Remote accessing system for cellular telephones

• US 5,046,082 A
• Filed: 05/02/1990
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Mobile Communications Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Dion, John K., Blair, Kevin B., Austin, William J., Zicker, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/518,774
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58-60, 379/63, 379/95, 379/196, 379/62, 379/199, 379/57
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A system for allowing remote access to cellular telephone programming through the PSTN is disclosed. The system includes a specifically configured remotely accessible cellular telephone (RACT) and a host system for managing a multiplicity of such RACTs. The RACT of the present invention may be configured either as a cellular telephone itself, or as a kit which, when combined with a conventional cellular telephone, forms a RACT. The RACT includes a signal detection circuit configured to detect a unique identifying signal that the host system generates and is not commonly found in conventional data communication traffic. RACT programming includes conventional cellular processes so that remote accessibility features do not impact conventional operation of a cellular telephone. Moreover, RACT programming includes automated call origination and call answering processes which minimize the impact of the present invention on cellular customers and on the public cellular system. RACT programming further incorporates a security system which severely hinders unauthorized tampering with RACT programming. The host system manages a comprehensive database which includes information describing the configuration of all its client RACTs. Host system processes are designed for compatibility with the corresponding processes in the RACTs. Hence, a communication system in which predefined messages are successfully passed between the host system and RACTs is described.

Claims

1. A remotely accessible cellular telephone (RACT) having operational data stored therein, said RACT comprising:

an erasable, non-volatile memory for storing said operational data;

processing means coupled to said memory and being programmed to manipulate said operational data;

an audio bus for the transmission of audio frequency signals;

a modem having an audio port coupled to said audio bus and a data port coupled to said processing means, said modem being operable to communicate data between said processing means and said audio bus; and

signal detection means, having an input coupled to said audio bus and an output coupled to said processing means, for detecting the occurrence of an audio signal having predetermined parameters.

2. A RACT as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said modem generates and recognizes only audio frequencies included in a predetermined set of audio frequencies; and

said signal detection means is configured to detect only the occurrence of an audio signal which is not within said predetermined set of audio frequencies.

3. A RACT as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal detection means is configured to detect the occurrence of an audio signal simultaneously exhibiting at least two discrete frequencies.

4. A RACT as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising:

an RF section, coupled to said processing means and to said audio bus, said RF section being configured to modulate and demodulate signals from and to, respectively, said audio bus for radio frequency communication;

clock means, coupled to said processing means, for maintaining current data describing a date and a time; and

power control means, coupled to said processing means and to said RF section, for automatically energizing and de-energizing said RF section in response to said date and time data maintained by said clock means.

5. A RACT as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory, processing means, modem, and signal detection means are all included within a transmit-receive unit (TRU) portion of said RACT, and said RACT additionally comprises:

a cradle portion coupled to said TRU through said audio bus and through a serial data bus; and

a handset portion coupled to said cradle portion.

6. A RACT as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said processing means, said modem, and said signal detection means are included within a remote programming unit (RPU) portion of said RACT;

said memory is included in a transmit-receive unit (TRU) portion of said RACT;

said audio bus couples to said RPU and to said TRU; and

said RACT additionally comprises;

a serial data bus coupled between said processing means within said RPU and said memory means within said TRU,

a cradle portion coupled to said RPU, and

a handset portion coupled to said cradle portion.

7. A RACT as claimed in claim 6 wherein said RACT is installed in a vehicle having a signal for indicating the state of ignition for said vehicle, and wherein:

said RPU additionally comprises clock means, coupled to said processing means, for maintaining current data describing a date and a time;

said processing means is adapted to receive said vehicle ignition signal and to output a simulated ignition signal, said simulated ignition signal being responsive to said vehicle ignition signal and to said date and time data; and

said TRU is adapted to receive said simulated ignition signal.

8. In a remotely accessible cellular telephone (RACT) which engages in data communication with an administration system, wherein said data communication utilizes only audio frequencies selected from a predetermined set of audio frequencies to effect data modulation and demodulation, a method of permitting external access to operational data programmed in said RACT, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting the occurrence of an incoming call;

answering said incoming call;

monitoring said call to detect an identifying signal, said identifying signal being absent from said predetermined set of audio frequencies; and

granting said external access only if said monitoring step detects said identifying signal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said method additionally comprises the step of monitoring said call to detect the receipt of data describing a predetermined password; and

said granting step grants said external access if said predetermined password data are detected.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said RACT has a unique electronic serial number (ESN) associated therewith, and wherein:

said method additionally comprises the steps of;

obtaining data describing a security key from a memory portion of said RACT, and

calculating said predetermined password data based upon said ESN and said key; and

said granting step grants said external access only if said predetermined password data are detected.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

said RACT includes a speaker; and

said method additionally includes the step of muting said speaker during said monitoring step.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising the step of monitoring said call to detect the presence of a data communication carrier signal, said carrier signal being included in said predetermined set of audio frequencies.

13. A method as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising the steps of:

initializing a timer to a predetermined duration if said monitoring step detects said identifying signal; and

denying said external access if said predetermined duration expires prior to said granting step.

14. A method as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising the step of resolving a data rate for said data communication.

15. A method of remotely communicating with a cellular telephone having operational data programmed therein, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a phone number corresponding to an administration system;

maintaining current data describing a date and a time;

storing data describing a call-in time;

comparing said current data with said call-in time to detect the occurrence of said call-in time;

automatically dialing said phone number when said comparing step detects said call-in time to establish data communication with said administration system;

allowing said administrative system to access said operational data; and

modifying said data describing said call-in time in response to data communication received from said administration system.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein:

said method additionally comprises the step of monitoring said operational data to detect alteration of said operational data; and

said dialing step additionally dials said phone number if said monitoring step detects alteration of said operational data.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 additionally comprising, after said allowing step, the step of revising said stored data describing a call-in time.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said dialing step comprises the step of determining whether said administration system answers in response to said dialing of said phone number.

19. A method as claimed in claim 15 additionally comprising the step of copying said operational data from an operational memory area into a memory buffer prior to said allowing step so that said administration system can access said operational data within and limit its operations to said memory buffer.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 additionally comprising the steps of:

determining whether said allowing step terminated successfully; and

copying said memory buffer into said operational memory area after said allowing step only if said allowing step terminated successfully.

21. A method of remotely communicating with a cellular telephone having operational data programmed therein, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a phone number corresponding to an administration system;

maintaining, separate from said operational data, identifying data which described the content of said operational data in the past;

monitoring said operational data to determine whether said identifying data describes the present content of said operational data;

automatically dialing said phone number when said monitoring step determines that said identifying data does not describe the present content of said operational data, said dialing being performed to establish data communication with said administration system; and

allowing said administration system to access said operational data.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said method additionally comprises the steps of:

maintaining current data describing a date and a time;

storing data describing a call-in time;

monitoring said current data to detect the occurrence of said call-in time; and

said automatically dialing step additionally dials said phone number when said monitoring step detects said call-in time.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said dialing step comprises the step of determining whether said administration system answers in response to said dialing of said phone number.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21 additionally comprising the step of copying said operational data from an operational memory area into a memory buffer prior to said allowing step so that said administration system can access said operational data within and limit its operations to said memory buffer.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24 additionally comprising the steps of:

determining whether said allowing step terminated successfully; and

copying said memory buffer into said operational memory area after said allowing step only if said allowing step terminated successfully.

26. A method of remotely communicating with a cellular telephone having operational data programmed therein, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining current data describing a date and a time;

storing data descriptive of a wake-up timing window;

monitoring said current data to detect the beginning of said wake-up window;

energizing an RF portion of said cellular telephone when said monitoring step detects said beginning of said wake-up window;

determining whether said cellular telephone receives a call; and

if said cellular telephone receives a call from an administration system, allowing said administration system to access and modify said operational data.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 additionally comprising the steps of:

monitoring said current data to detect the end of said wake-up window; and

de-energizing said RF portion of said cellular telephone when said end of said wake-up window occurs.

28. A method as claimed in claim 26 additionally comprising the step of revising said data describing said wake-up timing window after said allowing step.

29. A method as claimed in claim 26 additionally comprising the step of copying said operational data from an operational memory area into a memory buffer prior to said allowing step so that said administration system can access said operational data within and limit its operations to said memory buffer.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 additionally comprising the steps of:

determining whether said allowing step terminated successfully; and

copying said memory buffer into said operational memory area after said allowing step only if said allowing step terminated successfully.

31. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein:

said access to said operational data occurs through data communication between said cellular telephone and said administration system;

said data communication utilizes only audio frequencies selected from a predetermined set of audio frequencies to effect data modulation and demodulation; and

said method determines that said call is received from said administration system by detecting the presence of an identifying signal, said identifying signal being absent from said predetermined set of audio frequencies.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 wherein:

said identifying signal detecting step detects the presence of an audio signal simultaneously exhibiting a first frequency and a second frequency; and

neither of said first and second frequencies are contained in said predetermined set of audio frequencies.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31 wherein said allowing step further determines that said call is received from said administration system by detecting the receipt of data describing a predetermined password.

34. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein said cellular telephone receives a call when a ringing event occurs, and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

monitoring the duration of said ringing event; and

automatically answering said call after said ringing event persists for a predetermined minimum duration.

35. A method of operating a remotely accessible cellular telephone (RACT) having operational data, including a number assignment module (NAM), stored therein, said method comprising the steps of:

granting external access to said operational data;

receiving a data communication organized as an Identify command for said RACT; and

returning a data communication in response to said receiving step, said returned data communication including data which describe the contents of said NAM.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said returning step is additionally configured to return a mobile identification number (MID) and a system identification number (SID) in response to said receiving step.

37. A method as claimed in claim 35 additionally comprising, after said returning step, the step of receiving a second data communication organized to communicate one of a Read Bytes, Write Bytes, and an Execute Function command to said RACT.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein:

said second data communication is organized to communicate said Read Bytes command and to include an address and a number; and

said method additionally comprises the step of returning, in response to said Read Bytes command, a data communication which includes data organized to acknowledge successful completion of said Read Bytes command and a quantity of bytes of operational data obtained from said RACT beginning at said address therein, said quantity being equivalent to said number.

39. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein:

said second data communication is organized to communicate said Write Bytes command and to include an address and a string of data; and

said method additionally comprises the step of writing, in response to said Write Bytes command, said string of data received with said Write Bytes command in said RACT at said address.

40. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein:

said second data communication is organized to communicate said Execute Function command and includes data instructing said RACT to take a specified action with respect to one of a RACT memory, a RACT display, and an RACT software switch; and

said method additionally comprises the step of taking said specified action.

41. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein:

said Execute Function command instructs the taking of an action with respect to said RACT memory by forming a checksum; and

said taking step comprises the step of calculating said checksum.

42. An administration system for managing a multiplicity of client remotely accessible cellular telephones (RACTs), said system comprising:

memory means having data therein describing parameters characteristic of each of said multiplicity of client RACTs;

processing means, coupled to said memory means, for manipulating said data to remotely communicate with a selected one of said client RACTs;

a modem having a data port coupled to said processing means and having a audio port for coupling to a telephone line, said modem being configured to generate and recognize only audio frequencies from a predetermined set of audio frequencies; and

audio signal generation means having an output selectively coupled to said audio port of said modem and a control input coupled to said processing means, said audio signal generation means applying an audio identifying signal at said audio port of said modem in response to a control signal from said processing means, said audio identifying signal being excluded from said predetermined set of audio frequencies.

43. An administration system as claimed in claim 42 wherein said audio signal generation means is configured to generate an audio signal that simultaneously exhibits at least two discrete frequencies.

44. A method of managing a multiplicity of client remotely accessible cellular telephones (RACTs), said method comprising the steps of:

storing data descriptive of an electronic serial number (ESN), a mobile identification number (MID), and a key, for each of said client RACTs;

identifying one of said multiplicity of client RACTs for participation in a remote programming session;

retrieving the MID associated with said identified one of said RACTs;

placing a call to said MID;

transmitting an audio identifying signal to said identified RACT; and

transmitting, during said call, a password calculated using a security key associated with said identified one of said RACTs to gain access to operational data within said identified RACT.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44 additionally comprising, prior to said password transmitting step, the steps of:

monitoring said call to detect the receipt of a data communication carrier signal; and

halting transmission of said audio identifying signal upon detection of said carrier signal.

46. A method as claimed in claim 44 additionally comprising, after said password transmitting step, the steps of:

retrieving a command set identifier from a remote programming session queue;

looking up command primitives in a command set table using said command set identifier as an index; and

sending said command primitives to said identified RACT.

47. A method as claimed in claim 46 wherein:

said method additionally comprises the step of receiving, prior to said password transmitting step, an identifying number from said identified RACT; and

said looking up step is configured to select said command primitives in response to said identifying number and said command set identifier.

48. A method as claimed in claim 44 additionally comprising, prior to said password transmitting step, the step of resolving a data rate for data communication with said identified RACT.

49. A method of managing a multiplicity of client remotely accessible cellular telephones (RACTs), said method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a data base, data descriptive of an electronic serial number (ESN), recorded mobile identification number (MID), recorded system identification number (SID), recorded data which describe the contents of a number assignment module (NAM), and a security key for each of said RACTs;

monitoring a phone line for an incoming call;

answering said incoming call to initiate a remote programming session;

receiving a data communication which supplies an ESN;

retrieving said security key associated in said data base with said ESN supplied in said receiving step;

transmitting a password based upon said security key retrieved in said retrieving step to gain access to operational data within one of said RACTs.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49 additionally comprising, prior to said receiving step, the step of resolving a data rate for said data communication of said receiving step.

51. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein said operational data within said one of said RACTs includes a number assignment module (NAM), and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

receiving current data which describe the contents of said NAM; and

verifying that said current data which describe the contents of said NAM correspond to said recorded data which describe the contents of said NAM associated with said ESN in said storing step.

52. A method as claimed in claim 51 wherein:

said receiving current data step is additionally configured to receive a current MID associated with said RACT in response to said transmitting step; and

said method additionally comprises the step of verifying that said current MID corresponds to said recorded MID associated with said ESN in said storing step.

53. A method as claimed in claim 51 wherein:

said receiving current data step is additionally configured to receive a current SID in response to said transmitting step; and

said method additionally comprises the step of verifying that said current SID corresponds to said recorded SID associated with said ESN in said storing step.