Patent ID: 8705495

Claim:
A communication method using time-division multiplexing between a master terminal and several slave terminals, comprising: a data transmission being done in successive cycles, each cycle being divided into a plurality of timeslots, one timeslot of each cycle being reserved for the master terminal to emit a synchronization signal, and each terminal either being in transmission mode or in listening mode, during each time interval, wherein, in listening mode, each slave terminal selects a free timeslot in a current cycle, and in transmission mode, emits, during at least one subsequent cycle, data in the selected timeslot, said selected slot becoming free as soon as the slave terminal stops transmitting, wherein the master terminal and some of the slave terminals are audio-digital communication terminals adapted for the transmission/reception of audio-digital data, the data exchanged between the terminals comprising this audio-digital data, wherein the slave terminals comprise one or more detection terminals for detecting a parameter of a type of physical, chemical, environmental, physiological or status, the one or more detection terminals comprising at least one sensor for measuring the parameter and means for transmitting measurement data taken by the corresponding sensor, the data exchanged between the terminals comprising that measurement data, wherein the one or more detection terminals transmit an alarm measurement datum on the timeslot selected during the listening mode in the previous cycle when the associated parameter exceeds a predefined critical threshold, and wherein at least one audio-digital communication terminal transmit an alarm signal after receiving the alarm measurement datum.