GB2354654A

GB2354654A - Remotely controlling an apparatus via a spatially limited network and an optical transmitter

Info

Publication number: GB2354654A
Application number: GB0021490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Buchenrieder
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1999-09-01
Filing date: 2000-09-01
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-01
Also published as: DE19941678B4; GB2354654B; GB0021490D0; DE19941678A1

Abstract

Communications system having a communications network (1) for supplying a certain spatial area (10) in terms of transmission technology, and having an information receiver (2) for receiving from the network an item of information (I) input by a subscriber into the network for transmission, the information receiver (2) having an optical radiation source (29) for sending an optical signal (Io) as a function of an item of information (I) received from the network. This system may be used for controlling an apparatus (3) from any location (11).

Description

2354654 Communications systems The present invention relates to

communications systems and in particular systems having at least one communications network which supplies a certain spatial area in terms of transmission technology, and having at least one information receiver for receiving information from the network, which information is input by a subscriber into the network for transmission.

A communications system of the type mentioned is, f or example, a generally known radio calling system or paging system, which has at least one radio calling is network, which is operated by a user association, for example. The system services a certain spatial area in terms of radio technology, and at least one radio calling receiver or pager for receiving information from the network, which information is input by a subscriber into the network for transmission, and for representing and/or passing on the information received. Generally, but not exclusively, such systems are unidirectional, i.e. they pass information only to the receiver and do not pass information from the receiver back to the communications network or communications transmitter.

A radio calling receiver of this type is accordingly used primarily only to receive information from the at least one communications network and to represent and/or pass on the information received, but not to send an item of information of this type.

Such radio calling receivers can be kept constantly in the ready-to-receive state.

it is desirable to provide a system in which, in a certain spatial area, information can be passed easily by anyone f rom any location in the area to any other location in the area, in such a way that the other location receives this information in the form of an optical signal.

Various aspects of the present invention are exemplified by the attached claims.

in accordance with'one embodiment, there is made available a communications system having at least one communications network, which supplies a certain spatial area in terms of transmission technology, and 1.5 having at least one information receiver for receiving information from the network, which information is input by a subscriber into the network for transmission, in which communications system the information receiver has an optical radiation source for sending an optical signal as a function of an item of information received from the network.

In this connection, it is desirable to ensure only that the information receiver is in each case arranged so close to the other location to which the optical signal dependent on the information received from the network is to be sent that the optical signal can go from the optical radiation source of the receiver to this other location, either in a free beam or via a local optical conductor arranged between.the radiation source of the receiver and this other location, which optical conductor can be an optical fibre, for example.

The arrangement of the informat orv receiver close to the other location may not be particularly difficult, because, advantageously, efforts are being made to construct information re-ceivers, which communicate with a communications network, in the form of small mobile and portable devices, so that they can be carried without problem to any location and arranged there.

if the other location is stationary, the information receiver which has been brought into the vicinity of this location can likewise be arranged such that it is stationary. If, however, the other location can move in the certain sjatial area, it can be advantageous to arrange the information receiver in a manner such that it is fixed relative to this other location, in such a way that it moves with this other location.

In principle, any communications network can be used in the system in accordance with the invention, for example a network in which the spatial area which is supplied in terms of transmission technology is a local area, for example a city district, or an extensive area, for example a region, a country, a territory, or world-wide. In particular, any network which is known and accessible to anyone, such as, for example, a public telephone network, a Tnobile radio network, a radio calling network, the internet, etc., can be used.

in principle, any receiver which is suitable for receiving information from such a network can be used as the information receiver.

On the one hand, the subscriber inputting information into the network for transmission advantageously does not himself require an optical radiation source for information transmission, because this is automatically available to him in the information receiver, and on the other hand, the subscriber can exploit without restriction all of the advantages offered by a communications network which supplies at least one entire spatial area in terms of transmission technology.

In particular, in a communications system embodying the invention, there is the advantage that information can be transmitted by anyone without licence restriction from any location in the spatial area which is supplied by the network in terms of transmission technology, to any other location in this area, which information is received at this'other location in the form of an optical signal. Moreover, the advantage consists in the guarantee that this transmission can be occasioned only by an authorised subscriber.

Preferably and advantageously, the communications network and the information receiver are constructed in such a way that information is transmitted from the network to the receiver by radio. By way of example, the communications network can be a mobile radio network and the information receiver a mobile radio telephone for this network. in this case, however, it is to be noted that the mobile radio telephone must be switched to the ready- to- receive state in order to be able to receive information from the network. However, a mobile radio telephone cannot usually be switched to the ready- to -receive or stand-by state all the time and is less suitable as an information receiver which can receive information from the network at any time.

A communications system embodying the invention in which the information receiver can be kept constantly in the ready- to- receive state and can generate an optical signal as a function of information received from the communications network is advantageously constructed in such a way that the information receiver is a radio calling receiver or pager for receiving -5 information from the network.

Preferably and advantageously, in this case, any radio calling network, in particular any known radio calling network, can be used as the communications network, and any radio calling receiver can be used for receiving and for representing and/or passing on information from the radio calling network, with a known radio calling receiver advantageously needing to be modified only 3.0 slightly to the '&xtent that an optical radiation source for sending an optical signal as a function of an item of information received from the radio calling network is added to this receiver. The radio calling network can be part of a wider communications network.

is Preferably and advantageously, a communications system embodying the invention is constructed in such a way that the information receiver has an optical detector for receiving an optical signal. The advantage of this is that not only can information, for example a control statement and/or a program, be transmitted to the respective other location in the form of an optical signal, but also, in addition to this, the information receiver can receive information, for example a control statement and/or a program, from the other location in the form of an optical signal, which information can be processed further in the receiver.

By way of example, in this case, in an information receiver in the form of a unidirectional radio calling receiver or pager, which is constructed only to receive and to represent and/or pass on information received from a radio calling network or paging network and not t into the network, there is the to output inf orma. ion possibility of a control and/or programming of this receiver from the other location by an optical signal -6 sent from this location to the receiver.

In this case, in a bidirectional information receiver which can not only receive information from the communications network but also, like a mobile telephone for example, enter information into the network, it is even possible to transmit information from the other location via the optical detector of the receiver and from the receiver through the network to a location.

As a result of implementing aspects of the invention, there is generally made available a new type of information receiver for receiving information from at is least one communications network which supplies a certain spatial area in terms of transmission technology, the information being input by a subscriber into the network for transmission, which information receiver is characterised by an optical radiation source for sending an optical signal as a function of an item of information received from the network.

In particular, there is made available a new type of radio calling receiver or pager for receiving information from a communications network, in particular a radio calling network or paging network, and for representing and/or passing on the information received from this network, which radio calling receiver or pager is characterised by an optical radiation source for sending an optical signal as a function of an item of information received from the network.

A preferred and advantageous application of the 3S communications system embodying the invention is a control of an apparatus from any location.

A prerequisite in this connection is that.the information receiver of the system is located in the spatial area which is supplied in terms of transmission or radio technology by the communications network of this system, and this receiver and this apparatus are arranged spatially so close to each other that the optical signal sent by the optical radiation source of the receiver as a function of an item of information received from the network can be received by this apparatus, eithe'r' in a free beam or via a local optical conductor arranged between the radiation source and the apparatus, which optical conductor can be an optical fibre, for example. This optical signal contains the control information for the apparatus, which can be a control statement and/or a program, for example.

The apparatus can be, for example, an electrical device, such as, for example, a roll-loading control, or a heating installation in a building, a lighting installation, or an apparatus in surroundings which are poorly supplied and/or have no infrastructure, for example a control of a pump or another supply device in these surroundings.

Advantageously, the apparatus can be controlled programmably from the information receiver, so that a programmable control is created, which can advantageously be small and programmed and/or initialised from any location.

Because in the communications system embodying the invention the information receiver is optically connected to the apparatus, the receiver and apparatus are advantageously electrically isolated, and a transmission of information from the receiver to the apparatus takes place by radio and in a contactless manner, and thus very reliably.

An embodiment of the invention also relates to an individual information receiver for, receiving information from at least one communications network which supplies a certain spatial area in terms of transmission technology, the information being input by a subscriber into the network for transmission.

For a better und4rstanding of the embodiments of the invention, and to show how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

is Figure I shows generally a communications system embodying the invention, which has in particular an example of an information receiver in the form of a radio calling receiver; Figure 2 shows a control flow chart; and Figure 3 shows an optoelectrical receiving circuit for receiving an optical signal sent by the optical radiation source of an information receiver for the system according to Figure 1.

It is to be noted that the Figures are diagrammatic and are not to scale.

The communications system shown generally in Figure I has at least one communications network I which supplies a certain spatial area 10 in terms of transmission technology and in which, through an input 11 located in the area 10, a subscriber (not shown) can 35 input information I into the network 1 for transmission in the network 1.

The input 11 can be a subscriber's station, for example, a plurality of which are distributed densely over the area 10 in such a way that information I can be input by a subscriber into the network 1 f rom.

practically any location in the preferably extensive area 10. Public and/or private telephone terminals which are distributed over the area 10 and are to be connected to the network are one example.

A subscriber's s4tation can be electrically connected to the network 1 or electrically isolated from the network 1, as is the case with mobile radio, for example, where the subscriber's station located in the area 10 supplied by the network 1 can be connected to the respective network 1 by radio.

Apart from this, the communications system according to Figure 1 has at least one information receiver 2 for receiving information I from the network 1, which information has been input into the network I for transmission in the network I by a subscriber through one of the inputs 11, the information I being received from the network I at an input 21 of the receiver 2 that is located in the area 10.

The input 21 of the receiver 2 could be electrically connected to the network I in order to receive information I from the network 1. Preferably, however, the receiver 2 is electrically isolated from the network 1 and receives the information I from,the network I at the input 21 by radio, for example. in this case, the input 21 of the receiver 2 is, for example, a reception antenna located in the area 10.

Preferably, the information receiver 2 is a mobile portable receiver, the antenna 21 of which can easily -lo- be brought to any location in the area 10.. As a new feature, the information receiver 2 has an optical radiation source 29 for sending an optical signal Io as a function of an item of information I received from the network 1.

As a result of this measure, any subscriber can transmit information I from a location in the area 10 in which there is an input 11 of the network 1, to any other location ihi the area 10 in which the input 21 of the receiver 2 for receiving the transmitted information I is located.

The optical signal lo which is sent by the optical is radiation source 29 of the receiver 2 as a function of an item of information I received from the network I is, for example, sent to an apparatus 3 arranged close to the receiver 2, for example in order to control this apparatus 3.

In the following, it is assumed by way of example only and without limiting the general nature, that the information receiver 2 is a pager and the communications network I is a paging network.

A simple conventional pager 2 normally consists, as shown in Figure 1, of a mostly single-channel radio receiver 22, to which the antenna 21 is connected, and of a microprocessor unit 23 which controls, for example, a display 24 and/or a tone generator 25 and/or a buzzer vibrator 26 of the pager 2.

The pager 2 has, for example, a pushbutton 27 which is co=ected between a supply voltage V and earth GND, by the actuation of which pushbutton the pager 2 can be put into a receiving state in which the pager 2 can actively receive information I from the network 1 via the antenna 21, if the antenna 21 is located in the area 10 supplied by the network 1.

The active reception of such an item of information I by the pager 2 can be indicated by the tone generator 25 and/or vibration buzzer 26. The received item of information I itself can be displayed by the display 24, for example alphanumerically, if appropriate. 10 In order to transmit an item of information I to the pager 2, a subscriber sends this item of information I into the network I via one of the inputs 11 of the network 1. By way of example, the sending subscriber 15 can send from any telephone the telephone number of the user association or the provider of the network 1 and, for example by way of a voice data entry or a DTMF tone sequence, pass on the item of information 1, for example a callback number, to the provider service.

The item of information I input into the network I in this way is coded and, for example, sent out by transmitters (not shown) of the network 1, for example in the form of a high-frequency coded signal, which is received equally by all pagers 2 located in the area 10 supplied by the network 1. In order that only one pager 2 in the area 10, for which pager the item of information I is intended, 30 actively receives this item of information 1, i.e. can indicate the reception or the representation of this item of information I, an identification code IDC which unambiguously identifies this pager 2 is transmitted together with the item of information 1. By way of 35 example, each pager 2 located in the area 10 does not actively receive an item of information I until the identification code IDC sent together with this item of information I agrees with a code ADR stored in the microprocessor unit 23 and allocated to this pager i.e. when IDC =,ADR. The code ADR allocated to a receiver 2 can be called the destination address of this receiver 2.

A coded signal supplied to the antenna 21 of a pager 2 and containing an item of information I and an identification c'O'de IDC is supplied to the radio receiver 22 and then conditioned for the microprocessor unit 23 with the aid of a demodulator circuit 28.

if the identification code IDC received together with is an item of information I by a pager 2 agrees with the code ADR stored in this pager 2, this pager 2 actively receives this item of information I in the above sense.

The microprocessor unit 23 has a port arrangement 230 having input and/or output ports 231 by way of which various external devices can be connected to the microprocessor unit 23 for a signal exchange or information exchange with this unit 23. Thus, where provided, the pushbutton 27, the tone generator 25, the vibration buzzer 26 connected, for example, between a supply voltage V and earth GND, and the display 24 can be connected to the microprocessor unit 23 by way of input and/or output ports 231 of the port arrangement 230.

A concrete example of a pager 2 built as described above is Deutsche Telecom AGI s personal calling receiver SCUL(Tm) or SKYPERI"I.

The known pager 2 is now modified slightly to the extent that additionally connected to an output port 231 of the port arrangement 230 of its microprocessor unit 23 is the optical radiation source 29, which is used to send an optical signal lo as a function of an item of information I received from the network 1. Two or more optical radiation sources 29, 291 can also be connected to output ports 231 of the port arrangement 230.

Such a radiation source 29, 291 preferably has a semiconductor diode, for example a laser diode or light-emitting diode, connected, for example, between an output port 231 and earth GND, the optical radiation of which semiconductor diode lies in the visible range or preferably in the invisible infrared range.

is The radiation source 29 can, for example, send the optical signal lo as a function of the item of information I received from the network I in such a way that this source 29 is switched on and off only as a function of whether or not the pager 2 actively receives the item of information I in the above sense.

The optical signal lo sent by the radiation source 29 as a function of the item of information I received from the network 1 can, provided that this item of information I is actively received by the pager 2 in the above sense, also present this item of received information I itself, for example serially encoded with a fixed transfer rate with a sequence of bright/dark scanning (or pulses).

An optical signal lo which represents the item of information I received can, for example, be passed to a photoreceiver outside the information receiver 2 for further processing.

An optical signal lo sent by the radiation source 29 as a function of an item of information I received from the network I can, for example, also be generated by software in the information receiver 2 in such a way that this optical signal lo which is sent contains a complex functional sequence which deviates from the item of information I received and is, for example, intended for the apparatus 3.

By way of example., the software in the pager 2 can alter the actively'received item of information I naturally in accordance with a program and, as a result of this, cause a functional sequence which deviates from the item of information I received, which functional sequence is optically transmitted to the apparatus 3. The program in the pager 2 can, f or exa-mple, be prepared by way of a particular terminal, which can use an optical connection to a PC, by way of a direct electrical connection, or by way of pushbutton sequences at the pager 2. As a result of such a programming, apparatuses 3 can be directly or indirectly controlled and also programmed.

As a result of an optical radiation source of the information receiver 2, it is also possible to generate an optical signal C in the f orm. of a cycle or clock pulse which can, f or example, be output to an external apparatus 3. As a result of this, a variable data rate to form an operation of the apparatus 3 can be obtained. By way of example, in the exemplary pager 2, in addition to the radiation source 29 for sending the optical signal Io as a function of an item of information I received from the network 1, a further optical rZibLtion source 291 can be connected to an output port 231 of the port arrangement 230, which further optical radiation source generates the cycle/pulse C.

This further radiation source 291 preferably also has a semiconductor diode which is connected, for example, between a supply voltage V and earth GND. Apart from this, the information receiver 2 can have an optical detector 40 for receiving an optical signal Ie. By way of this detector 40, the information receiver 2 can record information, for example program information.

This informati=.can originate from an apparatus to be controlled and/or 'rom a programming unit, which can be represented by the apparatus 3 in each case.

As a result of such a detector 40, evaluating and is operating sequences of the receiver 2 can also be changed. By way of example, a calculator or computer with optical connection possibility can be used in order to transmit a coded control sequence into a memory of the information receiver 2.

This sequence can, by way of example and in accordance with Figure 2, be made up in such a way that upon arrival of each item of information I representing a certain message NI, N2, etc., a wait state 0 of the receiver 2 is left in accordance with the message NI, N2, etc., and the control sequence NAI, NA2, etc., associated with this message N1, N2, etc., is carried out.

By way of example, an optical detector 40 can be connected to an input port 231 of the port arrangement 230 of the microprocessor arrangement 23 of the pager 2.

J, The optical detector 40 preferably has a photodiode in the form of a semiconductor diode or a phototransistor, which is connected, f or example, between a supply voltage V and earth GND.

in general, items of information I and/or inputs with a pushbutton, for example the pushbutton 27 of the pager 2, can be used in order to control or to initiate state transitions and/or outputs in a state.

A display of an information receiver 2, for example the display 24 of ths. pager 2, can be used to represent additional information and/or sequence information. It would likewise be realisable to program the sequence directly using one or more pushbuttons, without a host computer, possibly in a menu-driven manner.

is The use of a system according to Figure I to control an apparatus 3 from any location is described by way of example with the aid of Figure 3.

The information receiver 2 arranged close to the apparatus 3 is activated by the input of a suitable item of information I into the network I through an input 11, located at the respective location, of the network I and reception of this item of information 1 by the receiver 2, after which the radiation source 29 outputs the optical signal lo, for example by briefly flashing. in this way, a simple control function, but without transmission of the received item of information I itself and without a sequence coding, can be carried out, for example a switching on and/or off of the apparatus 3.

In the receiver 2 in the f orm of the pager, the radiation source 29 is connected parallel to the vibration buzzer 26, for example, and connected between the buzzer 26 and the source 29 is, for example, a signal filter 269.

The optical signal lo generated as a function of the received item of information I is received by an optical detector 31 of an evaluating circuit 30 of the apparatus 3, which circuit, at least in this case, can be constructed very simply.

By way of example, the detector 31 comprises a phototransistor,l which, upon reception of the signal lo, goes from a conductive or blocked state into the blocked or conductive state, respectively, and as a function of this transition, switches over a switching device 32 of the evaluating circuit 30.

is By way of example, the collector 311 of the phototransistor 31 is connected to a positive supply voltage V and its emitter 312 is connected to earth GND and upon reception of the signal Io goes f rom. the blocked state into the conductive state, so that upon this transition, the collector 311 passes over from the positive voltage V, which corresponds, for example, to the high logic level "Ell, to the potential of earth GND, which in this case corresponds to the low logic level "Ll'.

Connected to the collector 311, for example by way of an inverter 33, is a switching device 32 in the form of a relay, which switches when the high logic level IIHII appears at the inverter 33.

By way of example, with this evaluating circuit 30 as the apparatus 3, a remote operation of a video tape recorder could be activated by way of a telephone call and the video tape recorder started.

-is- Also with this evaluating circuit 30 as the apparatus 3, a heating installation could be switched on by way of a telephone call. in the case of an access to the display 24 of the pager 2, the received item of information Io [sic) can be used, for example, as a switching on/off time and for temperature adjustment.

The further processing of the item of information Io (sic) can also be carried out by the processor unit 23 present in the pager 2.

The information receiver 2, for example the pager, advantageously has a housing 20 which is transparent for the optical signal lo and possibly also for the optical signals C and Ie, in order save having to create openings in the housing 20.

I, T'

Claims

Claim's

1. Communications system - having at least one communications network (1) which supplies a certain spatial area (10) in terms of transmission technology, and having at least one information receiver (2) for receiving information (1) from the network (1), which information is input by a subscriber into the network (1) for transmission, characterised irf-that the information receiver (2) has an optical radiation source (29) for sending an optical signal (Io) as a function of an item of information (1) received from the network (1).

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the information receiver (2) is a radio calling receiver for receiving information from this communications network (1).

3. System according to claim 2, characterised in that the communications network (1) is a radio calling network.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the information receiver (2) has an optical detector (40) for receiving an optical signal (Ie).

S. Information receiver (2) for receiving information (1) from at least one communications network (1) which supplies a certain spatial area (10) in terms of transmission technology, the information (1) being input by a subscriber into the network (1) for transmission, characterised by an optical radiation source (29) for sending an optical signal (1o) as a function of an item of information (1) received from -20 the network (1).

6. Radio calling receiver (2) for receiving information (1) f rorn a communications network (1), in particular a radio calling network, and for representing and/or passing on the information (1) received from this network (1), characterised by an optical radiation source (29) for sending an optical signal (Io) as a function of an item of information (I) received from the network (1).

7. Receiver according to claim 5 or 6, characterised by an optical detector (40) for receiving an optical signal (1o).

is

8. Use of a system according to claim I or 2 f or controlling an apparatus (3) from any location (ii)

9. A communications system comprising:

a communications network for providing communications services for a predetermined area; and an information receiver for receiving information from the network, which information is supplied to the network by a subscriber, wherein the information receiver includes an optical radiation source which is operable to output an optical signal corresponding to information received by the information receiver from the network.