1. A method for controlling a supply of power to a refrigeration system comprising a switch, the method comprising:
measuring an output voltage of a first power source connected to the refrigeration system and comparing the measured output voltage to a predefined threshold voltage,
in case the measured output voltage is smaller than the predefined threshold voltage, determining that the switch is in a closed state, and in case the measured voltage is larger than or equal to the predefined threshold, determining that the switch is in an open state, and
controlling the supply of power in accordance with the determined state of the switch.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises connecting the refrigeration system to a second power source outputting a voltage which is measurably different from the measured output voltage of the first power source.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of at least substantially continuously measuring an input voltage supplied to the refrigeration system, and determining, based on said measurement, whether the switch is in an open or a closed state.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
measuring a temperature in a refrigeration compartment and comparing the measured temperature to a predefined threshold temperature, and
in case the measured temperature is higher than the predefined threshold temperature, supplying power to a compressor connected to a refrigeration circuit for providing refrigeration to the refrigeration compartment.
5. A refrigeration system comprising:
a control unit for controlling a supply of power to an electrical circuit comprising a switch, the control unit comprising:
a first power source connected to the electrical circuit,
means for measuring an output voltage of the first power source,
means for comparing the measured output voltage to a predefined threshold voltage, and for generating a corresponding output signal,
means for determining whether the switch is in an open or a closed state based on the generated output signal, and
means for controlling the supply of power according to the determined state of the switch, and
a refrigeration circuit for providing refrigeration to a refrigeration compartment, the refrigeration circuit comprising a compressor and an evaporator, the compressor being connected to the control unit.
6. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, further comprising a second power source, and wherein the controlling means comprises means for connecting the second power source to the electrical circuit.
7. The refrigeration system according to claim 6, wherein the first power source has an internal impedance which is sufficiently high to provide a measurable lowering of the measured output voltage when the switch is moved to the closed state.
8. The refrigeration system according to claim 7, wherein the first power source has an internal impedance within the interval 100 k\u03a9 to 1000 k\u03a9.
9. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, wherein the control means comprises a microcontroller.
10. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a lamp connected in series with the switch.
11. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, further comprising a lamp positioned in the interior of the refrigeration compartment, the lamp forming part of the electrical circuit.
12. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned in the interior of the refrigeration compartment for measuring the temperature in the interior of the refrigeration compartment, and wherein the control unit is adapted to control the compressor in response to a temperature measurement by the temperature sensor.
13. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, wherein the refrigeration compartment comprises access means operable to be in an open position providing access between the interior of the refrigeration compartment and the exterior and in a closed position in which such access is prevented, and wherein the switch is in an open state when the access means is in a closed position, and the switch is in a closed state when the access means is in an open position.
14. The refrigeration system according to claim 5, wherein the refrigeration system is battery driven.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system, comprising: a mobile station, including: a first level 1, a first level 2, and a first level 3 protocol for a licensed wireless service having a licensed wireless channel serviced by a telecommunications network; and a second level 1, a second level 2, and a second level 3 protocol for an unlicensed wireless service activated when said mobile station is within an unlicensed wireless service area; an indoor base station operable to communicate with said mobile station through an unlicensed wireless channel; and an indoor network controller coupled to said indoor base station and adapted to exchange signals with said telecommunications network; wherein said indoor network controller is configured to convert said second level 1, said second level 2, and said second level 3 protocol into a standard base station controller interface protocol recognized by said telecommunications network; wherein said indoor base station operates transparently to said second level 3 protocol; wherein said mobile station and said indoor network controller are configured to establish a communication session on said unlicensed wireless channel, said indoor network controller using said standard base station controller interface protocol to communicate with said licensed network; wherein said second level 3 protocol comprises a radio resource sublayer adapted for said unlicensed wireless system, wherein an access mode switch is triggered to utilize a mobility management sublayer and a call management sublayer shared with said first level 3 protocol.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication network comprises a mobile switch center for voice data.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile station is configured to register its location with said indoor network controller subsequent to detection that it is within said unlicensed wireless service area.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises a wireless local area network protocol.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises 802.11 IEEE wireless standard protocol.
7. A method of establishing communication between a licensed wireless communication system and an unlicensed wireless communication system, the method comprising: with the licensed wireless communication system, servicing a licensed wireless channel of a mobile station, wherein the mobile station has a first level 1, a first level 2, and a first level 3 protocol for a licensed wireless service; with the mobile station, establishing a communication through an unlicensed wireless channel when the mobile station is within an unlicensed wireless service area, said communication utilizing a second level 1, a second level 2, and a second level 3 protocol for an unlicensed wireless service; at an indoor network controller, converting said second level 1, said second level 2, and said second level 3 protocols into a standard base station controller interface protocol recognized by the licensed wireless communication system; and exchanging signals between the indoor network controller and the licensed wireless communication system, wherein the indoor network controller is coupled to an indoor base station that services the unlicensed wireless service area and communicates through the unlicensed wireless channel with the mobile station, said indoor base station operating transparently to said second level 3 protocol, wherein said second level 3 protocol comprises a radio resource sublayer adapted for said unlicensed wireless system; triggering an access mode switch to utilize a mobility management sublayer and a call management sublayer shared with said first level 3 protocol.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said licensed wireless communication system comprises a mobile switch center for voice data.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
configuring said mobile station to register its location with said indoor network controller subsequent to detection that it is within said unlicensed wireless service area.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises a wireless local area network protocol.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein said second level 1 protocol comprises 802.11 IEEE wireless standard protocol.