Remote access application messaging wireless method

• US 5,845,203 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeris Communications Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aertis Cormmunications
• Inventors: LaDue, Christoph Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US08/591,035
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/410, 455/414, 455/427, 455/464, 455/466, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/557, 455/550, 455/552, 455/560, 364/412, 463/19, 370/496, 370/522
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A method for seamlessly transmitting application specific messages over cellular radio system control channels and switches, including the steps of: transmitting application specific messaging bits, configured to appear as origination data packets having from eight to thirty-two digit fields, utilizing control channels, remote feature control request features, and IS-41 protocols. The messaging bits are transmitted over cellular control channels, for example, an AMPS, D-AMPS and TACS FSK modulated reverse control channel (RECC) 10 Kbps 48 word BCH hamming coded control channel. The messaging bits are then applied to communicate with, identify, monitor, and locate the application specific system, thereby allowing for an integrated application specific two-way communications system. The application specific system may comprise a two-way paging system, a motor vehicle location status system, a motor personal location status system, a home arrest status system, a security system, a utility meter reading status and the like.

Claims

1. A method for communicating messages between a communicator and a central monitoring station over a telecommunications network that includes a voice channel and a control channel, wherein the voice channel conveys data messages and the control channel conveys control messages that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a message at the communicator, the message comprising application specific data;

b) encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message to create an encoded message;

c) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request;

d) transmitting the control message and associated sequence of digits to the local telecommunications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel;

e) detecting the remote feature control request at the local telecommunications switching center;

f) forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request; and

g) decoding the encoded message to retrieve the application specific data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining a message at the communicator includes the steps of:

a) transmitting the message from a remote monitoring device to the communicator; and

b) receiving the message at the communicator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises an alarm system, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving data specifying a status of an alarm system at the communicator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a tracking system, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving tracking data from the tracking system at the communicator.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a utility meter, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving a reading from the utility meter at the communicator.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device is a two-way paging device, and the step of receiving a message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving a response to a page from a two-way paging device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message comprises the step of encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a call origination message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request, comprises encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the call origination message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by the local telecommunications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting the control message and the associated sequence of digits to a local telecommunications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel, comprises the step of transmitting the call origination message and the associated sequence of digits to a serving mobile switching center (MSC) in a cellular radio telecommunications network, over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of detecting the remote feature control request at the local telecommunications switching center and forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request comprises the steps of detecting the remote feature control request at the serving MSC and forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over at least one inter cellular serving area link between the serving MSC and the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inter cellular serving area link between the serving MSC and the central monitoring station operates according to the signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol standard.

12. A method for communicating messages between a cellular mobile radio (CMR) communications device and a central monitoring device over a cellular telephone network that includes wireless digital traffic channels and inter cellular serving area network channels, wherein the digital traffic channels comprise data traffic channels for transmitting voice and data signals and a control channel for transmitting control signals that manage access to and use of the data traffic channels, the method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a message comprising application specific data in a sequence of digits to be transmitted by the CMR communications device in conjunction with a transmission of a call origination message;

b) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the message, by a serving mobile switching center (MSC) upon detecting the remote feature control request;

c) transmitting the call origination message and the sequence of digits to the serving MSC over the control channel, bypassing the voice channels, the call origination message specifying a mobile identification number (MIN) identifying the CMR communications device;

d) analyzing the call origination message and the sequence of digits at the serving MSC and detecting the remote feature control request;

e) forwarding the remote feature control request and the message to the central monitoring device over an inter cellular serving area network channel, in response to detecting the remote feature control request, the inter cellular serving area network channel determined by the MIN;

I) receiving the remote feature control request and the message at the central monitoring station; and

g) extracting the message comprising application specific data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of extracting the message comprising application specific data further comprises the step of forwarding the application specific data to an application specific facility.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising the following steps, before the step of inserting a message comprising application specific data in a sequence of digits,

a) transmitting the message from a remote monitoring device coupled in communication with CMR communications device;

and

b) receiving the message at the CMR communications device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises an alarm system, and the step of receiving the message at the CMR communications device comprises the step of receiving data specifying a status of an alarm system at the CMR communications device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a tracking system, and the step of receiving the message at the CMR communications device comprises the step of receiving tracking data from the tracking system at the CMR communications device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a utility meter, and the step of receiving the message at the CMR communications device comprises the step of receiving a reading from the utility meter at the CMR communications device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote monitoring device is a two-way paging device, and the step of receiving a message at the CMR communications device comprises the step of receiving a response to a page at the CMR communications device from the two-way paging device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the message comprises a response to a command from the central monitoring device received via a paging network broadcast channel.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the message comprises a response to a command from the central monitoring device received via a satellite communications channel.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the message comprises a response to an instruction received from the central monitoring device over a time division multiple access (TDMA) digital broadcast control channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the TDMA digital broadcast control channel operates in accordance with global system for mobile communications (GSM) standards.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the message comprises a response to an instruction received from the central monitoring device over a code division multiple access (CDMA) digital broadcast control channel.

24. A method for communicating messages between a communicator and a central monitoring station over a mobile satellite communications network that includes a voice channel and a control channel, wherein the voice channel conveys data messages and the control channel conveys control messages that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a message at the communicator, the message comprising application specific data;

b) encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message to create an encoded message;

c) encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request;

d) transmitting the control message and associated sequence of digits to the local mobile satellite communications switching center over the control channel, bypassing the voice channel;

e) detecting the remote feature control request at the local mobile satellite communications switching center;

f) forwarding the remote feature control request and the encoded message over a communications channel to the central monitoring station in response to detecting the remote feature control request; and

g) decoding the encoded message to retrieve the application specific data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of obtaining a message at the communicator includes the steps of:

a) transmitting the message from a remote monitoring device to the communicator; and

b) receiving the message at the communicator.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises an alarm system, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving data specifying a status of an alarm system at the communicator.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a tracking system, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving tracking data from the tracking system at the communicator.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a utility meter, and the step of receiving the message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving a reading from the utility meter at the communicator.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the remote monitoring device is a two-way paging device, and the step of receiving a message at the communicator comprises the step of receiving a response to a page from a two-way paging device.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a control message comprises the step of encoding the message in a sequence of digits associated with a call origination message.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the control message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by a local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request, comprises encoding a remote feature control request in the sequence of digits associated with the call origination message to invoke the forwarding of the sequence of digits, including the encoded message, by the local mobile satellite communications switching center upon detecting the remote feature control request.