Transmission device, and wireless communication apparatus using the same

• US 8,170,493 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Imai, Norio, Oozawa, Akiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US12/594,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20100120374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 600/365, 455/68, 455/39, 455 69- 70, 455/73, 455 82- 88, 455 91- 92, 455/103, 455/115.1
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A transmission device includes a transmitter for transmitting various signals to a reception device, a receiver for receiving a response signal emitted from the reception device in response to the transmission of the various signals from the transmitter to the reception device, a transmission/reception controller for performing control of the receiver and the transmitter, and a reception specifier for specifying the reception timing of the intermittent reception of the reception device when a response signal from the reception device has been received. The transmission/reception controller decides the timing at which the transmission of the various signals will begin, and how long the transmission will last, on the basis of the reception timing specified by the reception specifier.

Claims

1. A transmission device for performing communication with a reception device that performs intermittent reception, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit various signals to the reception device;

a receiver configured to receive a response signal emitted from the reception device in response to a transmission of the various signals from the transmitter to the reception device;

a reception specifier configured to specify a reception timing of an intermittent reception of the reception device when a response signal from the reception device has been received; and

a transmission/reception controller configured to perform control of the receiver and the transmitter, and decide a timing at which the transmission of the various signals will begin, and how long the transmission will last, on the basis of the reception timing specified by the reception specifier,

wherein the transmission/reception controller has a transmission condition determiner configured to determine a transmission duration and a timing at which transmission begins for an actuation signal included in the various signals, and a transmission time memory configured to store a time at which a latest transmission was completed, and

the transmission condition determiner changes the transmission duration and the timing at which the transmission of the various signals began according to a time that has elapsed since the latest transmission time was stored in the transmission time memory.

2. The transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission device information memory configured to store a data transmission waiting time from when the response signal is received until a data transmission begins; and

a reception device information memory configured to store an intermittent reception interval of the reception device, a response signal transmission waiting time from when the various signals are received until the response signal is transmitted, and an intermittent reception resumption waiting time from the end of communication until intermittent reception is resumed,

wherein the reception specifier specifies the reception timing of an intermittent reception of the reception device on the basis of the timing at which the response signals are received, the data transmission waiting time, and the intermittent reception resumption waiting time.

3. The transmission device according to claim 2, wherein

the transmission/reception controller has a transmission condition determiner configured to determine a transmission duration and a timing at which transmission begins for an actuation signal included in the various signals, and a transmission time memory configured to store the time at which the latest transmission was made, and

the transmission condition determiner changes the transmission duration and the timing at which the transmission of the various signals began according to the time elapsed since the latest transmission time stored in the transmission time memory.

4. The transmission device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reception device information memory configured to store an intermittent reception interval of the reception device and a response signal transmission waiting time from when the various signals are received until the response signal is transmitted,

wherein the reception specifier specifies the reception timing of an intermittent reception of the reception device on the basis of the reception timing of the response signal.

5. The transmission device according to claim 4, wherein

the transmission/reception controller has a transmission condition determiner configured to determine a transmission duration and a timing at which transmission begins for an actuation signal included in the various signals, and a transmission time memory configured to store the time at which the latest transmission was made, and

the transmission condition determiner changes the transmission duration and the timing at which the transmission of the various signals began according to the time elapsed since the latest transmission time stored in the transmission time memory.

6. A wireless communication apparatus having a reception device that performs intermittent reception and a transmitting device for performing communication with the reception device, comprising:

the transmission device including;

a transmitter configured to transmit various signals to the reception device;

a receiver configured to receive a response signal emitted from the reception device in response to a transmission of the various signals from the transmitter to the reception device;

a reception specifier configured to specify a reception timing of an intermittent reception of the reception device when a response signal from the reception device has been received;

a transmission/reception controller configured to perform control of the receiver and the transmitter, and decide a timing at which the transmission of the various signals will begin, and how long the transmission will last, on the basis of the reception timing specified by the reception specifier; and

a reception device configured to send a response signal to the transmission device upon properly receiving the various signals transmitted from the transmission device,

wherein the transmission/reception controller has a transmission condition determiner configured to determine a transmission duration and a timing at which transmission begins for an actuation signal included in the various signals, and a transmission time memory configured to store a time at which a latest transmission was completed; and

the transmission condition determiner changes the transmission duration and the timing at which the transmission of the various signals began according to a time that has elapsed since the latest transmission time was stored in the transmission time memory.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the transmission device sends a data obtained by measuring a blood glucose level to the reception device.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the reception device is a portable information terminal.

9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the reception device is a portable information terminal.