Digital multimeter having remote display with automatic communication binding

Abstract

A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication is disclosed. One step of the method involves establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between the first and second devices. According to another step, first and second communication addresses respectively identifying the first and second devices are exchanged in the secure, non-RF communication mode such that the first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners. The secure, non-RF communication mode is then terminated and an RF communication mode is established between the first and second devices as a first bound pair.

1 . A method of automatically binding first and second devices for RF communication, said method comprising steps of:
 (a) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and second devices;   (b) exchanging first and second communication addresses respectively identifying said first and second devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and second devices will recognize each other as communication partners;   (c) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode; and   (d) establishing an RF communication mode between said first and second devices as a first bound pair.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is an IR communication mode. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said secure, non-RF communication mode is automatically established when said first and second devices are located adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second devices are physically matable with one another. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said first and second devices are separable units of an electrical multimeter. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said first device is a base unit of said multimeter and said second device is a remote display unit of said multimeter. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
 (e) establishing a secure, non-RF communication mode between said first device and a third device;   (f) exchanging said first communication address and a third communication address respectively identifying said first and third devices in said secure, non-RF communication mode such that said first and third devices will recognize each other as communication partners;   (g) terminating said secure, non-RF communication mode between said first and third devices; and   (h) establishing said RF communication mode between said first and third devices as a second bound pair.   
     
     
         8 - 13 . (canceled)