobile transmission apparatuses to the station, particularly to a nearest fixed station, via further mobile transmission apparatuses.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each mobile apparatus and preferably each station repetitively transmits a beacon data record which contains at least the cartographic data for the current location, the direction of movement of the mobile apparatus and preferably an identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixed station, having received the information data record, transmits a response data record, containing a preferable identifier for the mobile trigger apparatus, to the mobile trigger apparatus and, if the response data record does not reach the mobile trigger apparatus directly, using a transmission apparatus which is moving toward the mobile trigger apparatus but which is still as far away from the trigger apparatus as possible.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mobile trigger apparatus evaluates the beacon data records from the mobile transmission apparatuses and transmits the information data record, for the purpose of transfer to the fixed station, to a mobile transmission apparatus which is situated between it and the fixed station and which is preferably moving in the direction toward the fixed station.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or both stations transmit the response data record with a direction code relating to the mobile trigger apparatus, and the response data record is forwarded only by at least one most distant mobile transmission apparatus, which is preferably moving in a direction toward the mobile trigger apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the mobile trigger apparatus checks the beacon data records from the mobile transmission apparatuses in the direction of travel to the station, and a transmission mobile which is furthest away receives a transmission containing the information data record if the fixed station has not transmitted a response data record.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein following receipt of the information data record the fixed station transmits a station data record to a control center and preferably an appropriate data record to a further fixed station, the further station being situated in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the mobile trigger apparatus with regard to the first station.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile trigger apparatus transmits, preferably at repeat times but in particular with a time limit, a hazard data record to all the mobile apparatuses surrounding it, which process this hazard data record themselves and forward it as a relay point, the hazard data record preferably being forwarded, particularly with a waiting time delay, only by the mobile transmission apparatuses which are situated in the limit region of the maximum transmission range and which, in particular, all switch off the ready-to-receive state of mobile transmission apparatuses not relaying the hazard data record during the waiting time delay.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein mobile transmission apparatuses forward a freshly received data record only if it differs from a previous received one.

13. A trigger and transmission apparatus in an arrangement, for transmitting at least one information data record between a mobile trigger apparatus and at least one fixed station, wherein a distance between the mobile trigger apparatus and the fixed station may be greater than the latter'"'"'s transmission and reception range by virtue of there being at least one mobile transmission apparatus situated between the trigger apparatus and the station, and the transmission then being able to be effected by means of the at least one mobile transmission apparatus using an ad hoc network, wherein the mobile transmission apparatus and the mobile trigger apparatus each comprising a discrimination unit, which checks reception levels for the beacon signals from mobile transmission apparatuses for their level and also taking into account their respective directions of movements, the trigger and transmission apparatus having an electronic unit with a transmission unit for transmitting the information data record, a GPS unit, a memory unit for cartographic data, a data processing unit for ascertaining location coordinates for the mobile trigger apparatus from the ascertained data from the GPS unit in connection with the stored cartographic data and for integrating these data as a first data portion into the information data record, at least one sensor for event pickup, where an event from the event pickup can be processed by means of the data processing unit to form a second data portion of the information data record, wherein the electronic unit has an identification unit which identifies the trigger apparatus and which stores at least optical recognition data for the mobile trigger apparatus so that these can be introduced as a third data portion in the information data record, and preferably a reception unit for receiving a further information data record from another mobile trigger apparatus, this second further information data record being able to be transmitted again via the transmission unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by a timer unit which can initiate transmission of the information data record at a prescribed repetition frequency and preferably, if there is no information data record present, can initiate transmission of a beacon data record which contains at least the current location coordinates and particularly a direction of movement for the apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by a discrimination unit which prompts the data processing unit to transmit an information data record to the apparatus with the lowest reception level.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by a blocking unit which blocks a received data record for processing in the data processing section if it arrives within a prescribed time period and does not differ from a data record which has already been received.