Remotely configurable mobile unit

• US 20060223516A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GenX Mobile Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GenX Mobile Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fan, Rodric C., Mleczko, Edward David, Taylor, Sean Dominic
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A system for remotely tracking a mobile unit is presented. The system includes a computer connected to a data network, mobile units collecting data and transmitting the data to the computer, and a configuration database connected to the data network. The configuration database stores configuration parameters for the mobile units. The mobile units are programmed to contact the configuration database upon being powered on, obtain the configuration parameters, and transmit the collected data to the computer according to the configuration parameters. Since each configuration file could apply to multiple mobile units, the system provides an efficient way to control the data reporting patterns of many mobile units. The configuration database may be organized in layers of configuration files for improved flexibility. Files from different layers can be mixed and matched and then applied to a group of mobile units.

Claims

1. A system for collecting data from a remote mobile unit, the system comprising:

a configuration database containing a plurality of configuration files, each of which contains a configuration parameter that dictates a reporting pattern; and

a mobile unit that collects data and wirelessly accesses the configuration database to determine how to report the collected data before transmitting the data according to the configuration parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit collects data at a predefined rate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is programmed to access the configuration database upon being powered on for the first time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration database is multi-layered, each layer having a plurality of configuration files that apply to different groups of mobile units.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the configuration database includes a first layer and a second layer of configuration files, wherein each of the mobile units first accesses a configuration file in the first layer and the accessed configuration file directs the mobile unit to a particular configuration file in the second layer for additional configuration parameters.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the configuration files have different versions, each of which exclusively applies at different times.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer connected to the configuration database, wherein the computer is useful for changing the configuration parameter in the configuration database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile unit collects position data and determines a current mobile unit location.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a geographical database connected to the computer, wherein the geographical database stores geographical data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the geographical data comprise names and locations of geographical landmarks and boundaries.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer prepares a report including the current mobile unit location and geographical data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit transmits the collected data to a computer via a data network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is a first computer, further comprising a second computer that is connected to the data network, wherein the second computer is able to view the data reported from the mobile unit but unable to change the configuration parameter.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for collecting position data of the mobile unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit transmits less than all of the collected data.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is installed in a vehicle and comprises detection components that sense a status of a vehicle part such that the status is transmitted according to the configuration parameter.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the configuration files comprise a timer information accompanying the configuration parameter, wherein the timer information indicates a specific time at which the accompanying configuration parameter is to be used.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile unit downloads the configuration parameter and the timer information before the specific time but begins using the configuration parameter at the specific time.

19. A method of remotely collecting data from a mobile unit, the method comprising:

determining an identification number of the mobile unit upon being contacted by the mobile unit through a data network; and

locating a configuration file that is assigned to the identification number, wherein the configuration file contains parameters that dictate how the mobile unit transmits data over the data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein locating the configuration file comprises finding a proper configuration file among a plurality of files organized in layers.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein locating the configuration file further comprises finding a correct configuration file in more than one layer of the organized layers.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the proper configuration file applies to more than one mobile unit that is connected to the data network.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving position data from the mobile unit; and

combining the position data with data in a geographical database to determine a mobile unit location.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising generating an alert if the data transmitted by the mobile unit fulfills a parameter in the configuration file.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the configuration file also contains a timer information indicating a specific time at which the parameters are to be activated.

26. A mobile device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for receiving position data; and

a wireless transmitter for connecting to a data network, wherein the wireless transmitter obtains a configuration parameter from a remote computer via the data network and transmits position data to the data network according to the configuration parameter.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the mobile device transmits less than all the position data it receives with the GPS receiver.

28. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the wireless transmitter obtains a timer information along with the configuration parameter, wherein the timer information indicates a specific time, and wherein the mobile device transmits the position data according to the configuration parameter only after the specific time is reached.

29. The mobile device of claim 27 further comprising a detection component for detecting a mechanical status and an electrical status of parts connected to the mobile device.

30. A method of transmitting data remotely over a data network, the method comprising:

contacting a computer through the data network;

receiving from the computer a location of a pre-assigned configuration file; and

pulling configuration parameters from the pre-assigned configuration file to transmit data according to the configuration parameters.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data comprises position data received from global positioning system (GPS) satellites.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

extracting a timer information from the pre-assigned configuration file, wherein the timer information indicates a specific time at which the configuration parameters are to be used; and

transmitting the data according to the configuration parameters only after the specific time has been reached.