Data messaging in a communications network

• US 5,539,810 A
• Filed: 12/28/1993
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iron Oak Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Highway Master Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, William C. III, Westerlage, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OEHLING, GEORGE J
• Application Number:
  US08/175,256
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 340/988, 340/989, 340/992, 340/425.5, 340/431, 340/445, 340/447, 342/357, 342/385, 342/386, 342/388, 342/389, 342/450, 342/457
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18558 Arrangements for managing communications, i.e. for setting up, maintaining or releasing a call between stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• 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

Abstract

A messaging unit (16) equipped with a cellular transceiver (38) is attached to a truck trailer (12) located within a communications network (10). The messaging unit (16) generates a data message in response to the occurrence of a reporting event. Upon generation of a data message, the cellular transceiver (38) transmits the data message over the network (10) via voice or data channels. The data message is received at an MTSO (20) and then routed to a platform (24), a clearinghouse (22), or the platform (24) through the clearinghouse (22). The data message stored at the platform (24) or the clearinghouse (22) is accessed by a host (26). A data message may be sent over a voice channel of the network (10) subject to a handshake protocol between the messaging unit (16) and the platform (24). Data messages may also be sent over a data channel of the network (10) by altering the mobile identification number (MIN) or electronic serial number (ESN) of the cellular transceiver (38). Furthermore, data messages may be sent over a data channel of the network (10) by issuing a feature request with appended data digits.

Claims

1. A system for communicating location or status information of a monitored mobile item using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit operable to obtain location or status information of the monitored mobile item, each messaging unit further comprising a cellular transceiver operable to transmit, using the cellular telephone network, an altered identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the location or status information of the monitored mobile item; and

a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to receive the altered identifier transmitted by the messaging unit, the platform further operable to recognize the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information of the monitored mobile item.

2. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of hosts remotely disposed from the platform, the hosts operable to access the location or status information obtained by the platform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging unit transmits the altered identifier by issuing a feature request.

4. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a mobile telecommunications switching office coupled to the platform and operable to recognize the altered identifier, and upon recognition, route the altered identifier to the platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is further operable to receive the altered identifier upon successful execution of a security protocol with the messaging unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging unit is attached to a trucking trailer located within a service area of the cellular telephone network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular transceiver is operable to transmit the altered identifier over a data channel of the cellular telephone network.

8. A system for communicating location or status information of a mobile item to be monitored using a cellular telephone network, the system comprising:

a sensor located on the mobile item and operable to generate location or status information on the mobile item;

a cellular transceiver coupled to the sensor and operable to transmit, using the cellular telephone network, an altered identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the location or status information generated by the sensor; and

a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to receive the altered identifier, the platform further operable to recognize the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information generated by the sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a positioning system that generates the location information of the mobile item.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a performance sensor that monitors the performance of the mobile item.

11. The system of claim 8, and further comprising a mobile telecommunications switching office coupled to the cellular transceiver and operable to receive the altered identifier, the switching office further operable to recognize the altered identifier transmitted by the cellular transceiver, and upon recognition, route the altered identifier to the platform.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver transmits the altered identifier by issuing a feature request.

13. A method for communicating location or status information of a monitored mobile item using a cellular telephone network, the method comprising:

obtaining location or status information of the monitored mobile item upon the occurrence of a reporting event;

altering an identifier of a cellular transceiver to reflect location or status information obtained during the reporting event;

transmitting the altered identifier through the cellular telephone network using the cellular transceiver; and

receiving the altered identifier at a remote location, the remote location recognizing the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information of the monitored mobile item.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of obtaining location or status information occurs upon receiving a time-out signal from a real-time clock.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the location or status information comprises a sensor signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the location or status information comprises location information from a positioning system.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of obtaining location or status information occurs upon receiving a request to initiate communication.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of altering an identifier of the cellular transceiver comprises altering the mobile identification number of the cellular transceiver.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of altering the identifier of the cellular transceiver comprises altering the electronic serial number of the cellular transceiver.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by dialing a telephone number.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by issuing a feature request.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is performed during pre-call validation communication.

23. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the following steps performed at the remote location:

identifying the cellular transceiver transmitting the altered identifier;

interpreting the altered identifier to obtain location or status information; and

storing location or status information indexed by the cellular transceiver.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the cellular transceiver is located on a truck trailer.