Abstract:
An audience response unit may be coupled to a host electronic device, such as a computer, whereby the audience response unit enables information, such as user selections, to be entered via the host electronic device and transmitted by the audience response unit to a base station. The audience response unit can thereby utilize the user-input features and/or the display features of the host electronic device, which may provide greater flexibility of data entry, as well as ease of inputting the information. The use of a host electronic device may also allow reduced sizes and more simplified constructions of the audience response unit to be achieved. The response unit may be incorporated into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle, or other device. The unit effectively turns the host electronic device into a virtual keyboard/audience participation device. Multiple of such units may be incorporated into a system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/102,619, filed Oct. 3, 2008, by Michael Glass and entitled Audience Response Device, Method, and System, the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to devices, methods, and systems for gathering information from an audience and transmitting it to a base unit for processing. 
         [0003]    Some prior art systems for measuring the response of an audience involve a plurality of dedicated handheld devices, such as keypads, that are distributed to the individual members of the audience. When it is desirable to receive information, the audience members press one or more buttons on the handheld device, which is then wirelessly transmitted by the handheld device to a base station where the information is received. Examples of such prior systems are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,357 entitled Remote Response System and Data Transfer Protocol and issued to Derks, as well as commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,786 entitled Remote Response System and issued to Derks, the complete disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. Audience response systems, such as these, may be used in a variety of different environments, such as, but not limited to: (1) classroom environments Where the pupils may -provide feedback to the teacher through the handheld devices; (2) lecture or presentation environments where listeners provide feedback regarding the lecture or presentation; (3) retail environments, such as restaurants, where customers may place orders or provide comments on the service using the audience response system; (4) trading environments, such as exchanges, auctions, etc, where it is desirable for individuals to communicate information on bidding, prices, purchases, etc; and (5) other types of environments where information from a group of individuals is desired to be gathered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect of the invention, an improved audience response unit is provided that is adapted to be coupled to a host electronic device, such as, but not limited to, a computer, whereby the audience response unit enables information, such as a user selection, to be entered via the host electronic device and transmitted by the audience response unit to a base station. The audience response unit can thereby utilize the user-input features and/or the display features of the host electronic device, which may provide greater flexibility of data entry, as well as ease of inputting the information. The use of a host electronic device may also allow reduced sizes and more simplified constructions of the audience response unit to be achieved. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect of the invention, a wireless response system for communicating information, such as user selections, from an audience is provided. The system includes a base unit and a plurality of remote response units that wirelessly communicate the information to the base unit. At least one of the remote response units includes a connector, a program, and a wireless transceiver. The connector is adapted to couple to a port of an electronic device having a display screen, an operating system, and an input device. The program is adapted to be loaded onto the electronic device through the port and to run on the operating system of the electronic device. The program is further adapted to allow a user to input information into the electronic device via the input device and to transfer the information to the remote response unit. The wireless transceiver is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the base unit such that the remote response unit may transmit the information to the base unit through the transceiver. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, a remote response unit is provided for a wireless response system that processes information, such as user selections, transmitted by an audience member to a base station. The remote response unit includes a connector, a program, and a wireless transceiver. The connector is adapted to couple to a port of an electronic device having a display screen, an operating system, and an input device. The program is adapted to be loaded onto the electronic device through the port and to run in conjunction with the operating system of the electronic device. The program is further adapted to allow the audience member to input the information into the electronic device via the input device and to transfer the information to the remote response unit. The wireless transceiver is adapted to wirelessly transmit the information to the base unit through the transceiver. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method for communicating information, such as user selections, from an audience to a base unit is provided. The method includes providing a remote response unit adapted to wirelessly communicate the information to the base unit; coupling the remote response unit to a port of an electronic device having a display screen, an operating system, and an input device; loading a program from the remote response unit onto the electronic device through the port; inputting the information into the electronic device via the input device; transferring the information to the remote response unit; and wirelessly transmitting the information from the remote response unit to the base unit. 
         [0008]    According to other aspects of the invention, the connector may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and the port on the electronic device may be a USB port. The electronic device may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, or any other known or future developed electronic device having a display, a port, an input device, and an operating system. The remote response unit may include a keypad such that a user can enter the information into it and transmit the information to the base station without having to connect the remote response unit to the electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of an audience response system according to one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a remote response unit; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of an audience response system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    An illustrative example of an audience response system  10  according to one embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 1 . Audience response system  10  includes a plurality of remote response units  12  that wirelessly communicate with a base station  14 . Remote response units  12  may be of a plurality of different kinds. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , remote response units  12  include a plurality of different types of response units, such as stand-alone or nonlinkable remote response units  12   a  and linkable remote response units  12   b.  The differences between non-linkable remote response units  12   a  and linkable remote response units  12   b  will be discussed in greater detail below. Both linkable and non-linkable remote response units  12   b  and  12   a  wirelessly communicate with base station  14  via a wireless communications connection  16 . Wireless communication connection  16  may be a radio frequency (RF) communications connection, an infrared communication connection, or it may be any other suitable wireless communication connection. In one embodiment, communication connection  16  may operate according to the communications protocols set forth in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,357 issued to Derks and entitled REMOTE RESPONSE SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSFER PROTOCOL, as well as U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 35,449 entitled REMOTE 2-WAY TRANSMISSION AUDIENCE POLLING AND RESPONSE SYSTEM issued to Derks, the complete disclosures both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, communications connection  16  may be a frequency hopping spread spectrum communication connection, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/709,527, filed May 12, 2004 by Derks et al for a WIRELESS POLLING SYSTEM USING SPREAD-SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION and 61/095,431, filed Sep. 9, 2008 by Lambrix et al for an AUDIENCE RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH FREQUENCY AGILE TRANSMISSION PROTOCOL, the complete disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0013]    Regardless of the specific form of communications connection  16 , audience response system  10  operates by gathering information, such as user selections, from a plurality of users (i.e. audience members) who enter the information into remote response units  12   a  and  12   b.  This information is transmitted from the remote response units  12  to the base station  14 . Base station  14  may include a display (not shown), or it may be coupled to a conventional computer or other device that enables the information it receives from remote response units  12  to be viewed by one or more people within the vicinity of base station  14 . Base station  14  may alternatively be configured in a variety of different manners for displaying and/or processing the information it receives from the remote response units  12 , such as, but not limited to: (1) projecting the information onto a large screen viewable to many, if not all, of the users of response units  12 , (2) transmitting the results to another location over a computer network, such as, but not limited to, the Internet, or (3) processing the information in any other useful manner. 
         [0014]    The manner in which the user-selection information can be entered into remote response units  12  can vary widely. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , non-linkable remote response units  12   a  each include a keypad  20  and a display  22 . The user-selection information may be entered into the-non-linkable remote response unit  12   a  via pushing one or more of the buttons on keypad  20 . Whichever buttons are pushed may desirably cause an image to appear on display  22  that indicates which button was pushed. For example, if a button corresponding to a letter or number is pressed, an image of the pressed letter or number may appear on display  22 . After the desired button or buttons are pushed, it may be necessary to push another button, or activate another user-input, in order to transmit the information from the remote response unit  12  to the base station  14 , depending upon the specific design of remote response units  12 . In some embodiments, transmission of the information from remote response units  12  to the base station  14  may occur automatically after a user enters the information. In other embodiments, a separate transmission button or user-input may need to be separately activated. 
         [0015]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art, of course, that keypad  20  is but one example of the manner in which information may be input into remote response units  12   a.  In lieu of, or in addition to, keypad  20 , remote response units  12   a  may include a touch screen that is activated by a user&#39;s finger, a stylus, or other means. In other alternatives, remote response units  12   a  may be configured to respond to a user&#39;s voice, thereby allowing information to be entered aurally. In still other embodiments, remote response units  12   a  may include knobs, dials, or other mechanical structures for allowing information to be input therein. 
         [0016]    The specific type of user selection information entered into remote response units  12  will vary from application to application. As one example, remote response units  12  may be distributed to students in a classroom wherein the students respond to one or more questions posed to them by the instructor. If the questions take on the form of a multiple choice type question, the information may comprise a number or letter corresponding to one of the answer choices available for the question. If the questions take on other forms, the information may comprise larger blocks of data, such as strings of text, or other types of data that may be enterable into remote response units  12 . The instructor may also receive information via base station  14  without posing a question, such as information indicating a student does not understand a point being made, or that a student has a question, or any of a wide number of other types of information that may usefully be communicated to the instructor via remote response units  12  and base station  14 . 
         [0017]    In addition to classroom environments, audience response system  10  may be used in a wide variety of different environments. Such environments include, but are not limited to, presentation environments, retail environments, trading environments, and other types of environments where information from an audience is desired to be gathered. It will be understood that the term “audience,” as used herein, is intended to refer broadly to any group of individuals from whom information is desired to be gathered, regardless of whether the individuals in the group are physically located within the same room, building, or other structure. Thus, as noted above, an audience, as used herein, may refer to a group of individuals at a restaurant, on a trading floor, in a classroom or lecture hall, or in other environments. 
         [0018]    Linkable remote response units  12   b,  as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , differ from non-linkable remote response units  12   a  in that linkable remote response units  12   b  may be linked or coupled to an existing electronic device  24 . When so linked, linkable remote response units  12   b  work in conjunction with the electronic devices  24  in the process of gathering information. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  24  is a conventional computer. Linkable remote response unit  12   b  is adapted to plug into an existing port  18  ( FIG. 2 ) on the computer, such as, but not limited to, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of the computer. After plugging into the USB port, linkable remote response unit  12   b  loads a software application  42  (e.g. program) onto the computer that causes the computer to display an information input image  26  on the computer&#39;s display  28  ( FIG. 1 ). The loading of the software application  42  may take place automatically after linkable remote response unit  12   b  is inserted into the port of the computer, or it may require action on the part of the user to manipulate the computer in order to load the program onto the computer. In other embodiments, the software application  42  may be loaded separately onto the host electronic device  24 , such as via a CD-ROM, flash drive, network connection (including the Internet), or any other storage media that is capable of being read by the electronic device  24 . When the software application  42  is loaded separately, it is not necessary for linkable remote response unit  12   b  to include the software application  42  in its memory. 
         [0019]    Input image  26  may be an image of a keypad, a plurality of buttons, a touch screen, or any other type of image that graphically depicts a manner for inputting information into the computer. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , input image  26  is an image of a non-linkable remote response unit  12   a.  Other types of input images  26  may, of course, be used. The software application loaded onto the computer from remote response unit  12   b  is configured to allow the user of the electronic device  24  (e.g. computer) to input information into electronic device  24  via the input image  26 . That is, if electronic device  24  is a computer, the software application may allow the user of the computer to manipulate the computer&#39;s mouse, keyboard, or other physical input structure, to cause the cursor to move over a selected portion of the image  26 , such as an image of a button in image  26 , and then allow the user to graphically “push” that button. That is, the user may click on the mouse when the cursor is positioned over the button image and the software application will graphically alter the image of the button such that it visually appears to have been pressed on image  26 . This visual alteration may take on the form of graphic movement of the button, a change in color of the button, the appearance of the character corresponding to the button in the display portion of image  26 , a combination of these forms, or any other type of forms. 
         [0020]    After the user has graphically entered the desired information, which, as noted above, may take on different forms depending upon the application for which audience response system  10  is being used, the entered information is transmitted by electronic device  24  to linkable remote response unit  12   b  through the port  18  of electronic device  24 . That is, if electronic device  24  is a computer and the port  18  being used is the USB port, the computer transfers the information that has been input into it to linkable remote response unit  12   b  through the USB port. Linkable remote response unit  12   b  then wirelessly transmits the information to base station  14  via a transceiver  30  ( FIG. 2 ) contained within linkable remote response unit  12   b.    
         [0021]    The components that may be contained within one embodiment of linkable remote response units  12   b  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 . These include a controller  32 , a connector  34  in communication with controller  34 , and transceiver  30  with antenna  36 . Linkable remote response unit  12   b  may also optionally include a keypad  46  and one or more LED indicators  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, controller  32  is depicted as a microcontroller unit (MCU) that includes an internal memory  40  in which software application or program  42  is stored. At least a portion of internal memory  40  is non-volatile memory such that its contents (including program  42 ) will remain stored even in the absence of electrical power. Program  42  carries out the functions that have been described above and which will be described in greater detail below. In some embodiments, controller  32  may be replaced with a microprocessor having an external memory, or any of a number of other types of controllers, including, but not limited to, field programmable gate arrays, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or any other suitable means for carrying out the control algorithms discussed herein. 
         [0022]    Connector  34  is designed to couple to port  18  on electronic device  24 . In one embodiment, connector  34  may be a conventional USB plug (either retractable or non-retractable) adapted to insert into a USB port on a computer, or any other type of electronic device  24  having a USB port. In other embodiments, connector  34  may be an Ethernet connector adapted to be inserted into an Ethernet port on a computer, or other type of electronic device  24 . Other types of connectors may also be used. In some embodiments, linkable remote response units  12   b  may include a plurality of different types of connectors  34  such that linkable remote response units  12   b  may be plugged into ports having different physical and/or electrical configurations, such as may be found on different types of electronic devices  24 . 
         [0023]    Connector  34  allows controller  32  to communicate with electronic device  24 , which may, as noted, be a computer (a desktop, laptop, notebook, or any other type of computer). Electronic device  24  may also be a variety of other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a media player (e.g. ipod), or any other conventional portable electronic device. Indeed, linkable remote response units  12   b  may be programmed to couple to any type of electronic device  24  that includes an operating system, a display  28 , and some sort of input device  44 , such as, but not limited to, buttons, knobs, dials, touch screens, a mouse, a stylus, or others. 
         [0024]    Once coupled to electronic device  24 , linkable remote response unit  12   b  interacts with the operating system of the electronic device  24  to cause the operating system to execute program  42  on the electronic device  24 . When running on electronic device  24 , program  42  directs the user of the electronic device  24  to input information using one or more of the input devices  44  ( FIG. 1 ) of electronic device  24 . The manner in which program  42  directs the user to input this information can be varied. In one embodiment, described above, program  42  causes an image  26  to appear on display  28  of electronic device  24  that can be appropriately manipulated to allow information to be graphically input into electronic device  24 . In other embodiments, display  28  may display textual instructions for inputting information instead of an image of an input device, or it may display a combination of text and graphics. The instructions may direct the user to enter information via the QWERTY keyboard, if electronic device  24  happens to be a computer with a QWERTY keyboard. The instructions may direct the user to enter information via other means as well. The specific content of the instructions may vary, depending upon the type of electronic device  24  to which linkable remote response unit  12   b  is coupled. In general, the manner in which program  42  may allow a user to enter information into electronic deice  24  is not limited. 
         [0025]    In the embodiments where program  42  of linkable remote response unit  12   b  generates image  26  on display  28  of portable electronic device  24 , image  26  may be an image of one of non-linkable remote response units  12   a,  in which case program  42  may allow a user to graphically enter information into electronic device  24  in a manner that graphically simulates the manner in which information is physically entered into remote response units  12   a.  In such an embodiment, program  42  effectively causes portable electronic device  24  to become a “virtual” remote response unit  12   a  that presents the user with a simulated way of entering all of the information that is able to be entered into remote response units  12   a,  but without necessarily providing all, or any, of the physical input structures (e.g. buttons) that may be incorporated into non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  This enables, if desired, linkable remote response unit  12   b  to be a scaled down version of one of the nonlinkable remote response units  12   a  in that remote response unit  12   b  may include fewer buttons (if any) than remote response unit  12   a,  or it may not include a display screen  22  like remote response units  12   a.    
         [0026]    Linkable remote response units  12   a  may assume such a scaled down configuration regardless of the specific manner in which program  42  enables a user of portable electronic device  24  to enter information. That is, program  42  allows linkable remote response units  12   b  to utilize the input features and/or display features of the host electronic device  24  such that those input features and/or display features do not necessarily have to be included on linkable remote response unit  12   b,  or they may be reduced in size or number when compared to non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  Thus, linkable remote response units  12   b  may not include keypad  20 , or they may include a keypad (e.g. keypad  46 ) that includes fewer buttons than keypad  20  of non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  Similarly, linkable remote response units  12   b  may not include a display  22 , or they may include a smaller display than that of non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  These smaller or eliminated features may allow linkable remote response units  12   b  to be physically smaller than non-linkable remote response units, and also may allow them to be manufactured with less expense than non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  However, by utilizing the keypad, display, and/or other input resources of the host electronic device  24 , linkable remote response units  12   b  may allow for the same functionality, or an even greater functionality, than that of non-linkable remote response units  12   a.    
         [0027]    This potential expanded functionality arises because the display and input structures of the host electronic device  24  may be greater than those of non-linkable remote response units  12   a.  That is, in some embodiments, non-linkable remote response units  12   a  may not include a full keyboard containing all of the letters of the alphabet, or the full ten numeric digits. However, by coupling a linkable remote response unit  12   b  to a host electronic device  24  having such keys, the linkable remote response unit  12   b  will effectively include the input and display features of the host electronic device  24 , which may be substantially greater than those found on non-linkable remote response units  12   a.    
         [0028]    Linkable remote response units  12   b  may be configured to operate in conjunction with different types of operating systems such that they can be coupled, via connector  34 , to computers having different types of operating systems (e.g., Windows®, Linux®, Mac OS®, Solaris®, etc), as well as other types of portable electronic devices  24  that may include different operating systems (e.g. a mobile operating system such as, but not limited to, Windows Mobile®). Linkable remote response units  12   b  thus may be linked, via connector  34 , to a wide variety of different electronic devices  24 . The manner for carrying out such interoperability would be known to one skilled in the art of computer programming and need not be described herein. 
         [0029]    Transceiver  30  of linkable remote response units  12   b  may be a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or it may be a transceiver that utilizes wireless signals outside of the radio frequency spectrum. In one embodiment, transceiver  30  may operate at a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz, although other frequencies can, of course, be used. The communication algorithms followed by linkable remote response units  12   b  may, in some embodiments, be the same as those followed by non-linkable remote response units  12   a.    
         [0030]    The embodiment of audience response system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a plurality of non-linkable remote response units  12   a,  as well as a single linkable remote response unit  12   b.  It will be understood, of course, that the ratio between non-linkable and linkable remote response units  12  in a given audience response system can be varied. Indeed, in an alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , audience response system  100  is comprised solely of linkable remote response units  12   b,  and contains no nonlinkable remote response units  12   a.  While audience response system  100  is depicted as comprising identical host electronic devices  24 , it will be understood that neither audience response system  100 , nor audience response system  10 , need be comprised of remote response units  12   b  that are coupled to a the same type of host electronic device  24 . That is, audience response systems  100  and  100  may include some linkable remote-response units  12   b  that are coupled to a computer, some that are coupled to a PDA, and/or some that are coupled to a cell phone. The mix of host electronic devices  24  is not limited. 
         [0031]    In either of the audience response systems  10  and  100 , non-linkable remote response units  12   a  may be conventional audience response units, such as, for example, but not limited to, those marketed under the Reply® brand by the Fleetwood Group, Inc. the assignee of the present application-which has a principal place of business in Holland, Mich. These include the Reply® Mini Wireless Keypad Model CRS5000, the Reply® IQ Wireless Keypad Model IQK1000, as well as others. Other types of non-linkable remote response units  12   a  may also be used. 
         [0032]    Both linkable and non-linkable remote response units  12   b  and  12   a  may include one or more batteries for supplying electrical energy to themselves. The batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. Linkable remote response units  12   b  may be configured such that, if coupled to a host electronic device via a port  18  that transfers power (e.g. a USB port), a rechargeable battery contained within linkable remote response unit  12   b  is recharged with that power while coupled to the host electronic device  24 . Linkable remote response unit  12   b  may alternatively be configured such that it does not contain a battery, but instead draws electrical power to whatever host electronic device  24  it is attached to, such as through a USB port, or via any other suitable connection that allows the electronic device  24  to supply power to unit  12   b    
         [0033]    While the ability of linkable remote response units  12   b  to be linked to a host electronic device  24  via connector  34  may obviate the need for a keypad or other input devices on the remote response unit  12   b  itself, linkable remote response units  12   b  may nevertheless still include a keypad  46  having a plurality of buttons (or other structures) that enable information to be directly entered into remote response units  12   b  via the keyboard  46 . Such directly entered information may then be transmitted by transceiver  30  to base station  14 . 
         [0034]    Optional LED indicators  38 , if included on linkable remote response units  12   b,  may be illuminated in several situations. One such LED may light up when connector  34  of linkable remote response unit  12   b  has successfully been inserted into port  18  of the host electronic device  24 . The same, or another LED, may light up when information is being transmitted to base station  14 , or when information is received back from base station  14 . The same, or another LED, may also light up every time a key on linkable remote response unit  12   b  is pressed, or every time a virtual key in the image  26  of a button on portable electronic device  24 , is virtually pressed. 
         [0035]    Linkable remote response units  12   b  may also be configured such that they can be transported to different environments having separate base stations  14  and automatically join whichever base station  14  happens to be in the closest vicinity, such as disclosed in commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/163,008, filed Sep. 30, 2005 by Buehler et al for a RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A DYNAMIC PERSONALITY ASSIGNMENT; Ser. No. 12/127,254, filed May 27, 2008 by Buehler et al for an AUDIENCE RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH MULTIPLE BASE UNIT CAPACITY; and Ser. No. 12/191,484 filed Aug. 14, 2008 by Buehler et al for RESPONSE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH DYNAMIC PERSONALITY ASSIGNMENT, the complete disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. In that manner, for example, if multiple audience response systems  10  are being used in different classrooms, a student can carry his or her linkable remote response unit  12   b  with him to the different classes and the unit  12   b  will automatically communicate with whichever base station  14  is within the closest vicinity to unit  12   b.  This automatic joining ability is useful in other situations besides classroom environments. 
         [0036]    As has been noted above, communications between base station  14  and remote response units  12   a  and  12   b  may take on a variety of forms. Such communication may be synchronous or asynchronous. In some embodiments, the communication between base station  14  and remote response units  12   a  and  12   b  is bidirectional. The nature, timing, and content of the signals transmitted from base station  14  to one or more remote response units  12   a  and/or  12   b  may take on the forms described in the commonly assigned patents and applications discussed above and incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, remote response units  12   a  and  12   b  may be configured to repetitively transmit the user information to base station  14  until base station  14  transmits an acknowledgement that it has received the user information. Other protocols may also be used. Such protocols may include time division multiplexing. In some embodiments, the protocols may allow more than a thousand remote response units to transfer their user information to base station  14  within a second or less without interference between the signals from the remote response units  12 . 
         [0037]    While the present invention has been described herein in terms of various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of being implemented in a wide variety of other embodiments beyond those described and illustrated herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.