Transmitter controlled communication links
View Patent ↗A wireless communication system is disclosed herein. The wireless communication system may include transmitter units and a receiver. In one embodiment, each transmitter has an address and logic programmed to perform the steps of receiving a user selection and, responsive to the receiving, repeatedly transmitting a wireless selection signal until a wireless acknowledgment signal is received. The wireless selection signal may include the address and the user selection. The receiver may include means to receive a wireless selection signal and logic programmed to transmit a wireless acknowledgment signal in response to the receipt of each wireless selection signal.
1. An audience response system comprising:
a plurality of transmitter units; and
a receiver unit, wherein
each transmitter unit includes a unique address and logic programmed to perform steps of receiving a user selection via a button push and, responsive to the button push, without receiving a signal from the receiver unit to initiate transmission, repeatedly transmitting a wireless selection signal until a wireless acknowledgment signal is received, the wireless selection signal including the unique address and the user selection, and wherein
the receiver unit includes a receiver for receiving a wireless selection signal and logic programmed to transmit a wireless acknowledgment signal in response to the receipt of each wireless selection signal.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic of each transmitter unit is further programmed to generate a transmission interval, wherein the wireless selection signal is repeatedly transmitted according to the transmission interval.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the logic of each transmitter unit is further programmed to generate a new transmission interval upon receipt of a user selection.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the transmission interval is a random number.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each transmitter unit includes a keypad.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic of the receiver unit is further programmed to store each user selection.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic of the receiver unit is further programmed to transmit each user selection to an external processor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic of the receiver unit is further programmed to make no transmission until a signal is received from a transmitter unit.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency signal.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver unit includes a display.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each transmitter unit includes an output interface.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the output interface includes at least one LED.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the output interface includes a liquid crystal display.
15. A method for wirelessly communicating data from a plurality of transmitter units to a receiver, the method comprising steps of:
receiving a user input at one of the plurality of transmitter units;
formatting a radio frequency signal comprising the user input and a unique identifier;
asynchronously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting the radio frequency signal;
wirelessly receiving an acknowledgment radio frequency signal comprising the unique identifier; and
terminating the step of asynchronously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the terminating occurs upon receiving the acknowledgment radio frequency signal.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of terminating occurs after a predetermined interval.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a step of generating a transmission interval.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of asynchronously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting the radio frequency signal is performed according to the generated transmission interval.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a step of transmitting the user input and unique identifier to a processor after receipt of the radio frequency signal.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the radio frequency signal and the acknowledgment radio frequency signal have the same frequency.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the radio frequency signal and the acknowledgment radio frequency signal have different frequencies.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of asynchronously repeatedly wirelessly transmitting comprises:
waiting for the acknowledgment radio frequency signal; and
in the absence of the acknowledgment radio frequency signal, wirelessly re-transmitting the radio frequency signal.
24. A method for wirelessly receiving data from a plurality of transmitters, the method comprising:
initiating a start up sequence;
entering a non-transmission mode upon completion of the start up sequence;
remaining in the non-transmission mode until a selection signal is wirelessly received;
upon receiving the selection signal, parsing the selection signal into address data and selection data;
generating an acknowledgment signal including acknowledgment data and the address data; and
wirelessly transmitting the acknowledgment signal.
25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising repeating the steps of:
entering a non-transmission mode;
remaining in the non-transmission mode until a selection signal is wirelessly
received;
upon receiving the selection signal, parsing the selection signal into address data and selection data;
generating an acknowledgment signal including acknowledgment data and the address data; and
wirelessly transmitting the acknowledgment signal.
26. The method of claim 24 , further comprising storing the selection data.
27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising displaying the selection data.
28. The method of claim 24 , further comprising transmitting the selection data to an external processor.