Method and apparatus for wireless communication in test, measurement, control, and communication systems

• US 8,872,654 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Inventors: Komninos, Nikolaos I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/962,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• 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: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system for wireless multiple user access to a sensor comprises a sensor unit having a sensor element (e.g. a leak detector), a sensor user interface, and a sensor wireless transceiver that transmits information corresponding to the sensor output. One or more receiving units each receive the sensor information corresponding to the output of the sensor user interface, and provide that output to a receiver user interface. Multiple receiving units may be used, for example, by students receiving training on the use of a sensor unit. An instructor unit can provided to allow an instructor to review the sensor information and create instructional commentary that is transmitted to each of the student receiver units along with the sensor information.

Claims

1. A system for multiple user access to a sensor, comprising:

a sensor unit having;

(a) a sensor element for leak detection;

(b) a wireless transmitter transmitting sensor information corresponding to the output of the sensor element including sensor audio output based on the sensor element; and

(c) a wireless receiver;

an instructor unit having;

(a) a wireless receiver receiving the sensor information from the sensor unit;

(b) a user interface outputting the sensor information for an instructor, including the sensor audio output;

(c) an input device receiving instructor commentary in response to the sensor information; and

(d) a wireless transmitter transmitting the instructor commentary to the wireless receiver of the sensor unit;

wherein the wireless transmitter of the sensor unit also retransmits the instructor commentary; and

at least one student receiver unit having;

(a) a wireless receiver receiving the sensor information and instructor commentary from the wireless transmitter of the sensor unit; and

(b) a user interface connected to the wireless receiver outputting the sensor information including the sensor audio output and instructor commentary for a student.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the instructor commentary comprises a video signal.

3. A method for multiple user access to a sensor, comprising:

providing a sensor unit having a sensor element for leak detection and a wireless transceiver;

providing an instructor unit having a wireless transceiver in communication with the wireless transceiver of the sensor unit;

a user interface outputting the sensor information for an instructor; and

a microphone for receiving instructor audio commentary;

providing a number of student receiver units having a wireless receiver in communication with the wireless transceiver of the sensor unit, and a user interface outputting sensor data and instructor audio commentary for a student;

transmitting sensor information including sensor audio output related to the current state of the sensor element using the wireless transceiver of the sensor unit to the wireless transceiver of the instructor unit;

receiving the sensor information at the wireless transceiver of the instructor unit and providing the sensor information to the instructor via the user interface;

receiving audio commentary via the microphone from an instructor in response to the sensor information;

transmitting the instructor audio commentary via the wireless transceiver of the instructor unit to the wireless transceiver of the sensor unit;

transmitting the sensor information and instructor audio commentary via wireless transceiver of the sensor unit to the wireless receivers of the student receiver units;

at each student receiver unit, receiving the sensor information and instructor audio commentary via the wireless transceiver of the student receiver unit; and

at each student receiver unit, outputting the sensor information including the sensor audio output and instructor audio commentary for the student via the user interface of the student receiver unit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user interface at each student receiver unit comprises a speaker providing audio output of the sensor information and instructor audio commentary.

5. A system for multiple user access to a leak detector, comprising:

a sensor unit having;

(a) a leak detector outputting an audio signal;

(b) a wireless transmitter transmitting the audio signal of the leak detector; and

(c) a wireless receiver;

an instructor unit having;

(a) a wireless receiver receiving the audio signal of the leak detector from the sensor unit;

(b) a speaker outputting the audio signal of the leak detector for an instructor;

(c) a microphone receiving audio commentary from an instructor in response to the audio signal from the leak detector; and

(d) a wireless transmitter transmitting the instructor commentary to the wireless receiver of the sensor unit;

wherein the wireless transmitter of the sensor unit also retransmits the instructor commentary; and

at least one student receiver unit having;

(a) a wireless receiver receiving the audio signal of the leak detector and the instructor commentary from the wireless transmitter of the sensor unit; and

(b) a speaker outputting the audio signal of the leak detector and the instructor commentary received by the wireless receiver of the student receiver unit.