Data transmission apparatus and data reception apparatus

• US 6,441,721 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tajima, Shigeru, Numaoka, Chisato
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/714,022
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.01, 340/573.1, 340/815.45, 340/815.65, 340/384.7, 340/691.6, 340/692, 340/531
• US Class Current: 340/286.01
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A user 100 wears a bracelet-type data reception apparatus 200. When the user touches a contact point 402 on an information plate 300, the user receives data via the human body from a data transmission apparatus 200 associated with the information plate 300. The bracelet-type data reception apparatus 200 is provided with a full-color LED 209. Indications on this full-color LED 209 are used for notifying initiation of data reception, data reception in process, completion of data reception, and the like. A similar full-color LED 402 is installed on the information plate for notifying initiation of data transmission, data transmission in process, completion of data transmission, and the like.

Claims

1. A data transmission apparatus appropriate to a system for transmitting and receiving signals using a human body as a transmission path, comprising:

a contact point for data transmission through contact with a human body;

means for initiating data transmission in response to contact between said contact point and said human body; and

means for notifying completion of data transmission.

2. The data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying unsuccessful data transmission.

3. A data reception apparatus appropriate to a system for transmitting and receiving signals using a human body as a transmission path, comprising:

a contact point for data reception through contact with a human body;

means for initiating data reception in response to contact between said contact point and said human body; and

means for notifying completion of data reception.

4. The data reception apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for notifying unsuccessful data reception.

5. A data transmission/reception apparatus having a data transmission apparatus to transmit data through contact with a human body and a data reception apparatus to receive data through contact with a human body for transmitting and receiving signal through the use of a human body as a transmission path, wherein said data transmission apparatus comprising:

a contact point for data transmission through contact with a human body;

means for initiating data transmission in response to contact between said contact point and said human body; and

means for notifying completion of data transmission,

and wherein said data reception apparatus comprising;

a contact point for data reception through contact with a human body;

means for initiating data reception in response to contact between said contact point and said human body; and

means for notifying completion of data reception.

6. The data transmission/reception apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said data transmission apparatus comprises means for notifying unsuccessful data transmission.

7. The data transmission/reception apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said data reception apparatus comprises means for notifying unsuccessful data reception.

8. A data transmission apparatus appropriate to a system for transmitting and receiving signals using a human body as a transmission path, comprising:

a contact point for data transmission through contact with a human body; and

means for notifying states of data transmission using said contact point and said human body.

9. The data transmission apparatus to claim 8, wherein the notifying states include at least one initiation, continuation, completion, and unsuccessful termination of data transmission as a data transmission state.

10. A data reception apparatus appropriate to a system for transmitting and receiving signals using a human body as a transmission path, comprising:

a contact point for data reception through contact with a human body; and

means for notifying states of data reception using said contact point and said human body.

11. The data reception apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the notifying states include at least one of initiation, continuation, completion, and unsuccessful termination of data reception as a data transmission state.