Mobile portable wireless communication system

• US 5,732,074 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellport Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Hatcher, Lester B., Kennedy, Patrick J., Braitberg, Michael F., Spaur, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US08/586,602
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/313, 370/328, 370/401, 455/33.1, 455/49.1, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/99, 455/457, 455/404, 455/577, 455/563, 379/58, 379/59, 379/63
• US Class Current: 370/313
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 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: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Communication of information including data between a remote computer and a vehicle is managed and facilitated using an apparatus compatible with standardized network communication links. In one embodiment, the standardized network communication links include the Internet and a controller area network used in vehicles. The apparatus preferably includes a controller contained in the vehicle. The controller is comprised of a number of hardware and software elements including a processor. A TCP/IP stack is part of the controller for providing the necessary control in checking for communicating information, such as requests and data, over the Internet. A web server communicates with the TCP/IP stack for servicing information related requests in http format including obtaining or sending information in operative communication with the TCP/IP stack. A CGI-bin (common gateway interface-binary) communicates with the web server and acts as a link to executable software stored in program memory that is responsive to user requests. A data memory is also available for storing data in html that is accessible by the web server. A real time operating system (RTOS) is involved in task and memory management as part of the responding to requests for information. The controller is able to receive requests using a wireless device when it is in the vehicle and through a communications port when the wireless device is not in the vehicle. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of vehicle devices has an Internet address or designation associated with it.

Claims

1. An apparatus for information transmission involving one or more remote stations and a vehicle, comprising:

at least a first remote station including computer means located at a distance from a vehicle;

a wireless device for location in the vehicle for use in sending and receiving information including data relative to said first remote station over an airlink;

a plurality of different vehicle devices associated with the vehicle and with each of said vehicle devices for at least one of receiving and sending said information;

controller means including processing means in the vehicle for controlling the sending and receiving of said information using said wireless device between said first remote station and the vehicle, said controller means further including first standard network communication means for use in presenting information for transmission over the airlink in a first format that is acceptable to a first standardized network that includes the airlink, wherein said first network communication means enables said information to be provided to multiple users that utilize different makes of communication equipment, different processing hardware and different applications software executable by said processing means of said controller means, said first standard network communication means including a web server in the vehicle for responding to a plurality of service related requests and providing said information in said first format for transmission to said computer means at said first remote station using said wireless device; and

a second standard network communication means, different from said first standard network communication means, in communication with said controller means for presenting information in a second format that is acceptable to a second standardized network, with said second standardized network communication means communicating with said vehicle devices for sending and receiving said information relative thereto and in which said controller means enables said information to be properly communicated between said first and second standardized networks.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first standard network communication means includes first means for communicating with said wireless device for receiving a request for said information obtainable from at least one of said vehicle devices, said first means including means for checking source address information associated with said request in determining that said request is to be responded to by said controller means.

6. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first standardized network communication means includes the Internet and said second standardized network includes a bus having predetermined protocol that permits controlled communications relative to said vehicle devices and in which said executable software includes a plurality of the following;

software for providing the location of the vehicle;

software for providing data related to the vehicle conditions;

software for providing data related to conditions of cargo contained in the vehicle;

software for providing data related to medical conditions of a patient carried by the vehicle; and

software for providing predetermined alarm conditions and in which said software utilizes said information from said vehicle devices.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said controller means includes a communications port for receiving communications port information separately from said wireless device, with said communications port information being useful in providing an input to one of said plurality of vehicle devices through said second standard network communication means.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of vehicle devices has a separate designation known to said controller means, with information being requested from a first vehicle device by said computer means by selecting a designation associated with said first vehicle device and said first vehicle device designation being acceptable to said first standardized network.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said computer means includes display means and said controller means responds to a request from said computer means by controlling the sending of software to said computer means for use in displaying information on said display means, with said software being related to operation of one of said vehicle devices.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said controller means initiates a transfer of information to said first remote station based on occurrence of at least one predetermined event.

3. An apparatus for information transmission involving one or more remote stations in a vehicle, comprising:

at least a first remote station including computer means located at a distance from a vehicle;

a wireless device for location in the vehicle for use in sending and receiving information including data relative to said first remote station over an airlink;

a plurality of different vehicle devices associated with the vehicle and with each of said vehicle devices for at least one of receiving and sending said information;

controller means including processing means in the vehicle for controlling the sending and receiving of said information using said wireless device between said first remote station and the vehicle, said controller means further including first standard network communication means for use in presenting said information for transmission over the airlink in a first format that is acceptable to a first standardized network that includes the airlink, wherein said first network communication means enables said information to be provided to multiple users that utilize different makes of communication equipment, different processing hardware and different applications software executable by said processing means of said controller means, said first standard network communication means including a web server in the vehicle for responding to a plurality of service related requests and also including transmission control protocol means in communication with said web server for regulating flow and ordering of said information related to said vehicle devices to said web server; and

a second standard network communication means, different from said first standard network communication means, in communication with said controller means for presenting information in a second format that is acceptable to a second standardized network, with said second standardized network communication means communicating with said vehicle devices for sending and receiving said information relative thereto and in which said controller means enables said information to be properly communicated between said first and second standardized networks.

4. An apparatus for information transmission involving one or more remote stations in a vehicle, comprising:

at least a first remote station including computer means located at a distance from a vehicle;

a wireless device for location in the vehicle for use in sending and receiving said information including data relative to said first remote station over an airlink;

a plurality of different vehicle devices associated with the vehicle and with each of said vehicle devices for at least one of receiving and sending said information;

controller means including processing means in the vehicle for controlling the sending and receiving of said information using said wireless device between said first remote station and the vehicle, said controller means further including first standard network communication means for use in presenting said information for transmission over the airlink in a first format that is acceptable to a first standardized network that includes the airlink, wherein said first network communication means enables said information to be provided to multiple users that utilize different makes of communication equipment, different processing hardware and different applications software executable by said processing means of said controller means, said first standard network communication means including a web server in the vehicle for responding to a plurality of service related requests and also including a CGI-bin communicating with said web server and in which said CGI-bin links said web server with a number of executable programs useful in obtaining said information related to said vehicle devices; and

a second standard network communication means, different from said first standard network communication means, in communication with said controller means for presenting information in a second format that is acceptable to a second standardized network, with said second standardized network communication means communicating with said vehicle devices for sending and receiving said information relative thereto and in which said controller means enables said information to be properly communicated between said first and second standardized networks.

5. An apparatus for information transmission involving one or more remote stations in a vehicle, comprising:

at least a first remote station including computer means located at a distance from a vehicle;

a wireless device for location in the vehicle for use in sending and receiving information including data relative to said first remote station over an airlink;

a plurality of different vehicle devices associated with the vehicle and with each of said vehicle devices for at least one of receiving and sending said information;

controller means including processing means in the vehicle for controlling the sending and receiving of said information using said wireless device between said remote station and the vehicle, said controller means further including first standard network communication means for use in presenting said information for transmission over the airlink in a first format that is acceptable to a first standardized network that includes the airlink, wherein said first network communication means enables said information to be provided to multiple users that utilize different makes of communication equipment, different processing hardware and different applications software executable by said processing means of said controller means, said first standard network communication means including a web server in the vehicle for responding to a plurality of service related requests received using said wireless device, with said web server in communication with program memory for storing said executable software in connection with obtaining said information from said vehicle devices and in which said first standard network communication means further includes an operating system for managing a number of services associated with conducting applications oriented tasks in conjunction with said executable software; and

a second standard network communication means, different from said first standard network communication means in communication with said controller means for presenting information in any second format that is acceptable to a second standardized network, with said second standardized network communication means communicating with said vehicle devices for sending and receiving said information relative thereto and in which said controller means enables said information to be properly communicated between said first and second standardized networks.

7. An apparatus for information transmission involving one or more remote stations in a vehicle, comprising:

at least a first remote station including computer means located at a distance from a vehicle

a wireless device for location in the vehicle for use in sending and receiving information including data relative to said first remote station over an airlink;

a plurality of different vehicle devices associated with the vehicle and which each of said vehicle devices for at least one of receiving and sending said information;

controller means including processing means in the vehicle for controlling the sending and receiving of said information using said wireless device between said first remote station and the vehicle, said controller means further including first standard network communication means for use in presenting said information for transmission over the airlink in a first format that is acceptable to a first standardized network that includes the airlink, wherein said first network communication means enables said information to be provided to multiple users that utilize different makes of communication equipment, different processing hardware and different applications software executable by said processing means of said controller means, said first standard network communication means including a web server in the vehicle that responds to a plurality of service related requests and provides said information in said first format and a data memory that communicates with said web server for storing data in html that is obtainable using said web server and in which said web server provides said data in said first format, with said first format being http; and

a second standard network communication means, different from said first standard network communication means, in communication with said controller means for presenting said information in a second format that is acceptable to a second standardized network, with said second standardized network communication means communicating with said vehicle devices for sending and receiving said information relative thereto and in which said controller means enables said information to be properly communicated between said first and second standardized networks.

12. A method for using at least a first standardized network for communicating information between a remote station and a vehicle, comprising:

providing a wireless device in the vehicle;

sending a message including a request for information and an address using a computer at the remote station;

formatting said message so that it is acceptable to the first standardized network;

configuring said message to communicate said message over an airlink;

receiving said message in the vehicle using said wireless device;

coordinating said request for information including checking for an address;

sending said request for information to a server;

obtaining information based on management by said server of said request for information, said obtained information being provided in accordance with a predetermined language arrangement, said obtaining step including accessing data memory for storing data defined in html using said server;

formatting said obtained information using said server;

transmitting said obtained information over said airlink using said wireless device; and

receiving said information by said computer.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said obtaining step includes using a second standardized network that communicates with a number of vehicle devices, each of said vehicle devices for at least one of sending and receiving data and in which said data is sent in response to said request for information.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 13, further including:

initiating a signal by a first of said vehicle devices in response to detection of a first condition and in which responding to said request for information is delayed while sending data related to said first condition.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said obtaining step includes receiving said request for information separately from said wireless device using a communications port associated with controller means that communicates with said wireless device when said wireless device is not in the vehicle.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 12, further including:

initiating a transfer of information by controller means contained in the vehicle based on the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

16. A method for using at least a first standardized network for communicating information between a remote station and a vehicle, comprising:

providing a wireless device in the vehicle;

sending a message including a request for information and an address using a computer at the remote station;

formatting said message so that it is acceptable to the first standardized network;

configuring said message to communicate said message over an airlink;

receiving said message in the vehicle using said wireless device;

coordinating said request for information including checking for an address;

sending said request for information to a server;

obtaining information based on management by said server of said request for information;

said obtained information being provided in accordance with a predetermined language format, said obtaining step includes invoking an applications program using a CGI-bin in communication with said server and subsequently executing said applications program using processing means in the vehicle;

formatting said obtained information using said server;

transmitting said obtained information over said airlink using said wireless device; and

receiving said information by said computer.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said executing step includes using data obtained from at least one of said plurality of vehicle devices.

18. A method, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said executing step includes using operating system software for managing a number of services associated with conducting one or more applications-oriented tasks and in which said operating system is involved in interrupting said request for information when a predetermined alarm condition is detected by a predetermined one of said vehicle devices.

19. A method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said executing step includes performing multiple tasks using said operating system.

21. A method for communicating information between a computer at a remote site and a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle devices for sending and receiving information including data, comprising:

providing a wireless device in the vehicle;

requesting data from a first of said vehicle devices using said computer;

formatting said request so that it is acceptable to a first standardized network, with said request including a first address associated with said first vehicle device, said step of formatting said request includes using a http web server and said first standardized network includes the Internet;

configuring said request to communicate said request over an airlink;

receiving said request in the vehicle using said wireless device;

managing said request including where said data is to be obtained with reliance on said first address of said first vehicle device;

obtaining said data after said managing step using a second standardized network, different from said first standardized network, said second standardized network includes a controller area network for providing communications protocol for a number of different vehicle devices;

formatting said data so that it is acceptable to said first standardized network;

transmitting said data over said airlink using said wireless device; and

receiving said data associated with said first vehicle device by said computer.