Address encoding system for portable battery-operated devices

A method for assigning a code to a battery-operated portable unit used in an electronic message transmission system of the type having a base station unit and one or more battery-operated portable units, in which system the base station unit provides a charging current for charging the battery of the portable unit and in which a code stored in the base station unit is compared with an assigned code stored in the portable unit before message transmission between the base station and portable units, said method of comprising the steps of:

• applying the charge current provided by the base station unit to the portable unit;
• modulating the charge current in accordance with the code stored in the base station;
• demodulating the charge current to retrieve the code information transmitted thereon;
• and
• storing a code corresponding to the retrieved code as the assigned code within the portable unit.

In an electronic message transmission systm of the type having a base station unit and one or more battery-operated portable units in which the base station unit provides a charging current for charging the battery of the portable unit and in which a code stored in the base station unit is compared with an assigned code stored in the portable unit before message transmission between the base station and portable units, the base station unit further including means for modulating the charging current in accordance with the code stored therein, a portable unit comprising:

• a battery for receiving the modulated charging current;
• demodulating means in circuit relationship with said modulated charging current for demodulating said modulated charging current to retrieve the code information carried thereon;
• and
• security address circuitry including means for storing in the portable unit a code corresponding to said retrieved code information, said code stored in said portable unit becoming the assigned code of the portable unit.

In an electronic message transmission system of the type having a code-secured base station unit and one or more battery operated portable units in which the base station unit provides a charging current for charging the battery of the portable unit and in which a code stored in the base station unit is compared with an assigned code stored in the portable unit before message transmission between said base station and portable units, the portable unit further including demodulating circuitry responsive to modulation of the charging current in order to retrieve the code information carried thereon, said demodulated code information corresponding to and determining the assigned code of said portable unit, the base station unit comprising:

• charging circuit means for producing said charging current;
• storage means for storing said code in said base station;
• and
• modulating means for modulating said charging current in accordance with said code stored in said storage means whereby said code information carried on said charging current determines the assigned code of the portable unit.

A code-secured communication system, comprising:

• a portable unit including a rechargeable battery;
• a base station unit having a receptacle for receiving said portable unit and having a source of battery charging current;
• contacts on said portable unit and within said receptacle for establishing electrical communication between said battery and said source;
• a security circuit in said portable unit for controlling access to said base station unit, said current including means for storing a code therein as an assigned code of said portable unit;
• a security circuit in said base station unit for controlling access to said portable unit, said circuit including code storage means for storing a code therein;
• modulating means in said base station unit for modulating the charging current, said modulation being in accordance with the code stored in said base station security circuity;
• and
• demodulating means in said portable unit for demodulating the modulated charging current to retrieve the code information contained thereon for determining a code to be stored in said portable unit security circuit as the assigned code.

A communication system, comprising:

• a portable unit including a rechargeable battery;
• a base station unit selectively in communication with said portable unit;
• charging apparatus having a receptable for selectively receiving said portable unit and having a source of battery charging current, said charging apparatus and portable unit being separable;
• contacts on said portable unit and within said receptacle for establishing electrical communication between said battery and said source for charging said battery;
• means in at least one of said charging apparatus and said portable unit for sensing information signals between said portable unit and said charging apparatus via said battery charging electrical communication contacts on said portable unit and said receptable;
• and
• means in another of said charging apparatus and said portable unit for retrieving said sent information signals and for utilization thereof.