Methods and systems for tracking wireless devices

• US 20020034941A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation), Sound View Innovations, LLC (Sound View Innovation Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gollakota, Ramgopal V., Patil, Prathap
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

The presence and location (among other things) of wireless devices is tracked in order to enable the use of special services, such as wireless instant messaging. Both conventional and WAP-enabled wireless devices may be so tracked.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a wireless device comprising monitoring the status of a first wireless device.

2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising forwarding status information associated with the first wireless device to a second device in accordance with a service associated with the first device.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises a WAP-enabled enabled, wireless device.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises a conventional wireless device.

5. The method as in claim 2 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

6. The method as in claim 2 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of some combination of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

7. The method as in claim 2 further comprising forwarding the status information to an address associated with the second device.

8. The method as in claim 2 wherein the second device is a wireless device.

9. The method as in claim 2 wherein the second device is a wired device.

10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising forwarding network status information to the first wireless device.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the network status information comprises log-on information.

12. The method as in claim 1 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless voice device.

13. The method as in claim 1 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless data device.

15. The system as in claim 14 wherein the tracking unit is further adapted to forward status information associated with the first wireless device to a second device in accordance with a service associated with the first device.

16. The system as in claim 14 wherein the wireless device comprises a WAP-enabled enabled, wireless device.

17. The system as in claim 14 wherein the wireless device comprises a conventional wireless device.

18. The system as in claim 15 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

19. The system as in claim 15 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of some combination of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

20. The system as in claim 15 further comprising forwarding the status information to an address associated with the second device.

21. The system as in claim 15 wherein the second device is a wireless device.

22. The system as in claim 15 wherein the second device is a wired device.

23. The system as in claim 14 further comprising a network unit adapted to forward network status information to the first wireless device.

24. The system as in claim 23 wherein the network status information comprises log-on information.

25. The system as in claim 14 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless voice device.

26. The system as in claim 14 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless data device.

28. The programmed medium as in claim 27 further adapted to forward status information associated with the first wireless device to a second device in accordance with a service associated with the first device.

29. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the wireless device comprises a WAP-enabled, wireless device.

30. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the wireless device comprises a conventional wireless device.

31. The programmed medium as in claim 28 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

32. The programmed medium as in claim 28 wherein the status information comprises information selected from a group consisting of some combination of:

a wireless identification number, an electronic serial number, a time of connection, a time of disconnection, a wireless switch identification number and a serving cell identification number.

33. The programmed medium as in claim 28 further adapted to forward the status information to an address associated with the second device.

34. The programmed medium as in claim 28 wherein the second device is a wireless device.

35. The programmed medium as in claim 28 wherein the second device is a wired device.

36. The programmed medium as in claim 27 further adapted to forward network status information to the first wireless device.

37. The programmed medium as in claim 36 wherein the network status information comprises log-on information.

38. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless voice device.

39. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the first wireless device comprises a wireless data device.

40. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the medium comprises a magnetic tape.

41. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the medium comprises a floppy disk.

42. The programmed medium as in claim 27 wherein the medium comprises a CD.

14. A system for tracking a wireless device comprising:

a tracking unit adapted to monitor the status of a first wireless device.

27. A programmed medium adapted to monitor the status of a first wireless device.