Group response detecting system, communication system, input device and communication control device

• US 8,374,541 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueshima, Hiromu
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/362,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2.01, 455/13, 455/517, 455/519, 455/416, 455/3.01, 455/426.1, 455/462
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A plurality of nodes 2-n are assigned to a plurality of operators. The each node 2-n detects input operation of the corresponding operator to transmit detection information in a wireless manner. A host 27 receives the detection information transmitted in the wireless manner by the each node 2-n. The host 27 transmits a beacon signal BS to the plurality of the nodes 2-n in a predetermined cycle CY. The each node 2-n performs processing of detecting the input operation while changing time, i.e., at times ST0 to ST3 to transmit the detection information to the host 27 in response to the beacon signal BS. It is possible to finely detect order of changes of the detection information among the plurality of the nodes.

Claims

1. A group response detecting system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes to be assigned to a plurality of operators, said each node detects input of the corresponding operator to transmit detection information in a wireless manner; and

a host operable to receive the detection information transmitted by said each node,

wherein said host transmits a predetermined signal to said plurality of the nodes in a predetermined cycle, the predetermined signal including information (hereinafter referred to as “

signal identification information”

) for identifying the predetermined signal,

wherein said each node includes;

a detection unit operable to perform detecting processing of the input a plurality of times while changing time during the one cycle, and

a transmitter operable to transmit information to said host, in response to the predetermined signal, the information including the detection information, and information (hereinafter referred to as “

time point information”

) indicating at which point of time during the one cycle the detecting processing detects the detection information,

a storage unit operable to store the detection information associated with the signal identification information and the time point information,

wherein when the detection unit detects change of the detection information, said storage unit rewrites the detection information, the signal identification information, and the time point information as stored to the detection information as changed, and the signal identification information and the time point information included in the predetermined signal in the cycle in which the change is detected, and

wherein said transmitter transmits the detection information, the signal identification information, and the time point information as stored in the storage unit to said host in response to the predetermined signal.

2. A group response detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each node further includes an identification information generation unit operable to generate the signal identification information anew based on the signal identification information included in the predetermined signal as received previously when the predetermined signal is not received, and

wherein when the detection unit detects the change of the detection information during the cycle in which the predetermined signal is not received, said storage unit rewrites the detection information, the signal identification information, and the time point information as stored to the detection information as changed, the signal identification information generated by said identification information generation unit, and the time point information.

3. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 2.

4. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 2.

5. A group response detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each node further includes a maintenance unit operable to maintain the predetermined cycle substantially when the predetermined signal is not received, and

wherein said transmitter performs transmitting processing based on the cycle maintained by said maintenance unit when the predetermined signal is not received.

6. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 5.

7. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 5.

8. A group response detecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter of said each node performs transmitting processing after a different time period assigned to said each node elapses from when the predetermined signal is received.

9. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 8.

10. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 8.

11. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 1.

12. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 1.

13. A group response detecting system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes to be assigned to a plurality of operators, said each node detects input of the corresponding operator to transmit detection information in a wireless manner; and

a host operable to receive the detection information transmitted by said each node,

wherein said host transmits a predetermined signal to said plurality of the nodes in a predetermined cycle,

wherein the predetermined signal includes information (hereinafter referred to as “

signal identification information”

) for identifying the predetermined signal, and

wherein said each node includes;

a detection unit operable to perform detecting processing of input during the one cycle,

a storage unit operable to store the detection information associated with the signal identification information, and

a transmitter operable to transmit the detection information and the signal identification information stored in said storage unit to said host in response to the predetermined signal,

wherein when said detection unit detects change of the detection information, said storage unit rewrites the detection information and the signal identification information as stored to the detection as changed and the signal identification information included in the predetermine signal in the cycle in which the change is detected.

14. A group response detecting system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said each node further includes a identification information generation unit operable to generate the signal identification information anew based on the signal identification information included in the predetermined signal as received previously when the predetermined signal is not received, and

wherein when the detection unit detects the change of the detection information during the cycle in which the predetermined signal is not received, said storage unit rewrites the detection information and the signal identification information as stored to the detection information as changed and the signal identification information generated by said identification information generation unit.

15. A group response detecting system as claimed in claim 14, wherein when the predetermined signals are not received in series, said identification information generation unit generates the signal identification information anew based on the signal identification information as generated previously.

16. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 15.

17. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 15.

18. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 14.

19. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 14.

20. An input device, comprising:

a node as claimed in claim 13.

21. A communication control device, comprising:

a host as claimed in claim 13.