Internet-ready communication modules

• US 20020180614A1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Javier Janez, Lebena, Alberto Juan Martinez
• Application Number:
  US10/037,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

In a method and system for collecting data from remote terminal units using the Internet, each remote terminal unit is connected to an Internet-ready communication module having an Internet-like client running thereon. The Internet-like client provides the communication protocols and procedures to allow direct, bearer service and network independent communication between the communication module and an Internet server.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data from a plurality of remote terminal units using the Internet, said method comprising:

providing said data from each remote terminal unit to a communication module connected to said remote terminal unit, said communication module having an Internet or Internet-like client application executing thereon;

conforming said data to an Internet or Internet-like protocol via said Internet or Internet-like client application;

transmitting said data in accordance with said Internet or Internet-like protocol via said communication module to an Internet server;

storing said data in a database of said Internet server; and

issuing an acknowledgment message from said Internet server to said remote terminal unit via said communication module.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising issuing instructions from said Internet server to said remote terminal unit via said communication module.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said instructions are initiated by said Internet server independently of said remote terminal unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission step includes said Internet or Internet-like client application establishing a communication link between said communication module and an Internet server.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said Internet or Internet-like protocol includes a Wireless Applications Protocol.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission of said data is initiated using a modem-like control command to said communication module.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said modem-like control command is designed to initiate a wireless protocol connection to the Internet.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said modem-like control command is used to bypass a browser layer of said wireless protocol.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein data to be transmitted and an address indicator of said Internet server are appended to said modem-like control command.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said address indicator is a predetermined one of a Uniform Resource Locator and an IP address.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wireless bearer service.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wired data service

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said database is capable of being accessed via an Internet connection.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said Internet server is further configured to issue instructions to said remote terminal unit via said communication module.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said instructions are initiated by said Internet server independently of said remote terminal unit.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said Internet or Internet-like client application is configured to establish a communication link between said communication module and an Internet server.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said Internet or Internet-like protocol includes a Wireless Applications Protocol.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein said remote terminal unit is configured to initiate said data transmission using a modem-like control command to said communication module.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said modem-like control command is designed to initiate a wireless protocol connection to the Internet.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said modem-like control command is used to bypass a browser layer of said wireless protocol.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein data to be transmitted and an address indicator of said Internet server are appended to said modem-like control command.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said address indicator is a predetermined one of a Uniform Resource Locator and an IP address.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wireless bearer service.

25. The system according to claim 14, wherein transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wired data service.

26. The system according to claim 14, wherein said database is capable of being accessed via an Internet connection.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said instruction message is initiated by said Internet server independently of said remote terminal unit.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said Internet or Internet-like client application is configured to establish a communication link between said communication module and an Internet server.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said Internet or Internet-like protocol includes a Wireless Applications Protocol.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein said connection to said Internet sever is established over a wireless bearer service.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein said connection to said Internet sever is established over a wired data service.

14. A system of collecting data from a plurality of remote terminal units using the Internet, comprising:

an Internet server configured to receive said data from said plurality of remote terminal units and to issue acknowledgement messages to said remote terminal units;

a database connected to said Internet server and adapted to store said data received by said Internet server;

a communication module connected to each remote terminal unit and configured to transmit said data in accordance with an Internet or Internet-like protocol to said Internet server; and

an Internet or Internet-like client application residing in said communication module and configured to conform said data to said Internet or Internet-like protocol.

27. A method of controlling a remote terminal unit using Internet or Internet-like protocols, said method comprising:

establishing a connection between a communication module connected to said remote terminal unit and an Internet server in accordance with an Internet or Internet-like protocol;

receiving an instruction message from said Internet server over said connection;

processing said instruction message using an Internet or Internet-like client application executing on said communication module; and

providing a content of said instruction message to said remote terminal unit.

33. A system of controlling a remote terminal unit using Internet or Internet-like protocols, comprising:

a communication module connected to said remote terminal unit and configured to establish a connection between said remote terminal unit and an Internet server in accordance with an Internet or Internet-like protocol; and

an Internet or Internet-like client application executing on said communication module and configured to process an instruction message received from said Internet server over said connection, and provide a content of said instruction message to said remote terminal unit.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said instruction message is initiated by said Internet server independently of said remote terminal unit.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein said Internet or Internet-like client application is configured to establish a communication link between said communication module and an Internet server.

36. The system according to claim 33, wherein said Internet or Internet-like protocol includes a Wireless Applications Protocol.

37. The system according to claim 33, wherein said connection to said Internet sever is established over a wireless bearer service.

38. The system according to claim 33, wherein said connection to said Internet sever is established over a wired data service.

40. The communication module according to claim 39, wherein said Internet or Internet-like client application is configured to establish a communication link between said communication module and an Internet server.

41. The communication module according to claim 39, wherein said Internet or Internet-like protocol includes a Wireless Applications Protocol.

42. The communication module according to claim 39, wherein said Internet or Internet-like client application is further configured to initiate said data transmission upon receiving a modem-like control command from said remote terminal unit.

43. The communication module according to claim 42, wherein said modem-like control command is designed to initiate a wireless protocol connection to the Internet.

44. The communication module according to claim 43, wherein said modem-like control command is used to bypass a browser layer of said wireless protocol.

45. The communication module according to claim 42, wherein data to be transmitted and an address indicator of said Internet server are appended to said modem-like control command.

46. The communication module according to claim 45, wherein said address indicator is a predetermined one of a Uniform Resource Locator and an IP address.

47. The communication module according to claim 39, wherein transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wireless bearer service.

48. The communication module according to claim 39, wherein transmission of said data to said Internet server may be performed over a wired data service.

39. A communication module capable of being connected to a remote terminal unit and configured to connect said remote terminal unit to an Internet server, comprising

a transceiver unit adapted to transmit and receive data to and from said Internet server;

a communication port for facilitating communication between said communication module and said remote terminal unit; and

a control unit connected to said transceiver unit and said communication port via a system bus, said control unit configured to control said transmission of data to said Internet server; and

an Internet or Internet-like client application residing in said control unit and configured to conform said data transmission to an Internet or Internet-like protocol.