Sending device to propagate information signals and method applied thereby

• US 8,054,164 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Option NV (Crescent NV)
• Original Assignee: Option NV (Crescent NV)
• Inventors: Mortelmans, Paul Frans Marta, Faes, Koenraad Karl Celest
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/302,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.2, 340/426.18, 340/426.2, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/539.25, 340/506, 340/531
• US Class Current: 340/286.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Transmitter for distributing data signals, characterised in that it is provided with receiving means for collecting one or several data signals, a control unit (5) and a transmitting unit (3) connected thereto for transmitting an above-mentioned data signal via a network to one or several addressable receivers (6) from a series of pre-selected users, after the above-mentioned control unit (5) has received a starting signal to this end.

Claims

1. Transmitter for distributing data signals, provided with a receiver arranged to collect one or several data signals, a control unit and a transmitting unit connected thereto for transmitting a data signal comprising said data signals via a network to one or several addressable receivers from a series of pre-selected users, after the control unit has received a starting signal, wherein the transmitter comprises

a decoder arranged to initiate the starting signal on the basis of an appropriate code which is transmitted by a pre-selected user as an answer to a notification or invitation, and

at least one activation device or connection therefore, which at least one activation device is arranged to send the starting signal to the control unit,

wherein the at least one activation device comprises a signal generator arranged to send the notification or invitation to one or several of the pre-selected users via the transmitting unit.

2. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one activation device comprises at least detection device and/or switches configured to transmit the starting signal or to activate the signal generator.

3. Transmitter according to claim 2, wherein the at least one detection device includes at least one or several of the following detectors and/or sensors:

a smoke detector, a CO₂ alarm, a motion detector, a temperature sensor, a sound detector, an infrared sensor and a proximity switch.

4. Transmitter according to claim 1, including an arrangement enabling the determination of the length of the time of transmission to a certain user.

5. Transmitter according to claim 1, including a memory adapted to store the data of one or several of the users.

6. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving device comprises a built-in camera.

7. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving device includes one or several connections connectable to external devices for receiving data signals.

8. Transmitter according to claim 1, including one or several connections connectable to a domotica system which is controllable by the control unit.

9. Transmitter according to claim 1, configured as a “

plug and play”

device.

10. Transmitter according to claim 1, configured to operate entirely autonomously.

11. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes an algorithm which, if several communication networks are available, will decide via which communication network the data signal is emitted.

12. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit includes an algorithm which adjusts the data signal as a function of the protocol of the communication network concerned over which said data signal is transmitted.

13. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to one or several of the following communication networks:

a land line, WiFi, WiMAX, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, DVB-H and MediaFLO®

.

14. Transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes an algorithm for processing or adding information to the information flow.

15. Transmitter according to claim 1, including an algorithm for automatically realising updates.

16. Transmitter according to claim 1, including a security device against unauthorised access, said security device configured to create a dynamic IP address when establishing a connection between the transmitter and a receiver, such that the IP address is only valid while the data signal is being transmitted to said receiver.

17. Method for distributing data signals by means of a transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the data signals are distributed via a network from a transmitter at a certain location to one or several addressable receivers from a series of one or several pre-selected users, so that the transmitter receives, processes and transmits the data signals, and so that the distribution of the data signal to each of the users as separate or in common is started after the transmitter has received a starting signal to that end, wherein the starting signal comes from a decoder, via an activation device comprising a signal generator arranged to send a notification or invitation to one or several of the pre-selected users, and the decoder initiates the starting signal on the basis of an appropriate code which is emitted by a pre-selected user as an answer to the notification or invitation.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the data signal is a direct signal or is emitted with a feedback of a few minutes.

19. Method according to claim 17, wherein the transmission time to a certain user is recorded by means of the transmitter.

20. Method according to claim 17, wherein the data signal is a video signal coming from a camera which is part of receiving device of the transmitter.

21. Method according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter is controlled via a network server which controls the network connection between the transmitter and receivers of the users.

22. Method according to claim 17, wherein the data signal is transmitted to at least one of the above-mentioned users via one or several of the following communication networks:

a land line, WiFi, WiMAX, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, DVB-H and MediaFLO®

.