Multi-modulation remote control communication system
View Patent ↗An AM/FM modulation scheme is presented for optimizing communications between a remote control device held by a user and a receiving unit installed in a vehicle. Historically, these systems communicated with amplitude modulated signals having good range but poor immunity to ambient random radio frequency noise. Frequency modulated systems provide improved immunity to noise however at the expense of range. The object of this invention is to use two or more modulation modes to combine their advantages. A scheme has been devised whereby circuitry capable of alternately operating in at least two modes is used. The same information is therefore transmitted using two or more modulation techniques in succession. The receiving unit also has circuitry and has listening cycles ensuring eventual synchronization with the transmitting unit. If one mode fails due to distance or ambient noise, the other can then attempt to establish a link.
1. A vehicle application wireless remote control communications system comprising:
a remote unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for carrying by a user, the remote unit being operative to exchange data in a plurality of modulation modes, the remote unit further being operative to contain and transmit a representation of a user-selected vehicle application function, the remote unit further being operative to receive representations of vehicle-selected vehicle application functions;
a mobile unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for mounting on a vehicle and exchanging data with the remote unit, and operative to transmit and receive data in the plurality of modulation modes, the mobile unit further being operative to contain and transmit one or more of the representations of the vehicle-selected vehicle application functions;
a means for the communications system to select a selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes for exchange of data between said remote and mobile units; and
an interface from the mobile unit to a vehicle application controller so that the user-selected vehicle application function is implemented whereby the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function is transmitted from said remote unit to said mobile unit by said selected modulation mode, wherein, in response to receiving at the mobile unit the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function transmitted by the selected modulation mode from the remote unit, a signal corresponding to the user-selected vehicle application function is sent from the mobile unit via the interface to the vehicle application controller for execution.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modulation modes comprises amplitude modulation mode and a frequency modulation mode.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the amplitude modulation mode comprises an amplitude-shift keying mode or an on-off keying mode.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the frequency modulation mode comprises a frequency-shift keying mode.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to select so that the selected modulation mode provides an error-free signal.
6. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to select a modulation mode automatically every time one unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit sends a command to the other unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to periodically negotiate the selected mode between the remote unit and the mobile unit.
8. The vehicle application wireless remote control communications system of claim 1 , further comprising the vehicle application controller, wherein the interface is bidirectional, whereby the vehicle application controller is further operative to invoke the vehicle-selected vehicle application functions by sending a selection signal to the mobile unit.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to select a modulation mode is automatically every time one unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit sends a command to the other unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to periodically negotiate the selected mode between the remote unit and the mobile unit.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to select a modulation mode automatically every time one unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit sends a command to the other unit selected from the mobile unit and the remote unit.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to select so that the selected modulation mode provides a strongest signal.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for the communications system to select is configured to periodically negotiate the selected mode between the remote unit and the mobile unit.
14. A vehicle application wireless remote control communications system comprising:
a remote unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for carrying by a user, the remote unit being operative to transmit data in a plurality of modulation modes, the remote unit further being operative to contain and transmit a representation of a user-selected vehicle application function;
a mobile unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for mounting on a vehicle and receiving data from the remote unit in the plurality of modulation modes;
a means for the communications system to select a selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes for receipt of data from said remote unit; and
an interface from the mobile unit to a vehicle application controller so that the user-selected vehicle application function is implemented whereby the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function is transmitted from said remote unit to said mobile unit by said selected modulation mode, wherein, in response to receiving at the mobile unit the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function transmitted by the selected modulation mode from the remote unit, a signal corresponding to the user-selected vehicle application function is sent from the mobile unit via the interface to the vehicle application controller for execution.
15. A vehicle application wireless remote control communications system comprising:
a remote unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for carrying by a user, the remote unit being operative to exchange data in each modulation mode of a plurality of modulation modes, the remote unit further being operative to contain and transmit a representation of a user-selected vehicle application function, the remote unit further being operative to receive vehicle-selected vehicle application functions;
a mobile unit comprising a receiver and transmission circuitry, for mounting on a vehicle and exchanging data with the remote unit, and operative to transmit and receive data in said each modulation mode of the plurality of modulation modes, the mobile unit further being operative to contain and transmit one or more of the vehicle-selected vehicle application functions;
the remote unit further being operative to determine received signal strength of each of the modulation modes transmitted by the mobile unit, and the mobile unit further being operative to determine received signal strength of each of the modulation modes transmitted by the remote unit;
a means for the communications system to select the a selected modulation mode from the plurality of modulation modes for communication from the remote unit to the mobile unit, the selected modulation mode having the highest received signal strengths from among the plurality of modulation modes for transmission of data from said remote unit to said mobile unit; and
an interface from the mobile unit to a vehicle application controller so that the user-selected vehicle application function is implemented whereby the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function is transmitted from said remote unit to said mobile unit by said selected modulation mode, wherein, in response to receiving at the mobile unit the representation of the user-selected vehicle application function transmitted by the selected modulation mode from the remote unit, a signal corresponding to the user-selected vehicle application function is sent from the mobile unit via the interface to the vehicle application controller for execution.
16. A method for operating a vehicle application wireless remote control communications system comprising a remote unit comprising a transceiver, for carrying by a user, the remote unit being operative to exchange data in a plurality of modulation modes, the remote unit further being operative to contain and transmit one or more representations of user-selected vehicle application functions, each representation of the one or more representations corresponding to a different user-selected function, the remote unit further being operative to receive and indicate vehicle-selected vehicle application functions, and a mobile unit comprising a transceiver, for mounting on a vehicle and exchanging data with the remote unit, the mobile unit being operative to transmit and receive data in the plurality of modulation modes, the mobile unit further being operative to contain and transmit the one or more vehicle-selected vehicle application functions, and a means for the communications system to select a selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes for exchange of data between said remote and mobile units, and an interface coupling the mobile unit to a vehicle application controller, the method comprising the steps of:
exchanging data between the remote unit and the mobile unit in one or more of the plurality of modulation modes;
step for selecting the selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes, for sending data from the remote unit to the mobile unit;
transmitting a representation of a particular user-selected vehicle application function from said remote unit to said mobile unit by said selected modulation mode; and
sending through the interface a command corresponding to the particular user-selected vehicle application function from the mobile unit to the vehicle application controller to cause the vehicle application controller to perform the user-selected vehicle application function.
17. A method for operating a vehicle application wireless remote control communications system comprising a remote unit comprising a transceiver, for carrying by a user, the remote unit being operative to exchange data in a plurality of modulation modes, the remote unit further being operative to contain and transmit one or more representations of user-selected vehicle application functions, each representation of the one or more representations corresponding to a different user-selected function, the remote unit further being operative to receive and indicate vehicle-selected vehicle application functions, and a mobile unit for mounting on a vehicle and exchanging data with the remote unit, the mobile unit being operative to transmit and receive data in the plurality of modulation modes, the mobile unit further being operative to contain and transmit the one or more vehicle-selected vehicle application functions, and a means for the communications system to select a selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes for exchange of data between said remote and mobile units, and an interface coupling the mobile unit to a vehicle application controller, the method comprising the steps of:
step for selecting the selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes;
transmitting from the remote unit to the mobile unit a representation of a particular user-selected vehicle application function using the selected modulation mode;
receiving the representation of the particular user-selected vehicle application function at said mobile unit in said selected modulation mode; and
sending through the interface a command corresponding to the particular user-selected vehicle application function from the mobile unit to the vehicle application controller to cause the vehicle application controller to perform the user-selected vehicle application function.
18. A wireless remote control communications system comprising:
a first communication means for exchanging data in a plurality of modulation modes;
a second communication means for exchanging data in the plurality of modulation modes;
a first signal-processing means operatively coupled to the said first communication means, the first signal-processing means programmed to perform the following functions:
a) contain and transmit one or more user application function representations, each user application function representation representing a corresponding application function selectable by a user at a first device;
b) receive and analyse signals from the second communication means, the signals from the second communication means being indicative of criteria for modulation selection for communications between the first communication means and the second communication means;
c) receive and indicate one or more application functions originating from a second signal-processing means; and
d) select a first selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes based on the criteria for modulation selection, the first selected modulation mode being for communications from the second communication means to the first communication means;
the second signal-processing means, wherein the second signal-processing means is operatively coupled to the second communications means and interfaced with an application controller, the second signal-processing means programmed to perform the following functions:
a) contain and transmit the one or more application functions originating from the second signal-processing means;
b) receive and analyse signals from the first communication means, the signals from the first communication means being indicative of criteria for modulation selection for communications between the first communication means and the second communication means;
c) receive at least one of the user application function representations and implement the function corresponding to the at least one of the user application function representations by sending a command signal to the application controller, the command signal corresponding to the at least one of the user application function representations; and
d) select a second selected modulation mode from among the plurality of modulation modes based on the criteria for modulation selection, the second selected modulation mode being for communications from the first communication means to the second communication means.
19. A wireless remote control unit of a security system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:
a remote wireless transceiver; and
remote baseband processor circuitry coupled to the remote wireless transceiver;
wherein:
the remote wireless transceiver is configured to communicate bidirectionally with a mobile unit of the security system using any modulation mode of a plurality of modulation modes, the plurality of modulation modes comprising a first modulation mode and a second modulation mode, the second modulation mode being different from the first modulation mode; and
the remote baseband processor circuitry is configured to perform steps comprising:
transmitting from the remote unit to the mobile unit first frames using the first modulation mode, the first frames comprising a representation of a command to be carried out by the security system;
after transmitting the first frames, attempting to detect first feedback from the mobile unit, the first feedback being responsive to the first frames;
if the step of attempting to detect the first feedback detects the first feedback, indicating to a user that the command has been carried out;
if the step of attempting to detect the first feedback does not detect the first feedback, transmitting from the remote unit to the mobile unit second frames using the second modulation mode, the second frames including the representation of the command;
after transmitting the second frames, attempting to detect second feedback from the mobile unit, the second feedback being responsive to the second frames;
if the step of attempting to detect the second feedback does not detect the second feedback, indicating to the user of the security system that a mobile unit of the security system is out of range; and
if the step of attempting to detect the second feedback detects the second feedback, indicating to the user that the command has been carried out.
20. A wireless mobile unit of a security system, the wireless mobile unit comprising:
a mobile wireless transceiver; and
mobile baseband processor circuitry coupled to the mobile wireless transceiver;
wherein:
the mobile wireless transceiver is configured to communicate bidirectionally with a remote control unit of the security system using any modulation mode of a plurality of modulation modes, the plurality of modulation modes comprising a first modulation mode and a second modulation mode, the second modulation mode being different from the first modulation mode; and
the mobile baseband processor circuitry is configured to perform steps comprising:
scanning alternately using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode to receive one or more frames from the remote control unit, the one or more frames comprising a representation of a command to be carried out by the security system;
in response to receiving the one or more frames using the first modulation mode, causing the command to be executed and sending a first feedback to the remote control unit using the first modulation mode, the first feedback indicating that the command has been executed; and
in response to receiving the one or more frames using the second modulation mode, causing the command to be executed and sending a second feedback to the remote control unit using the second modulation mode, the second feedback indicating that the command has been executed.
21. A wireless mobile unit of a security system, the wireless mobile unit comprising:
a mobile wireless transceiver;
received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuitry; and
mobile baseband processor circuitry coupled to the mobile wireless transceiver and to the RSSI circuitry;
wherein:
the mobile wireless transceiver is configured to communicate bidirectionally with a remote control unit of the security system using any modulation mode of a plurality of modulation modes, the plurality of modulation modes comprising a first modulation mode and a second modulation mode, the second modulation mode being different from the first modulation mode;
the RSSI circuitry is configured to provide indications of strength of signals received by the mobile wireless transceiver using each modulation mode of the plurality of modulation modes;
the mobile baseband processor circuitry is configured to perform steps comprising:
scanning using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode to receive signals comprising a mode synchronization request command from the remote control unit;
sending feedback to the remote control unit, the feedback comprising a request for using a first selected modulation mode for communications from the remote control unit to the mobile unit, the first selected modulation mode being the first modulation mode if strength of the signals using the first modulation mode is greater than strength of the signals using the second modulation mode, the first selected modulation mode being the second modulation mode if strength of the signals using the second modulation mode is greater than strength of the signals using the first modulation mode;
after sending the feedback, scanning for a first mode confirmation message from the remote control unit, the first mode confirmation message confirming that the communications from the remote control unit to the mobile unit will be sent using the first selected modulation mode;
receiving a notification from the remote control unit, the notification comprising a second selected modulation mode for communications from the mobile unit to the remote control unit, the second selected modulation mode being based on strength of signals from the mobile unit to the remote control unit using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode;
adjusting reception of the transceiver to the first selected modulation mode; and
adjusting transmission of the transceiver to the second modulation mode.
22. The wireless mobile unit of claim 21 , wherein the first selected modulation mode is different from the second selected modulation mode.
23. A wireless remote control unit of a security system, the wireless remote control unit comprising:
a remote wireless transceiver;
received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuitry; and
remote baseband processor circuitry coupled to the remote wireless transceiver and to the RSSI circuitry;
wherein:
the remote wireless transceiver is configured to communicate bidirectionally with a mobile unit of the security system using any modulation mode of a plurality of modulation modes, the plurality of modulation modes comprising a first modulation mode and a second modulation mode, the second modulation mode being different from the first modulation mode;
the RSSI circuitry is configured to provide indications of strength of signals received by the remote wireless transceiver using each modulation mode of the plurality of modulation modes;
the remote baseband processor circuitry is configured to perform steps comprising:
transmitting a mode synchronization request command to the mobile unit using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode;
scanning using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode to receive feedback from the mobile unit, the feedback comprising a request for using a first selected modulation mode for communications from the remote control unit to the mobile unit, the first selected modulation mode being selected based on strength of the mode synchronization command received by the mobile unit using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode;
after receiving the feedback, transmitting to the mobile unit a first mode confirmation message, the first mode confirmation message confirming that the communications from the remote control unit to the mobile unit will be sent using the first selected modulation mode;
sending a notification to the mobile unit, the notification comprising a second selected modulation mode for communications from the mobile unit to the remote control unit, the second selected modulation mode being based on strength of signals from the mobile unit to the remote control unit using the first modulation mode and the second modulation mode;
adjusting transmission of the transceiver to the first selected modulation mode; and
adjusting reception of the transceiver to the second modulation mode.
24. The wireless remote control unit of claim 23 , wherein the first selected modulation mode is different from the second selected modulation mode.