Method and apparatus to maintain wireless network communications through a firewall
First Claim
1. A method to maintain a communications connection through a firewall in a network used for pushing information to and receiving information from a mobile device, comprising:
- a. sending a first heartbeat signal between the mobile device and an asset server;
b. receiving the first heartbeat signal at the firewall;
c. opening a hole in the firewall to allow communication between the mobile device and the asset server;
d. holding the hole open for a first set period of time; and
, e. sending a successive communication before the set period of time expires, wherein the successive communication causes the firewall to leave the hole open for a second set period of time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to maintain a data connection over a public, packet-switched, wireless network. An asset tracking system sends heartbeat signals between a mobile device and an asset server. The heartbeats perform several functions. First, the heartbeats inform the asset server that the mobile device is active and on the network and vice versa. Second, a heartbeat from the mobile device provides the dynamic IP address to the asset server for successive communications. Third, a first heartbeat from a mobile device opens a hole in the firewall of the wireless network. Finally, successive communications maintain the hole in the firewall.
54 Citations
122 Claims
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1. A method to maintain a communications connection through a firewall in a network used for pushing information to and receiving information from a mobile device, comprising:
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a. sending a first heartbeat signal between the mobile device and an asset server;
b. receiving the first heartbeat signal at the firewall;
c. opening a hole in the firewall to allow communication between the mobile device and the asset server;
d. holding the hole open for a first set period of time; and
,e. sending a successive communication before the set period of time expires, wherein the successive communication causes the firewall to leave the hole open for a second set period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A communication system to maintain a hole in a firewall, comprising
a. a mobile device; -
b. a wireless network connected in communication with the mobile device, wherein the wireless network includes a firewall;
c. an asset server connected in communication to the cellular network; and
,d. wherein a first heartbeat sent between the mobile device and the asset server opens the hole in the firewall and at least one successive communication maintains the hole. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. An asset tracking device to send data to and receive data from an asset server in an asset tracking system, comprising:
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a. an electronic position finder; and
b. a mobile device coupled in communication to the electronic position finder, wherein the mobile device sends at least one heartbeat to the asset server, and the heartbeat creates or maintains a hole in a firewall in a wireless network connecting the mobile device to the asset server. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. An asset server in an asset tracking system to send data to and receive data from a mobile device, comprising:
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a. at least one parser;
b. a message switch, wherein the message switch receives from or sends to the mobile device at least one heartbeat, and wherein the heartbeat creates or maintains a hole in a firewall in a wireless network connecting the asset server to the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121)
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122. An asset tracking system to locate and manage a plurality of assets, comprising
a. a cellular device located with each asset, wherein the cellular device transmits a periodic heartbeat, and wherein the cellular device includes i. a cellular modem; - and,
ii. a GPS receiver coupled to the cellular modem, wherein the GPS receiver sends GPS coordinates to the cellular modem for transmission;
b. a wireless, packet-switched network coupled in communication to the cellular device that receives the GPS coordinates, wherein the cellular network includes i. a wireless interface that receives the transmitted GPS signals from the cellular modem;
ii. a firewall, wherein the firewall opens a hole upon receipt of the heartbeat, and wherein the firewall maintains the hole for successive communications between the cellular modem and an asset server;
iii. a network router, wherein the router relays the heartbeat that passes through the firewall onto an internet network; and
c. an asset server coupled to the internet network, wherein the asset server receives the heartbeats from the cellular device, and wherein the asset server includes;
i. at least one parser;
ii. a message switch coupled to the parser.
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Specification