Personal protective equipment communication systems and methods
A short-range communication system is presented that includes a system control unit and a personal protective equipment device. The system control unit includes a network creator configured to create a short-range network on a wireless frequency, an interference detector configured to detect a device on an interfering frequency, and a control unit frequency hopper configured to, based on the detected device, scan a frequency range for an open frequency and switch the system control network to the open frequency. The personal protective equipment device includes a network joiner configured to join the short-range network and a device frequency hopper configured to switch the personal protective equipment device to the open frequency.
1 . A short-range communication system comprises:
a system control unit comprising:
a network creator configured to create a short-range network on a wireless frequency;
an interference detector configured to detect a device on an interfering frequency; and
a control unit frequency hopper configured to, based on the detected device, scan a frequency range for an open frequency and switch the system control network to the open frequency in response to detecting the device on the interfering frequency; wherein the open frequency is a scanned frequency with a substantially zero energy reading; and
a personal protective equipment device comprising:
a network joiner configured to join the short-range network; and
a device frequency hopper configured to switch the personal protective equipment device to the open frequency.
2 . The short-range communication system of claim 1 , wherein the short-range network is a Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) network.
3 . The short-range communication system of claim 1 , wherein the detected device is operating on a substantially identical frequency to the wireless frequency.
4 . The short-range communication system of claim 1 , wherein the detected device is operating on a frequency that is within 0.5 MHz of the wireless frequency.
5 . The short-range communication system of claim 1 , wherein the personal protective equipment device is configured to detect that the system control unit has left the wireless frequency, and wherein the personal protective equipment device comprises a personal protective equipment frequency scanner that scans the frequency range for the system control unit.
6 . A method of changing operational frequencies of a short-range communication system, the method comprising:
operating the short-range communication system on a short-range wireless network using a frequency;
detecting, using an interference detector, a system operating on an interfering frequency;
scanning, using a frequency scanner, an available frequency range for an open frequency in response to detecting the system on the interfering frequency; wherein the open frequency is a scanned frequency with a substantially zero energy reading;
switching, using a frequency hopper, to the open frequency;
joining a device to a new wireless network on the open frequency; and
wherein the steps of scanning, switching and joining are done automatically by a system control unit in response to the detected system.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the wireless network is a Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) network.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein scanning the available frequency range comprises scanning a plurality of preset frequencies within the range.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein scanning the available frequency range comprises stepping through the available frequency range and scanning each of a series of frequencies within the available frequency range.
10 . The method of claim 6 , and also comprising authenticating the device requesting to join a network.
11 . The method of claim 6 , and also comprising sending a signal to the device indicative of the detected interference.
12 . The method of claim 6 , and also comprising sending a signal to the device indicative of the open frequency.
13 . The method of claim 6 , and further comprising: communicating with the detected system on a wireless protocol other than the short-range wireless network.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein communicating comprises sending or receiving an audio or data signal using the wireless protocol.
15 . A method of hopping frequencies for a device comprises:
operating the device in a wireless network on a first frequency;
detecting that a creator device on the wireless network has left the first frequency;
scanning, using a frequency scanner, an available frequency range for the creator device, further comprising searching for a carrier on a first frequency and, if the carrier is not detected within a configurable timeout range, switching to a second frequency and searching again;
jumping, automatically, based on the detected lost creator device, to a new frequency containing the creator device; and
joining, automatically, a network created by the creator device on the new frequency.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein scanning the available frequency range comprises checking a scanned frequency for the creator device.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein operating in a wireless network comprises receiving an audio or data signal from the creator device on the first frequency.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting that the creator device has left comprises:
a timeout;
a received signal indicating an interference; or
a received new frequency indication.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the scanning continues through a plurality of frequencies until the carrier is discovered.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of frequencies are predetermined.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein both the device and the creator device are configured to operate on a lowest available preset frequency and scan to the next lowest available frequency when interference is detected.