Communication system

• US 7,999,655 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Fumitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang; Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US10/716,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,828 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/5.7, 340 561- 564, 340/5.31, 340/426.36, 34042613-42617, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 455/572, 455/574, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24206 Identification by portable memory in a key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25196 Radio link, transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication system that controls the disabling and enabling of a communication function in a communication portion of a portable device in accordance with whether the communication function of the portable device is disabled or enabled. The communication system includes a selection device for selecting a disablement mode, which disables automatic communication of the portable device with respect to a communication controller, and a communication mode, which enables automatic communication of the portable device. A determination unit recognizes which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in to determine whether to enable or disable automatic communication with respect to the portable device in accordance with the recognition. A recognition information providing device provides the determination unit with recognition information used to recognize which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a portable device provided with a communication function;

a communication controller which automatically performs wireless communication with the portable device and controls a predetermined driver in accordance with whether wireless communication with the portable device is established;

a selection device which selects one of a disablement mode, which disables automatic communication of the portable device with respect to the communication controller, and a communication mode, which enables automatic communication of the portable device;

a determination unit which recognizes which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in to determine whether to enable or disable automatic communication with respect to the portable device in accordance with the recognition; and

a recognition information providing device which provides the determination unit with recognition information used to recognize which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in, in accordance with the selection by the selection device; and

an instruction device issues an instruction which instructs the portable device to issue a signal causing the communication controller to operate the predetermined driver when the portable device is in the disablement mode,

wherein the communication controller includes the determination unit and stops outputting a signal when the determination unit determines that the portable device is in the disablement mode based on the recognition information provided from the recognition information providing device,

wherein the portable device includes the selection device and the recognition information providing device,

wherein the portable device includes a receiving circuit which receives a signal from the communication controller, the portable device inactivating the receiving circuit when the portable device is in the disablement mode,

wherein the recognition information includes one of a communication mode signal, which indicates the communication mode, and a disablement mode signal, which indicates the disablement mode, and

wherein the portable device transmits the signal to the communication controller by wireless communication based on the instruction from the instruction device without shifting from the disablement mode to the communication mode, and

wherein the portable device includes a transmitting circuit which transmits a signal to the communication controller, the portable device inactivating the transmitting circuit when the portable device is in the disablement mode and activating the transmitting circuit in response to the instruction from the instruction device in the disablement mode,

wherein the communication controller intermittently transmits a request signal, and the recognition information providing device of the portable device provides the determination unit with the disablement mode signal when the recognition information providing device receives disablement mode information generated by the selection device of the portable device and the receiving circuit receives the request signal from the communication controller in a predetermined range that is capable of wireless communication.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other portable device, and the determination unit disabling automatic communication with respect to each portable device when all of the portable devices are in the disablement mode.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device includes a notification device which generates a notice that the portable device is in the disablement mode and which generates a notice that the portable device has shifted from the disablement mode to the communication mode.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined driver is a door lock driver which locks and unlocks a door.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the door lock driver locks and unlocks the door of a vehicle.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the door lock driver locks and unlocks the door of a house.

9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device waits in a standby mode and automatically returns an ID code signal used for code verification by the communication controller only when receiving the request signal.

10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication controller shifts from the communication mode to a sleep mode when the communication controller receives the disablement mode signal and recognizes that the portable device is in the disablement mode.

7. A method for reducing power consumption in a communication system, the communication system including a portable device and a communication controller that performs automatic communication with the portable device and controls a predetermined driver in accordance with whether wireless communication with the portable device is established, wherein the communication controller intermittently transmits a request signal, and wherein the portable device includes a receiving circuit which receives a signal from the communication controller and a transmitting circuit which transmits a signal to the communication controller, the method comprising:

selecting with the portable device one of a disablement mode which disables automatic communication of the portable device relative to the communication controller and a communication mode which enables automatic communication of the portable device;

transmitting recognition information from the portable device to the communication controller in accordance with the selection by the portable device, wherein the recognition information is used to recognize which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in, and wherein the recognition information includes one of a communication mode signal, which indicates the communication mode, and a disablement mode signal, which indicates the disablement mode;

determining with the communication controller which one of the disablement mode and the communication mode the portable device is in from the recognition information;

the communication controller disabling automatic communication of the communication controller relative to the portable device and stopping outputting a signal from the communication controller when the communication controller determines that the portable device is in the disablement mode based on the recognition information transmitted from the portable device; and

inactivating the receiving circuit when the portable device is in the disablement mode;

issuing an instruction instructing the portable device to issue a signal causing the communication controller to operate the predetermined driver when the portable device is in the disablement mode, wherein the portable device transmits the signal to the communication controller by wireless communication based on the instruction without shifting from the disablement mode to the communication mode;

inactivating the transmitting circuit when the portable device is in the disablement mode; and

activating the transmitting circuit in response to the instruction from the instruction device in the disablement mode,

wherein said transmitting recognition information includes transmitting the disablement mode signal from the portable device to the communication controller when the portable device internally receives disablement mode information and the receiving circuit receives the request signal from the communication controller in a predetermined range that is capable of wireless communication.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

generating a notice that the portable device is in the disablement mode; and

generating a notice that the portable device has shifted from the disablement mode to the communication mode.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the portable device waiting in a standby mode and automatically returning an ID code signal used for code verification by the communication controller only when receiving the request signal.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the communication controller shifting from the communication mode to a sleep mode when the communication controller receives the disablement mode signal and recognizes that the portable device is in the disablement mode.