Pager-based communications system

• US 6,683,526 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Bellin
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Bellin
• Inventors: Bellin, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/794,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.43, 340/3.53, 340/3.54, 340/825.52, 340/3.1, 340/7.2, 340/7.43, 340/7.58, 340/506, 340/825.49, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/7.53, 340/7.44, 340/7.46, 340/573.1, 340/825.27, 379/106.01, 358/1.14, 713/153
• US Class Current: 340/3.43
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 providing paging services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices

Abstract

A communications system is provided for communicating information to and from recipients scattered over wide geographic areas. A computer controlled head end communications interface adds address information to a message in accordance with who the intended recipients are. A media router directs the message through appropriate transport media in accordance with the address information. Preferably, the messages are communicated, at least in part, over existing paging systems. Additional transport media include existing power distribution networks, twisted wire pairs and fiber optics networks. Bi-directional reporting capability is provided. The system is well-suited for applications such as remote reading of utility meters, communication of emergency warnings, bi-directional alarm reporting, time synchronization, and encryption/authentication.

Claims

1. A method of directing an aloha message to an alarm monitoring center, comprising the steps of:

providing an aloha message with a header and an eleven bit message, said header containing identification or location information;

encoding an alarm code from an alarm panel into said eleven bit message;

transmitting said aloha message with said alarm code to a transceiver or a modem;

providing a microprocessor and a memory device connected to said transceiver, said memory device having a look-up table which contains a list of customers and alarm codes;

comparing said alarm codes in said look-up table to the alarm code contained in said aloha message; and

notifying said alarm monitoring center that a particular alarm is occurring at a specific physical location.

2. The method of directing an aloha message to an alarm monitoring center of claim 1, further comprising:

the encoding of an alarm code and the transmitting of said aloha message with said alarm information being performed by a paging transceiver.

3. The method of directing an aloha message to an alarm monitoring center of claim 1, further comprising:

said transceiver being a remote media interface gateway.

4. The method of directing an aloha message to an alarm monitoring center of claim 2, further comprising:

said alarm panel being connected to said paging transceiver with a telephone link; and

a telephone line monitor being placed on said telephone link, said telephone line monitor sending an alarm code to said paging transceiver if the connection between said alarm panel and said telephone network is interrupted.

5. The method of directing an aloha message to an alarm monitoring center of claim 1, further comprising:

an aloha message not being sent to said paging transceiver until both an alarm condition and a telephone failure has occurred.

6. A method of directing an aloha message to a telephone monitoring center, comprising the steps of:

providing an aloha message with a header and an eleven bit message, said header containing identification or location information;

encoding a telephone line failure into said eleven bit message;

transmitting said aloha message with said telephone line failure information to a paging transceiver or a modem;

providing a microprocessor and a memory device connected to said transceiver, said memory device having a look-up table which contains a list of customers and telephone line failure codes;

comparing said telephone line failure codes in said look-up table to the telephone line failure code contained in said aloha message; and

notifying a telephone monitoring center that a particular telephone line failure is occurring at a specific physical location.

7. The method of directing an aloha message to a telephone monitoring center of claim 6, further comprising:

the encoding of a telephone line failure code and the transmitting of said aloha message with said telephone line failure information being performed by a paging transceiver.

8. The method of directing an aloha message to an alarm center of claim 7, further comprising:

a telephone network interface being connected to said paging transceiver with a telephone link; and

a telephone line monitor being placed on said telephone network interface, said telephone line monitor sending a telephone failure code to said paging transceiver if a telephone line failure occurs.