Method and apparatus for communication between a remote device and an operator

• US 8,674,813 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Oldham, Gerry King, John F. Alexander, Matthew Mahin, Matthew Tyson
• Original Assignee: Donald Oldham, Gerry King, John F. Alexander, Matthew Mahin, Matthew Tyson
• Inventors: Alexander, John F., Mahin, Matthew, Oldham, Donald, Tyson, Matthew, King, Gerry
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US12/406,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 340/3.1, 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 340/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/02 Model aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/20 using radiated signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• 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

Abstract

Sensors can be positioned on or near a remotely controlled device to monitor the status and/or internal conditions of the device and transmit the status information through a data link to a control station, where the information can be provided to a user or operator via sensory stimulation signals. Such sensory stimulation signals can include auditory stimulation signals that can convey the information to the user while allowing the user to maintain visual attention on the remote device. The sensor information can be transmitted as digital information from the remote station to a control station, where it is converted to sensory stimulation signals, such as sounds, which can include tones, alarms, speech, other audible sounds, or combinations thereof. An operator controlling the remote device can, upon receiving the sensory stimulation signals, provide input signals for controlling the remote device.

Claims

1. A remote device locating system, comprising:

a remote device;

a remote station positioned on the remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal; and

a receiver station, wherein the remote device is physically separated from the receiver station;

wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter;

a user sensory stimulation system, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes a location of the remote device from the signal and presents at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the location of the remote device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote station further comprises:

at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor gathers information pertaining to the remote device,

wherein a signal incorporates the information from the at least one sensor;

wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes the information from the signal and presents at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the information from the signal.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising:

at least one additional remote device;

a corresponding at least one additional remote station, each of the at least one additional remote station comprises;

at least one additional sensor, wherein the at least one additional sensor gathers at least one additional information pertaining to the at least one additional remote device,

at least one additional transmitter, wherein the additional transmitter transmits at least one additional signal incorporating the at least one additional information from the at least one additional sensor,

wherein the receiver receives the at least one additional signal from the additional transmitter, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes the at least one additional information from the at least one additional signal and presents at least one additional sensory stimulation to the user, wherein the at least one additional sensory stimulation is related to the at least one additional information from the at least one additional signal.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit capable of receiving the information gathered by the at least one sensor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first central processing unit is capable of processing the information received from the at least one sensor.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit accessible memory for receiving and storing information from the at least one sensor.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first central processing unit accessible memory is nonvolatile.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the remote station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the first central processing unit.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein the remote station further comprises at least one sensor expansion connector capable of relaying information to the first central processing unit.

10. The system according to claim 4, wherein the receiver station comprises a second central processing unit capable of receiving the received signal from the receiver and decoding the information from the received signal.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the receiver station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the second central processing unit.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface allows the user to provide input for controlling the remote devices.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface allows the user to request desired information.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is physically separated from the user.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is positioned on the user.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user sensory stimulation system comprises a sound speaker.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the sound speaker is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user so as to deliver sound to the user via the sound speaker.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver station further comprises a second transmitter, wherein the remote station further comprises a second receiver, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to the second receiver, wherein the control signal provides input for controlling the remote device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the control signal provides user input for controlling the remote device.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is stationary.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a terrain vehicle.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is an air vehicle.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is a water vehicle.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one audible stimulation.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one sound comprises a voice.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one sound comprises words.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one touch stimulation.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one smell.

30. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one visual stimulation.

31. A method of locating a remote device, comprising:

positioning a remote station on a remote device, wherein the remote station comprises;

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal; and

positioning a receiver station physically separated from the remote device;

wherein the receiver station comprises;

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter; and

a user sensory stimulation system, wherein the user sensory stimulation system decodes a location of the remote device from the signal,

presenting at least one sensory stimulation to a user, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation is related to the location of the remote device.

32. The method according to claim 31,

wherein the remote station further comprises:

at least one sensor, wherein the method further comprises;

gathering information pertaining to the remote device via the at least one sensor; and

transmitting a signal incorporating the information from the at least one sensor.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is physically separated from the user.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is positioned on the user.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the user sensory stimulation system comprises a sound speaker.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the sound speaker is attached to a headset, wherein the headset is designed to be worn by the user so as to deliver sound to the user via the sound speaker.

38. The method according to claim 31, wherein the receiver station further comprises a second transmitter, wherein the remote station further comprises a second receiver, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to the second receiver, wherein the control signal provides input for controlling the remote device.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the control signal provides user input for controlling the remote device.

40. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is stationary.

41. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is a terrain vehicle.

42. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is an air vehicle.

43. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote device is a water vehicle.

44. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one audible stimulation.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the at least one sound comprises a voice.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the at least one sound comprises words.

47. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one touch stimulation.

48. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one smell.

49. The method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one sensory stimulation comprises at least one visual stimulation.

50. The method according to claim 31, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit capable of receiving the information gathered by the at least one sensor.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the first central processing unit is capable of processing the information received from the at least one sensor.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein the remote station further comprises a first central processing unit accessible memory for receiving and storing information from the at least one sensor.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the first central processing unit accessible memory is nonvolatile.

54. The method according to claim 50, wherein the remote station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the first central processing unit.

55. The method according to claim 50, wherein the remote station further comprises at least one sensor expansion connector capable of relaying information to the first central processing unit.

56. The method according to claim 50, wherein the receiver station comprises a second central processing unit capable of receiving the received signal from the receiver and decoding the information from the receiving signal.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the receiver station further comprises a user interface in operable connection with the second central processing unit.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the user interface allows the user to provide input for controlling the remote devices.

59. The method according to claim 57, wherein the user interface allows the user to request desired information.