Data messaging in a communications network

• US 5,826,195 A
• Filed: 08/05/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• 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): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US08/700,317
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/434, 455/435, 455/456, 455/507, 455/510, 455/557, 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• 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: 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: 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) or a monitoring station (13) 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. Data messages may be sent over a data channel of the network (10) by altering the mobile identification number (MIN), electronic serial number (ESN), or other identifier of the cellular transceiver (38).

Claims

1. A system for communicating information about an item using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit coupled to the item, the messaging unit having a cellular transceiver coupled to the cellular telephone network, the messaging unit operable to alter an identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the information about the item and to transmit the altered identifier of the cellular transceiver; and

a remote site coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to recognize a received altered identifier transmitted by the messaging unit to obtain the information about the item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote site stores information represented by the altered identifier.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a host coupled to the remote site and operable to access the information stored by the remote site.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a switch coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to recognize the altered identifier, and upon recognition, route the altered identifier to the remote site.

5. 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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging unit is attached to a metering device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote site is operable to translate the altered identifier into information on a reporting event and to store the information on the reporting event.

8. An apparatus for communicating information about an item using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit coupled to the item, the messaging unit having a cellular transceiver coupled to the cellular telephone network, the messaging unit operable to alter an identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the information about the item; and

wherein the cellular transceiver transmits the altered identifier to a remote location that recognizes the altered identifier to obtain the information about the item.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a sensor to generate the information about the item.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a positioning system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a metering device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the altered identifier comprises an identification number of the cellular transceiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the altered identifier comprises an electronic serial number of the cellular transceiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier by dialing a telephone number.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier by issuing a feature request.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier during pre-call validation communication.

17. A method for communicating information about an item using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

receiving the information about the item at a messaging unit;

altering, by the messaging unit, an identifier of a cellular transceiver to reflect the information about the item;

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

receiving the altered identifier at a remote location, the remote location operable to recognize the altered identifier to obtain the information about the item.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information is generated in response to a time-out signal from a real-time clock.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the information comprises a signal generated by a metering device at a fixed monitoring station.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the information comprises a sensor signal beyond predetermined limits.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the information is generated in response to a request to initiate communication with the item.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the altered identifier is a mobile identification number of the cellular transceiver.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by dialing a telephone number.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by issuing a feature request.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated during pre-call validation communication.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated upon registration of the cellular transceiver with the cellular telephone network.

27. The method of claim 17, comprising the following steps performed at the remote location:

translating the altered identifier to retrieve the information; and

storing the information.