Network supporting roaming, sleeping terminals

• US 5,940,771 A
• Filed: 10/19/1995
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Arensdorf, Richard C., Young, Amos D., Spiess, Gary N., Pavek, John G., Gollnick, Charles D., Detweiler, Mary L., Sojka, Marvin L., Cnossen, James D., Cargin, Keith K. Jr., Meier, Robert C., Mahany, Ronald L., Danielson, Arvin D., Geers, Robert G., West, Guy J., Luse, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US08/545,108
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 455/38.1, 455/38.3, 455/50.1, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 455/63, 455/343, 455/517, 455/501, 455/524, 455/574, 455/575, 370/95.1, 370/280, 370/311, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/029 reducing the clock frequency of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data collection network supports roaming terminals which may enter and exit a sleep mode to conserve power. A plurality of base stations each periodically transmit pending message indications to those roaming data collection terminals in range. Instead of requiring the transceiver within each terminal to always be active, the receiver is activated in synchrony with the transmissions of pending message indications from at least one of the base stations. Otherwise, the terminal may deactivate the transceiver, i.e., place it in a sleep state. The terminal may also sleep through pluralities of transmissions of pending message indications, and, thereafter, awake in synchrony to receive subsequent pending message indications. To minimize noise, the terminal may operate using a lower frequency system clock when not collecting data. When collecting data, especially where processing time proves more critical, the system clock frequency is increased.

Claims

1. A radio frequency data communication system that supports data collection within a premises, the radio frequency data communication system comprising:

a plurality of roaming terminals operational within the premises;

one or more base stations, each having a radio frequency transceiver, located within the premises;

each of the one or more base stations transmitting a pending message list at each of selected time intervals;

each of the plurality of roaming c terminals comprising a data collection system having a battery power supply and a radio frequency transceiver;

the plurality of roaming terminals selectively communicative with the one or more base stations; and

each of the plurality of roaming terminals selectively deactivating the radio frequency transceiver through a plurality of the selected time intervals, and synchronizing the activation of the radio frequency transceiver to receive the pending message list following the plurality of the selected time intervals.

2. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 1 wherein the one or more base stations transmit timing information regarding the selected time intervals along with each pending message list to the plurality of roaming terminals.

3. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 1 wherein the one or more base stations communicate timing information regarding the selected time intervals to the plurality of roaming terminals.

4. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 3 wherein the one or more base stations communicate the timing information during the selected time intervals.

5. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 1 wherein the data collection system comprises a code reader.

6. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 5 the data collection system operates in a low noise state when not collecting data to minimize interference with the radio frequency transceiver.

7. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 1 the data collection system operates in a low noise state when not collecting data to minimize interference with the radio frequency transceiver.

8. A radio frequency data communication system that supports data collection independent of wireless reception within a premises, the radio frequency data communication system comprising:

a plurality of portable data collection systems operational within the premises;

one or more base stations, each having a radio frequency transceiver, located within the premises;

each of the plurality of portable data collection systems utilizing battery power, having a radio frequency transceiver, and operable in either a high or a low system clock rate;

each of the plurality of portable data collection systems selectively communicative with the one or more base stations;

when gathering data, operating at the high system clock rate; and

each of the plurality of portable data collection systems normally operating at the low system clock rate to minimize interference with the radio frequency transceiver.

9. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of portable data collection systems selectively operate in a low noise state when not gathering data.

10. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 9 wherein the low noise state involves entering a sleep mode.

11. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of portable data collection systems comprise a code reader.

12. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of portable data collection systems selectively operate in a high noise state when gathering data to increase data input rates.

13. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of portable data collection systems operate in a high noise state by increasing a system clock rate.

14. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of portable data collection systems maintain the radio frequency transceiver energized for selected time intervals, and after such selected time intervals or after completion of a transmission occurring within such time intervals, turning the radio transceiver off to conserve battery power.

15. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 14 wherein the one or more base stations define the selected time intervals.

16. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 14 wherein the one or more base stations communicate timing information regarding the selected time intervals to the plurality of roaming terminals.

17. The radio frequency data communication system of claim 16 wherein the one or more base stations communicate the timing information during the selected time intervals.