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Low-power wireless vehicle locating unit

  • US 9,661,456 B2
  • Filed: 07/16/2015
  • Issued: 05/23/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of wireless communication between a vehicle locating unit comprising a processing device and a memory and a plurality of peripheral devices that are disposed on or in a same object, the vehicle locating unit and each of the plurality of peripheral devices having receiver portions and transmitter portions, the method comprising:

  • adapting the transmitter portion of each of the plurality of peripheral devices to generate transmission signals to be received by the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit;

    generating transmission signals by at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices include a signal having a prolonged preamble providing indicia of a desire to communicate data with the vehicle locating unit;

    adapting the receiver portion of the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices for a first period of time during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time;

    estimating a likelihood that a received signal corresponds to the signal having a prolonged preamble using a counter;

    acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the plurality of peripheral devices;

    upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of detected transmission signals; and

    communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information.

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