What is claimed is:
1. An implantable device capable of supporting a high-bandwidth optical communications link with an external device, wherein the implantable device comprises:
a memory configured to store data for later retrieval;
a photo-emitter configured to generate light having a transmission frequency in a frequency range from approximately 4.31014 to approximately 20.01014 Hz;
a modulator coupled to receive data from the memory and configured to convert the data into an electrical signal for driving the photo-emitter.
2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the transmission frequency is in a frequency range from approximately 4.31014 to approximately 7.31014Hz.
3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the transmission frequency is in a frequency range from approximately 4.51014 to approximately 4.71014 Hz.
4. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising:
a receiver coil configured to generate an induced current in response to a communication signal from the external programmer;
a current sensor configured to detect the current induced in the receiver coil and to convert the induced current into a detected signal;
a demodulator coupled to the current sensor to receive the detected signal and configured to convert the detected signal into an operational signal for the implantable device; and
a microprocessor coupled to the demodulator and the memory, wherein the microprocessor receives the operational signal from the demodulator, wherein the microprocessor collects data for transmission to the programmer, and wherein the microprocessor stores the collected data in the memory.
5. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein the microprocessor is coupled to a stimulus generator which operates in response to a trigger signal provided by the microprocessor, and wherein the operational signal is used to determine trigger signal characteristics.
6. The implantable device of claim 4, further comprising a power converter coupled to the receiver coil and configured to convert the induced current into power to be supplied to the modulator.
7. The implantable device of claim 4, further comprising a power converter coupled to the receiver coil and the modulator to convert induced current from the receiver coil into electrical power to operate the photo-emitter.
8. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sample heart-generated electrical signals and coupled to the memory to provide the sampled signals for storage.
9. A system for transcutaneous communication, wherein the system comprises:
an implantable device which includes:
a memory configured to store data for later retrieval;
a photo-emitter configured to generate light in response to a modulated signal;
a modulator coupled to receive data from the memory and configured to convert it into the modulated signal for driving the photo-emitter;
an external unit which includes:
a photo-multiplier configured to detect light emitted by the photo-emitter and configured to responsively generate a detection signal;
a demodulator coupled to the photo-multiplier to receive the detection signal and configured to convert the detection signal into a data signal;
a display coupled to the demodulator to receive the data signal and configured to produce an output display representative of the data signal.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the light produced by the photo-emitter has a frequency in a range from approximately 4.31014 to approximately 20.01014 Hz.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the external unit further includes:
an external unit microprocessor configured to generate data for storage in the memory;
an external unit modulator coupled to receive the data for storage from the external unit microprocessor and configured to convert the data into a communication signal;
a signaling coil connected proximate to the photo-multiplier and driven by the communication signal, wherein the signaling coil is configured to produce a changing magnetic field.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable device further includes:
a receiver coil in which a current is induced that is representative of an induced current representative of the communication signal;
a second demodulator coupled to receive the communication signal from the receiver coil and configured to convert the communication signal into the data for storage, wherein the second demodulator is coupled to store the data in the memory.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the implantable device further includes:
a power converter coupled to the receiver coil to convert the induced current into energy;
a capacitor coupled to the power converter to receive and store the energy, and configured to supply the energy to the modulator for conversion into the modulated signal.
14. A method for transcutaneous communication to an external device, wherein the method comprises:
retrieving stored data from a memory in an implanted device;
converting the stored data into a modulation signal;
applying the modulation signal to a photo-emitter to produce light;
positioning a photo-multiplier tube to detect the light;
converting the light into a detection signal; and
demodulating the detection signal to reproduce the stored data.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the light produced by the photo-emitter has a frequency in a range from approximately 4.31014 to approximately 20.01014 Hz.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
generating a programming signal in the external device;
driving a signaling coil with the programming signal;
inducing a current in a receiving coil in the implanted device;
converting the induced current into stored energy on a capacitor;
using the stored energy to produce the modulation signal.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
demodulating the induced current into program data;
storing the program data in the memory in the implanted device.
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 communication system configured to receive data that is not associated with an attempted initial establishment of a communication, use a new message format under an analog Caller ID standard, insert the data into a Caller ID message using the new message format, and send the Caller ID message to a communication device that can interpret the new message format.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the new message format defines a new message type.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the new message format is not based on a Single Data Message Format (SDMF) or a Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the new message format defines a new parameter type under Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the new message format defines a new message type and a new parameter type under Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sent Caller ID message further comprises defined messages within the analog Caller ID standard.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog caller ID standard is at least one of the following: IDA TS PSTN 1-A, GR-127-CORE, Telecordia GR-30, TIAEIA-777, and GR-30-CORE.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second communication device or a network device connected to the second communication device configured to get the data and send the data to the communication system.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second communication device is a mobile communication device and the data comprises positioning coordinates of the mobile communication device.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the data contains routing information.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the data is at least one of the following: an emotional state of a caller, a promotional code, a frequent flyer number, an account number, and a credit card number.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is not used prior to the establishment of the initial communication.
13. A method comprising:
a. receiving in a communication system data that is not associated with an attempted initial establishment of a communication;
b. using in the communication system a new message format under an analog Caller ID standard;
c. inserting in the communication system the data into a Caller ID message using the new message format; and
d. sending from the communication system the Caller ID message to a communication device that can interpret the new message format.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the new message format defines a new message type.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the new message format is not based on a Single Data Message Format (SDMF) or a Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the new message format defines a new parameter type under Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the new message format defines a new message type and a new parameter type under Multiple Data Message Format (MDMF).
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sent Caller ID message further comprises defined messages within the analog Caller ID standard.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the analog caller ID standard is one of the following: IDA TS PSTN 1-A, GR-127-CORE, Telecordia GR-30, TIAEIA-777, and GR-30-CORE.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
e. getting the data in a second communication device or from a network device connected to the second communication device; and
f. sending the data from the second communication device or the network device to the communication system.
21. The method of claim 20, where the second communication device is a mobile communication device and the data comprises positioning coordinates of the mobile communication device.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the data contains routing information.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein the data is at least one of the following: an emotional state of a caller, a promotional code, a frequent flyer number, an account number, and a credit card number.
24. The system of claim 13, wherein the data is not used prior to the establishment of the initial communication.
25. A apparatus comprising:
a. means for receiving in a communication system data that is not associated with an attempted initial establishment of a communication;
b. means for using in the communication system a new message format under an analog Caller ID standard;
c. means for inserting in the communication system the data into a Caller ID message using the new message format; and
d. means for sending from the communication system the Caller ID message to a communication device that can interpret the new message format.