Software and protocol structure for an automated user notification system

• US 20050197106A1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Telcontar
• Inventors: Delory, Gregory, Durham, Bruce, Bristow, Steven, Bentley, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• 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

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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.

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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.