WO1994013092A1

WO1994013092A1 - Method and apparatus for wireless transmission of information

Info

Publication number: WO1994013092A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarmo Lehtonen
Original assignee: Aumec Systems Oy
Priority date: 1992-11-25
Filing date: 1993-11-25
Publication date: 1994-06-09
Also published as: AU5563794A; FI925364A0; FI925364A

Abstract

A method for transmitting data wirelessly so that data is transmitted by means of a transmitter system (10) to a receiver (20) connected to communicate the data or a control command to an actuator (23). According to the invention, data is transmitted wirelessly by means of a paging transmission network (10) to the receiver part (21) of a pager (20), from which the data is conveyed to the actuator (23). A control logic part (24) and a timer (25) are connected to the receiver part in order to control the actuator.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION.

The object of the invention is a method for transmitting data wirelessly, in such a way that data is transmitted by means of a transmitter system to a receiver system connected to communicate the data or a control command to an actuator.

Known prior art devices include control devices which can be controlled by telephone. The telephone may be a device connected to the conventional line telephone network or, for example, an NMT telephone operating on radio waves. In this case, switches, relays and other actuators are connected to the receiving telephone device, by means of which actuators the desired control measures are acccomplished.

In data transmission between computers, it is furthermore known to use modems linked with computers, by means of which messages and operating instructions between these machines can be transmitted either by means of the line telephone network or by radio, through the NMT telephone network.

The disadvantage of the above data transmission methods is, however, that the receiver must be a telephone, which is a telephone device connected to a line telephone network, or correspondingly an NMT telephone. These devices are complex and because they are continuously connected to the telephone network, they also place a considerable load on the network.

It is the aim of this invention to achieve a method which does not have the above disadvantages. It is characteristic of the invention that the data is transmitted wirelessly by means of a paging transmission network to the receiver part of the pager, from which the data is conveyed to the actuator. The device used as the receiving device in this case resembles a pager which is on continuous receiving standby, but does not place a load on any data transmission networks; the operating principle of pagers is such that the message is given simultaneously over an extensive area, through several transmitters. The time used for data transmission is thus very short and the essential factor is that only one receiver identifies the short message transmitted to it. It is inherent to the system that several different messages can obviously be sent simultaneously to different receivers.

The object of the invention also comprises a device for transmitting data wirelessly, the said device including a transmitter system, by means of which the data is transmitted to the receiver system, which is connected to communicate the data or control command to the actuator. It is characteristic of the device relating to the invention that the receiver system comprises a pager receiver part located in the paging transmission network, to which part is connected an actuator.

A conventional pager comprises a receiver which transforms a transmitted message into readable characters. A message transmitted in this way can be read on the display of the device. In the device relating to the invention, the corresponding message pulses can be coded so that by means of pulse variations, the reguired message can be communicated and will have the desired effect on the actuator connected to the pager. For example, some 160 characters can be transmitted to a conventional pager, and by coding these, very different kinds of data can be transmitted fast and efficiently. Examples of controllable objects include the remote control of the heating, lighting and ventilation of a one-family house. For example, traffic signs, indicator boards, billboards, and even a bank's security systems can be controlled in the same way.

In its simplest form, the embodiment of the device relating to the invention may be, for example, a switch for switching on any device, such as a sauna stove. Correspondingly, at its most complex the device relating to the invention can be installed to control a computer which may simultaneously carry out a considerable number of functions, such as the guarding of a large area, indicator boards, or other similar devices. In such a case, a computer program may be used, the start-up and settings of which are carried out by means of the pager relating to the invention. After this, the program itself will take care of further control, possibly at the same time measuring the conditions on the site.

According to a second preferable embodiment of the invention, the message is transmitted by means of an intercom dialling device in which both the number of the receiving device and the message to be transmitted are preprogrammed. This arrangement eliminates possible errors occurring when dialling numbers. The intercom dialling device may, for example, be the same type of audiofrequency device as is used in connection with an impulse dialling telephone.

According to a third preferable embodiment, the transmission includes the number of the receiving device and, in addition to the message to be transmitted, a security code to prevent the receiving of an incorrect message.

According to a fourth preferable embodiment, in connection with important messages it is possible to transmit two successive messages, which must be compatible, in order for the required function to start. In this way, random pulses cannot create false information. There may also be a suitable delay between the successive messages. The transmission can, however, be automated so that in practice the transmission takes place at the same time.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following with reference to the enclosed drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a general view of the system relating to the invention as a block diagram. shows the control system of an indicator board as a block diagram. corresponds to figure 2 and shows the control system of one device. corresponds to figure 3 and shows the control system of several devices. shows the structure of the receiver relating to the invention and the system linked with it in greater detail. shows diagrammatically the code used in transmission. shows diagrammatically the control of a text board through the paging network. shows the control of the text board as a block diagram. shows diagrammatically the control of a vehicle through the paging network. shows the control of the functions of a vehicle as a block diagram. shows diagrammatically the control of a traffic sign through a paging network. shows the control of the traffic sign as a block diagram. shows diagrammatically the transmission of a text to a telefax through the paging network. shows the control of the telefax as a block diagram. shows diagrammatically the transmission of a text to a computer's memory through a paging network.

shows the transmission of the text to the computer's memory as a block diagram.

Figure 1 shows a general view of the system relating to the invention as a block diagram. The transmitter system 10 comprises a device 11 which formulates the message, in this sample case a computer. The message is transmitted in the usual manner, either by means of a conventional telephone 12 or an NMT telephone, or possibly by means of a modem linked with a computer, to the telephone company 13, from where the paging transmissions are conveyed to base stations 14 at different locations. The paging message is transmitted by radio simultaneously through the antennae 15 of several base stations 14.

The essential factor is that all receivers are able to receive the message, but only the receivers required will identify the message. The receiver system 20 relating to the invention comprises a conventional paging receiver 21 which receives messages transmitted by means of the antenna 22. The message is not, however, printed out as a text as is the case with a conventional pager, but it is conveyed to the actuator 23 being controlled.

In this case it is also possible to link feedback to the device relating to the invention, so that, if necessary, the device 23 being controlled will make contact and notify of existing conditions or a possible alarm. Contact may be made through telephone or otherwise, these devices being known as such. It is, however, an essential feature of the invention that the message conveyed to the actuator is not transmitted through any conventional telephone network, but through a paging network, from which a considerable number of messages to different destinations can be transmitted simultaneously. Any feedback linked with the system may, however, even use a conventional telephone network, in which each contact has to be made separately.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an indicator board is controlled by means of a coded message conveyed to the pager. Figure 2 shows the control system of the receiver part 20 of an indicator board 23 of this type as a block diagram. The message is received by means of a conventional receiver 21 provided with an antenna 22. In order to transform the message into such a form that it can be used to control the indicator board 23, control logic 24 is needed between the pager and the board. Figure 3 shows a receiver system 20 corresponding to figure 2, in which the operation of one device 23, such as a heating radiator, is controlled. In this case, a timer 25 is linked with the control logic part 24, by means of which timer the device 23 can be switched off by forced control after a certain period. Thus no new separate command through the pager system is required to switch the device off.

Figure 4 shows a pager system 20 for controlling several devices, which are the heating 23a, lighting 23b, sauna stove 23c, garden light 23d and ventilation 23e of a one- family house shown in figure 4. The number of devices controlled may be even greater. Since it is possible to program a considerable number of different control codes into the pager, it is even possible to transmit the control codes of all these devices simultaneously. The timer 25 may nevertheless be such that it controls the various devices 23a-23e, switching them off at different times, according to the desired schedule.

Figure 5 shows the structure of the receiver system 20 relating to the invention in greater detail. A signal from the antenna 22, for example at the frequency of 146.325 MHz is conveyed to a high-frequency amplifier 26, from where it is divided into two parts in a distributor 27. The vibration from the oscillator 28 is mixed with the divided signal in the first mixer 29, and in the second mixer 30. The signals conveyed through the first low pass filter 31 and the first limiter 33, and the second low pass filter 32 and the second limiter 34 are combined in the detector 35. The combined signal is conveyed through the decoder 36 to the control logic part 24.

In the control logic part 24, the signal is conveyed to a microprocessor 37 connected to a resetting circuit 38. The signal is conveyed through the data out buffers 39 to output relays 40, which in the end control the functions of the devices used. Current feed is by means of a power source 41. Figure 6 shows diagrammatically the code 50 used in paging transmission. In the first part 51 of the code 50 shown in the example, the series of digits 948 4138136 is the number of the pager. Once contact has been made with the paging network controller, the requested message 52 is given either by the numerical dials of a telephone, or by a programmable intercom dialling device. In this example the first four digits 53, shown as TTTT, form a security number and the following five 54, that is KKKKK, are control commands.

The positions of the control command numbers 54 are marked 1-5, which stand for the corresponding devices being controlled. For example by giving control command 1, the device in question is actuated and similarly, by giving the number 0, operation is discontinued. If, for example, devices 1 and 3 are to be switched on and the others off, the series of control command digits is 10100. Other numbers can naturally be used instead of the numbers 1 and 0, by means of which for example the output, speed or other similar properties can be controlled.

Figures 1-6 illustrate the operating principle of the device relating to the invention. The device comprises a conventional receiver part which corresponds to the receiver of a pager. To the device has, however, been connected an actuator instead of the usual display screen, and the actuator may comprise either mechanically or electronically created switches or the like by means of which the desired functions can be effected.

Figure 7 shows the control of a text board through the paging network. The required text is formulated on the computer 11 from which the text is transmitted by modem 60, through the telephone exchange 13, to the paging network controller 61. The paging network controller 61 transmits the text through a radio network 62 to the desired area, for example, simultaneously to the whole country. The paging receiver connected to the indicator board 63 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part of the device, from where it is transmitted to the indicator board 63. The required text can also be transmitted to the radio network 62 also by calling the service number with the telephone 12, from where the dictated text will be communicated to the paging network.

Figure 8 shows the control of the text board 63 shown in figure 7 as a block diagram. The paging receiver 21 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part 24 of the device, from where it is transmitted to the indicator board 63.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically the control of a vehicle 64 through the paging network. The required command is formulated on the computer 11, from which the command is transmitted by modem 60, through the telephone exchange 13, to the paging network controller 61. The paging network controller 61 transmits the command through a radio network 62 to the desired area, for example, simultaneously to the whole country. The paging receiver connected to the vehicle 64 receives the command intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part of the device, which carries out the required command. The required command can also be transmitted to the radio network 62 also by calling the service number with the telephone 12, from where the dictated command will be communicated to the paging network.

Figure 10 shows as a block diagram different alternatives for the control of the functions of a vehicle. The paging receiver 21 receives the command intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part 24 of the device, which carries out the required command. The command may, for example, be to switch the engine-block heater on or off, to start or stop the engine, to activate the burglar alarm, to open or close the electrically operated windows, or to control the functioning of the catalytic converter used to purif the engine exhaust gases. Figure 11 shows diagrammatically the control of a traffic sign 65 through a paging network. The required command is formulated on the computer 11 from which the command is transmitted by modem 60, through the telephone exchange 13, 5 to the paging network controller 61. The paging network controller 61 transmits the command through a radio network 62 to the desired area, for example, simultaneously to the whole country. The paging receiver connected to the traffic sign 65 receives the command intended for it and

10 communicates it to the control electronics part of the device, which carries out the required command. The required command can also be transmitted to the radio network 62 by calling the service number with the telephone 12, from where the dictated command will be communicated to the paging

15 network.

Figure 12 shows the control of the traffic sign as a block diagram. The paging receiver 21 receives the command intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part 24 of the device. The required command is 20 carried out, for example, by means of a driving motor 66 which changes the display on the sign to a different one.

Figure 13 shows diagrammatically the transmission of a text to a telefax through the -paging network. The required text is formulated on the computer 11 from which the command is

25 transmitted by modem 60, through the telephone exchange 13, to the paging network controller 61. The paging network controller 61 transmits the command through a radio network 62 to the desired area, for example, simultaneously to the whole country. The paging receiver connected to the telefax

30 67 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part of the device, from where the text is transmitted to the telefax. The telefax also functions normally through the telephone network. The required text can also be transmitted to the radio network

35 62 by calling the service number with the telephone 12, from where the dictated text will be communicated to the paging networ .

Figure 14 shows the control of the telefax as a block diagram. The paging receiver 21 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part 24 of the device, from where the text is transmitted to the telefax 67.

Figure 15 shows diagrammatically the transmission of a text to a computer's 68 memory through a paging network. The required text is formulated on the computer 11 from which the text is transmitted by modem 60, through the telephone exchange 13, to the paging network controller 61. The paging network controller 61 transmits the command through a radio network 62 to the desired area, for example, simultaneously to the whole country. The paging receiver 20 connected to the computer 68 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part of the device, from where the text is transferred to the computer's 68 memory. The control electronics may also start the computer, in which the program will read the text into the computer's memory. After saving, the control electronics will switch the computer off. The required text can also be transmitted to the radio network 62 by calling the service number with the telephone 12, from where the dictated text will be communicated to the paging network.

Figure 16 shows the transmission of the text to the computer's 68 memory as a block diagram. The paging receiver 21 receives the text intended for it and communicates it to the control electronics part 24 of the device, from where it is transferred to the computer 68.

The paging network used may be any network. One or more receiving devices will identify the message and convey it to the actuator. The device is thus a remote-commanded device which uses a paging network. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims presented below.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data wirelessly in such a way that data is transmitted by means of a transmitter system (10) to a receiver system (20) connected to communicate the data or a control command to an actuator (23), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the data is transmitted wirelessly by means of a paging transmission network (10) to the receiver part (21) of a pager (20), from which the data is conveyed to the actuator (23).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the message pulses are coded so that by means of pulse variations, the required message can be communicated and will have the desired effect the actuator (23) connected to the pager (20).

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an actuator (23) is controlled by means of a message received by the pager (20), the said actuator taking care of, for example, the remote control of a sauna stove, the heating, lighting and ventilation of a building, or controls a traffic sign, indicator board, billboard, door of a safe, a bank's security system, or the guarding of an area.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the message is transmitted by means of an intercom dialling device, such as an audiofrequency device or a conventional telephone, in which the number of the receiving device (20) and/or the message to be transmitted can be preprogrammed before transmission.

5. A method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, in addition to the number of the receiving device (20) and the message to be transmitted, a security code is included in the transmission to prevent the operation of the actuator (23) on the basis of an incorrect message.

6. A method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that two successive messages are transmitted to the receiving device (20), which messages must be compatible, in order for the required function of the actuator (23) to start.

7. A device for transmitting data wirelessly, the said device comprising a transmitter system (10) by means of which data is transmitted to a receiver system (20) connected to communicate the data or a control command to an actuator (23), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the receiver system (20) comprises a receiver part (21) situated in the paging transmission network (10), to which part is connected an actuator (23).

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the actuator (23) connected to the receiver part (21) of the pager (20) is a switch which can be used to switch on a sauna stove or other device, or the actuator is a processor able to control several functions simultaneously, for example, the heating, lighting and ventilation- of a building, or control a traffic sign, indicator board, billboard, door of a safe, a bank's security system, or the guarding of an area.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a control logic part (24) is connected to the receiver part (21) of the pager (20) in order to control the actuator (23).

10. A device as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a control logic part (24) and a timer (25) are connected to the receiver part (21) of the pager (20) in order to control the actuator (23).

11. A device as claimed in any of the claims 7 to 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a device which sends feedback data is connected to the pager (20) or the actuator (23).