Software and protocol structure for an automated user notification system

• US 20020186691A1
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Decarta (Uber Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Delory, Gregory, Durham, Bruce, Bristow, Steven, Bentley, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2009 Antitheft state indicator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 : wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides an automated user notification system for monitoring user items and notifying a user when selected conditions occur. A first portion of the notification system comprises a network operations center (NOC). The NOC stores user information about one or more user items and is further coupled to a plurality of communication devices that can automatically contact a user. A second portion of the notification system comprises at least one detector. The detector monitors one or more user items and provides efficiently encoded information regarding selected conditions of the user items to the NOC via a communication link. After the information is received and decoded by the NOC, the NOC automatically matches the received information to information stored at the NOC to determine if a condition exists about which the user should be notified.

Claims

1. A method of providing status data regarding a user item, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first type of status data, a second type of status data and a third type of status data;

encoding the first type of status data in a first data field of a fixed-length data packet;

encoding the second type of status data and the third type of status data in a second data field of the fixed-length data packet; and

transmitting the data packet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of status data comprises location data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed-length data packet is a 15-digit data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second type of status data and the third type of status data comprises alarm status data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial step of receiving a user'"'"'s request for at least one of the first, second and third types of status data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving a user item control command.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data field occupies approximately one byte of the fixed-length data packet.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the second data field is a two-digit data field.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first type of status data comprises location data and wherein the first data field occupies 12 digits of the fixed-length data packet.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of encoding a fourth type of status data in a third data field of the fixed-length data packet.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fixed-length data packet comprises a 15-digit data packet.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the location data field comprises a 12-digit data field.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the combined data field comprises a 2-digit data field.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the combined data field occupies approximately one byte of the fixed-length data packet.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising an initial step of receiving a request for at least one of the location data, alarm code data, speed data, direction data and location data.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of receiving a user item control command.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

12. A method of encoding alarm code data, speed data, direction data and location data regarding a user item and transmitting these data, the method comprising the steps of:

encoding the location data in a location data field of a fixed-length data packet;

encoding the direction data in a direction data field of the fixed-length data packet;

encoding the alarm code data and the speed data in a combined data field of the fixed-length data packet; and

transmitting the data packet.

20. A method for automatically providing status data regarding a user item, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a downstream data packet, the downstream data packet comprising a downstream message code;

decoding the downstream message code to determine requested status data;

obtaining at least a portion of the requested status data, the portion comprising a plurality of data types;

encoding the portion in an upstream data packet, the upstream data packet comprising a plurality of content fields including at least one content field which comprises a second plurality of data types; and

transmitting the upstream data packet.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the upstream data packet comprises a fixed-length data packet.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the upstream data packet comprises a 15-digit data packet.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more content fields comprise a location data field.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more content fields comprise an alarm data field.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the content field which comprises a second plurality of data types occupies approximately one byte of the upstream data packet.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising a step of receiving a user item control command.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the content field which comprises a second plurality of data types occupies two digits of the upstream data packet.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the location data field comprises a 12-digit data field.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising a step of controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

30. A method of notifying a user of an occurrence of an event associated with a user item, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of notification instructions;

automatically detecting the occurrence of the event;

encoding a data packet with event data, the data packet comprising a plurality of content fields, wherein at least one content field comprises a plurality of event data types;

transmitting the data packet over a communication link to an automated network operations center;

receiving the data packet at the automated network operations center;

decoding the data packet;

making an automatic determination, based in part upon the decoded event data and upon the set of notification instructions, whether the user should be notified of the event; and

automatically notifying the user of the event if the determination is that the user should be notified.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the event corresponds to a condition of the user item.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the detecting step further comprises the step of polling the user item.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the detecting step is responsive to a request.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the set of notification instructions is input to the automated network operations center.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the set of notification instructions comprises a notification sequence.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the set of notification instructions comprises the selection of at least one of a plurality of notification devices.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of receiving user item location information from a GPS receiver.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the automatic notification step further comprises the step of providing a user item location.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising a step of automatically performing an action upon the user item in response to the occurrence of the event, wherein the step of automatically performing the action is controlled by the automated network operations center.

40. The method of claim 30, further comprising a step of receiving a user item control command.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein the content field which comprises a plurality of event data types occupies approximately one byte of the data packet.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the content field which comprises a plurality of event data types occupies two digits of the data packet.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the user item is selected from the group consisting of vehicles, residential property, commercial property, and personal items.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the inputting step is performed via a public information network.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the inputting step is performed via a telephone.

46. The method of claim 34, wherein the inputting step is performed via a keypad corresponding to the telephone.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the inputting step is performed via a telephone utilizing voice input and wherein the automated network operations center comprises a voice recognition system.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of notification devices is selected from the group consisting of facsimile machines, telephones, pagers, electronic mail, and a public information network interface.

49. The method of claim 40, further comprising a step of controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the public information network is the Internet.

51. An apparatus for providing status data regarding a user item, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a first type of status data, a second type of status data and a third type of status data;

means for encoding the first type of status data in a first data field of a fixed-length data packet and for encoding the second type of status data and the third type of status data in a second data field of the fixed-length data packet; and

means for transmitting the data packet.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the first type of status data comprises location data.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the fixed-length data packet is a 15-digit data packet.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein at least one of the second type of status data and the third type of status data comprises alarm status data.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for receiving a user'"'"'s request for at least one of the first, second and third types of status data.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for receiving a user item control command.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the second data field occupies approximately one byte of the fixed-length data packet.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the second data field is a two-digit data field.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the first type of status data comprises location data and wherein the first data field occupies 12 digits of the fixed-length data packet.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising means for controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the encoding means encodes a fourth type of status data in a third data field of the fixed-length data packet.

62. An apparatus for encoding alarm code data, speed data, direction data and location data regarding a user item and transmitting these data, the apparatus comprising:

means for encoding the location data in a location data field of a fixed-length data packet;

means for encoding the direction data in a direction data field of the fixed-length data packet, and for encoding the alarm code data and the speed data in a combined data field of the fixed-length data packet; and

means for transmitting the data packet.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the fixed-length data packet comprises a 15-digit data packet.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the location data field comprises a 12-digit data field.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the combined data field comprises a 2-digit data field.

66. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the combined data field occupies approximately one byte of the fixed-length data packet.

67. The apparatus of claim 62, further comprising means for receiving a request for at least one of the location data, alarm code data, speed data, direction data and location data.

68. The apparatus of claim 62, further comprising means for receiving a user item control command.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising means for controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

70. An apparatus for automatically providing status data regarding a user item, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a downstream data packet, the downstream data packet comprising a downstream message code;

means for decoding the downstream message code to determine requested status data;

means for obtaining at least a portion of the requested status data, the portion comprising a plurality of data types;

means for encoding the portion in an upstream data packet, the upstream data packet comprising a plurality of content fields including at least one content field which comprises a second plurality of data types; and

means for transmitting the upstream data packet.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the upstream data packet comprises a fixed-length data packet.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the upstream data packet comprises a 15-digit data packet.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein one or more content fields comprise a location data field.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein one or more content fields comprise an alarm data field.

75. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the content field which comprises a second plurality of data types occupies approximately one byte of the upstream data packet.

76. The apparatus'"'"'of claim 70, wherein the means for receiving a downstream data packet comprises means for receiving a user item control command.

77. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the content field which comprises a second plurality of data types occupies two digits of the upstream data packet.

78. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the location data field comprises a 12-digit data field.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising means for controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

80. An apparatus of notifying a user of an occurrence of an event associated with a user item, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a set of notification instructions;

means for automatically detecting the occurrence of the event;

means for encoding a data packet with event data, the data packet comprising a plurality of content fields, wherein at least one content field comprises a plurality of event data types;

means for transmitting the data packet over a communication link to an automated network operations center;

means for receiving the data packet at the automated network operations center;

means for decoding the data packet;

means for making an automatic determination, based in part upon the decoded event data and upon the set of notification instructions, whether the user should be notified of the event; and

means for automatically notifying the user of the event if the determination is that the user should be notified.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the event corresponds to a condition of the user item.

82. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the detecting means comprises means for polling the user item.

83. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the detecting means is responsive to a request for detection.

84. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the receiving means comprises means for receiving a set of notification instructions input to the automated network operations center.

85. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the set of notification instructions comprises a notification sequence.

86. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the set of notification instructions comprises the selection of at least one of a plurality of notification devices.

87. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the detecting means comprises means for receiving user item location information from a GPS receiver.

88. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the automatic notification means comprises means for providing a user item location.

89. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising means for automatically performing an action upon the user item in response to the occurrence of the event, wherein the step of automatically performing the action is controlled by the automated network operations center.

90. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the receiving means comprises means for receiving a user item control command.

91. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the content field which comprises a plurality of event data types occupies approximately one byte of the data packet.

92. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the content field which comprises a plurality of event data types occupies two digits of the data packet.

93. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the user item is selected from the group consisting of vehicles, residential property, commercial property, and personal items.

94. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the notification instructions are input via a public information network.

95. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the notification instructions are input via a telephone.

96. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the notification instructions are input via a keypad corresponding to the telephone.

97. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the notification instructions are input via a telephone utilizing voice input and wherein the automated network operations center comprises a voice recognition system.

98. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the plurality of notification devices is selected from the group consisting of facsimile machines, telephones, pagers, electronic mail, and a public information network interface.

99. The apparatus of claim 90, further comprising means for controlling the user item according to the user item control command.

100. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the public information network is the Internet.