Method and system for expanding the data payload of data messages transported via a cellular network control channel

• US 6,738,647 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/549,761
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/445, 455/435, 455/414, 455/458, 455/564, 455/426, 455/411, 379/59
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A mobile station having the capability of inserting data content into the dialed digits field of a Call Origination signal issues a Call Origination signal to the mobile switching center (“MSC”) servicing the cell in which the mobile station is located. In response to receiving the Call Origination signal, the MSC issues an Origination Request message to a visitor location register system (“VLR”). The MSC issues an Origination Request message rather than a Qualification Request message because of the prior setting of one or more appropriate call processing trigger(s) at the switch. The dialed digits field of the Origination Request message comprises data content from the dialed digits field of the Call Origination signal received by the MSC.

Claims

1. In a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, a method for transmitting data content from a cellular communications device to a data collection system, comprising the steps of:

inserting data content into a dialed digits field of a call origination signal so that said dialed digits field is filled with said data content;

transmitting said call origination signal from said cellular communications device to a mobile switching center

in response to receiving said call origination signal, electing to send an origination request message rather than a qualification request message from said mobile switching switching center; and

forwarding said data content from said mobile switching center to said data collection system via said origination request message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data collection system comprises a home location register system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding step comprises forwarding said data content from said mobile switching center to a data collection system via an origination request message, and wherein a dialed digits field of said origination request message comprises said data content from said dialed digits field of said call origination signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data content further comprises an electronic serial number field of said call origination signal.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

forwarding said origination request message from said home location register system to a data processing system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

in response to receiving said origination request message at said home location register system, transmitting an authorization denied message from said home location register system to said visitor location register system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving said authorization denied message at said visitor location registration system, forwarding said authorization denied message from said visitor location register system to said mobile switching center; and

transmitting a message from said mobile switching center to said cellular communications device denying completion of the call origination.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said cellular communications device comprises a cellular mobile radiotelephone.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said cellular communications device comprises a security system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

setting an authorization period to a per call authorization.

11. In a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, a method for transmitting data content from a cellular communications device to a data collection system, comprising the steps of:

setting a trigger in a mobile switching center to instruct said mobile switching center to send an origination request message rather than a qualification request message in response to a call origination signal from said cellular communication device;

receiving a call origination signal at said mobile switching center comprising data content located in a dialed digits field of said call origination signal from said cellular communications device;

forwarding said data content from said mobile switching center to a data collection system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said data collection system comprises a home location register system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

forwarding said data content from said home location register system to a data processing system.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an authorization denied message from a home location register system associated with said data collection system; and

in response, abandoning call processing for said call origination signal.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a registration signal at said mobile switching center from said cellular communications device;

transmitting a registration notification message to a home location register system associated with said data collection system; and

receiving a message from the home location register system indicating that an authorization period for said cellular communications device is per call.

16. In a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, an apparatus for transmitting data content to a data collection system, comprising:

a data source;

a monitor operative to receive data from said data source; and

a cellular communications device for

receiving said data content from said monitor,

inserting said data content into a dialed digits field of a call origination signal, and

transmitting said call origination signal to a mobile switching center, wherein said mobile switching center is responsive to said call origination signal to transmit an origination request message, rather than a qualification request message, to the data collection system, the origination request message comprising the data content.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said monitor comprises a security system.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said data source comprises a global positioning system receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said data source comprises a meter.

20. In a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, a system for transmitting data content from a cellular communications device to a data collection system, comprising:

a cellular communications device operative to transmit a call origination signal comprising data content located in a dialed digits field;

a mobile switching center operative to receive said call origination signal from said cellular communications device, and further operative to transmit a origination request message; and

a visitor location register system operative to receive said origination request message, and further operative to forward said origination request message to a data collection system.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said call origination signal may further comprise data content located in an electronic serial number field of said call origination signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said data collection system comprises a home location register system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said home location register system is operative to transmit an authorization denied message to said visitor location register system in response to receiving said origination request message.

24. A method for transmitting data via a cellular network control channel, comprising:

providing a trigger that specifies that an origination request message is transmitted in response to a call origination signal;

receiving said call origination signal, said call origination signal having data in a dialed digits field of said call origination signal;

in response to said call origination signal, transmitting said origination request message to a remote cellular system, said origination request message having data in a dialed digits field of said origination request message;

receiving an authorization denied message from said remote cellular system; and

abandoning call processing for said call origination message.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a registration signal;

transmitting a registration notification signal to said remote cellular system;

receiving a registration notification message from said remote cellular system indicating that an authorization period is per call; and

providing a database entry indicating that said authorization period is per call.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein transmitting said origination request message to a remote cellular system further comprises:

determining that the call origination signal was transmitted by a mobile station associated with said remote cellular system;

and determining that said authorization period for the mobile station is per call based upon the database entry.