Data messaging in a communications network using a feature request

• US 6,295,449 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iron Oak Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: @Track Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Westerlage, Kenneth R., Kennedy, III, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US09/044,766
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/414, 455/422, 455/445, 455/507, 455/517, 455/560, 455/456, 340/101.1, 340/10.4, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 370/338, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• 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 equipped with a cellular transceiver is attached to a truck trailer or a monitoring station located within a communications network. The messaging unit generates a data message in response to the occurrence of a reporting event. Upon generation of a data message, the messaging unit transmits the data message over the network via voice or data channels. Data messages may be sent over a data channel of the network using a feature request.

Claims

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

a messaging unit operable to communicate, using a data channel of a cellular telephone network, a feature request having data digits that represent information about the item; and

a remote site coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to receive the feature request communicated by the messaging unit to obtain information about the item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote site stores information represented by the data digits of the feature request.

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 feature request and, upon recognition, route the feature request 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 data digits of the feature request into information on a reporting event and to store the information on the reporting event.

8. A method for data messaging using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

obtaining information about an item;

generating a feature request having data digits that represent information about the item;

communicating the feature request using a data channel of a cellular telephone network; and

receiving the feature request at a remote location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of obtaining information about the item occurs upon receiving a request to initiate data messaging from the remote location.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of obtaining information about the item comprises generating information about the item using a sensor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of communicating the feature request comprises:

receiving the feature request at a switch;

recognizing the feature request at the switch as a feature request for data messaging; and

communicating the feature request from the switch to the remote location upon recognition.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the feature request comprises a feature request code and the step of communicating the feature request comprises:

receiving the feature request at a switch;

recognizing the feature request code at the switch; and

communicating the feature request from the switch to the remote location upon recognition of the feature request code.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the feature request comprises a cellular transceiver identifier and the step of communicating the feature request comprises:

receiving the feature request at a switch;

comparing the cellular transceiver identifier to a plurality of stored identifiers associated with data messaging; and

communicating the feature request from the switch to the remote location if the cellular transceiver identifier matches one of the stored identifiers associated with data messaging.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of receiving comprises:

receiving the feature request at a remote location;

identifying a messaging unit that transmitted the feature request;

translating the data digits to determine information about the item; and

storing information about the item indexed by the messaging unit for access by a host.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of receiving comprises:

receiving the feature request at a remote location;

identifying a messaging unit that transmitted the feature request;

translating the data digits to determine information about the item; and

storing information about the item in a time-stamped list of information received from the messaging unit for access by a host.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the feature request comprises an altered identifier of a cellular transceiver that reflects information about the item.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating a feature request is performed automatically.

18. A method for data messaging using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

generating information about an item using a sensor;

generating a feature request having data digits that represent information generated by the sensor;

communicating the feature request using a data channel of a cellular telephone network; and

receiving the feature request at a remote location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is a positioning system that generates location information on the item.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the feature request comprises a feature request code, and further comprising:

receiving the feature request at a switch;

recognizing the feature request code at the switch; and

communicating the feature request from the switch to the remote location upon recognition of the feature request code.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the feature request comprises a cellular transceiver identifier, and further comprising:

receiving the feature request at a switch;

comparing the cellular transceiver identifier to a plurality of stored identifiers associated with data messaging; and

communicating the feature request from the switch to the remote location if the cellular transceiver identifier matches one of the stored identifiers associated with data messaging.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing information generated by the sensor in a time-stamped list of information.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the feature request comprises an altered identifier of a cellular transceiver that reflects information generated by the sensor.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the item is a vehicle and the sensor is coupled to the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of generating a feature request is performed automatically.

26. A system for data messaging using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit operable to obtain information about an item, the messaging unit further operable to generate a feature request having data digits that represent information about the item, the messaging unit comprising a cellular transceiver operable to communicate the feature request using a data channel of a cellular telephone network;

a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network, the platform operable to receive the feature request communicated by the messaging unit to obtain information about the item; and

a host coupled to the platform and operating external to the cellular telephone network, the host operable to access information about the item obtained by the platform.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the feature request comprises a feature request code, and further comprising a switch coupled to the cellular telephone network, the switch operable to receive the feature request communicated by the messaging unit and to communicate the feature request to the platform upon recognition of the feature request code that indicates data messaging.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the feature request comprises a cellular transceiver identifier, and further comprising a switch coupled to the cellular telephone network, the switch operable to receive the feature request communicated by the messaging unit and to communicate the feature request to the platform upon matching the cellular transceiver identifier with one of a plurality of stored identifiers associated with data messaging.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the messaging unit further comprises a sensor operable to generate information about the item.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the messaging unit further comprises a positioning system operable to generate location information about the item.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the item is a vehicle and the messaging unit is coupled to the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the feature request comprises an altered identifier of a cellular transceiver that reflects information about the item.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the messaging unit automatically generates the feature request.

34. A system for data messaging using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit having a sensor operable to generate information about an item, the messaging unit further operable to generate a feature request having data digits that represent information generated by the sensor, the messaging unit comprising a cellular transceiver operable to communicate the feature request using a cellular telephone network;

a switch coupled to the cellular telephone network, the switch operable to receive the feature request communicated by the messaging unit and to communicate the feature request to a platform if the feature request indicates data messaging;

the platform coupled to the cellular telephone network, the platform operable to receive the feature request communicated by the switch to obtain information generated by the sensor; and

a host coupled to the platform and operating external to the cellular telephone network, the host operable to access information obtained by the platform.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the switch communicates the feature request to the platform upon recognition of a feature request code included in the feature request.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the feature request comprises a cellular transceiver identifier associated with the cellular transceiver of the messaging unit, the switch operable to store a plurality of identifiers associated with data messaging, the switch further operable to communicate the feature request to the platform upon matching the cellular transceiver identifier with one of the identifiers stored at the switch.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the sensor comprises a positioning system operable to generate location information about the item.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the feature request comprises an altered identifier of the cellular transceiver that reflects information generated by the sensor.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the item is a vehicle and the sensor is coupled to the vehicle.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the messaging unit automatically generates the feature request.

41. A messaging unit for data messaging using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a sensor operable to generate information about an item;

a processor coupled to the sensor and operable to receive information generated by the sensor, the processor further operable to generate a feature request having data digits that represent information generated by the sensor; and

a cellular transceiver operable to communicate the feature request using a data channel of a cellular telephone network.

42. The messaging unit of claim 41, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor, the memory operable to accumulate information generated by the sensor, wherein the processor generates a feature request having data digits that represent information accumulated in the memory.

43. The messaging unit of claim 41, wherein the item comprises a vehicle and the sensor comprises an engine sensor.

44. The messaging unit of claim 41, wherein the sensor comprises a positioning system operable to generate location information about the item.

45. The messaging unit of claim 41, wherein the processor automatically generates the feature request.

46. A method for communicating information using a cellular telephone network, the method comprising:

generating information on an item using a sensor;

generating a feature request having data digits that represent information generated by the sensor; and

communicating the feature request using a cellular transceiver coupled to a data channel of a cellular telephone network.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of accumulating in a memory information generated by the sensor.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of altering an identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect information generated by the sensor.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the sensor comprises a positioning system operable to generate location information about an item.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating a feature request is performed automatically.