Voice-to-data equipment installation set up method and system

• US 6,741,172 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Timko, Jerome R., Hamrick, Marvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/184,254
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 340/514, 340/504, 340/506, 340/3.1, 340/5.1, 340/7.23, 340/7.43, 340/7.45, 379/219, 379/265.11, 379/265.02, 379/265.04
• US Class Current: 340/514
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for transmitting equipment installation data between an equipment installer and an operations center server. An installer of equipment, such as a monitoring device attached to a vehicle, calls an operations center server via a wireless telecommunications device, such as a wireless telephone. The call placed by the equipment installer is transmitted to a transfer server. A voice-to-data software application at the transfer server converts the communication to data for transfer to the operations center server. The operations center server prompts the installer with a series of prompts to obtain equipment installation information. Prompts from the operations center server are transmitted in data to the transfer server where those prompts are converted to voice before being transmitted to the equipment installer'"'"'s wireless telephone. The equipment installer responds to prompts from the operations center server with required installation information, such as equipment identification numbers, vehicle identification numbers, and the like. Once the desired equipment is installed in the vehicle or equipment item, other tests such as an alarm test may be performed.

Claims

1. A method of providing equipment installation data and testing from a remote equipment installation site, comprising the steps of:

sending a voice call from the remote equipment installation site to an operations center server;

receiving the call at a transfer server;

at the transfer server, establishing a data connection between the transfer server and the operations center server;

converting the voice call to a data call;

sending the data call to the operations center server;

in response to receipt of the data call at the operation center server, sending a data response from the operation center server to the remote installation site;

receiving the data response at the transfer server;

at the transfer server, converting the data response from the operations center server to a voice response; and

sending the voice response to the remote installation site.

2. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of sending a voice call from the remote equipment installation site includes sending the voice call via a wireless telecommunications system.

3. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of sending the voice call from the remote equipment installation site includes sending the voice call via the wireline telecommunications system.

4. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of establishing a data connection between the transfer server and the operations center server includes maintaining a voice communication link between the transfer server and the remote installation site while establishing the data connection between the transfer server and the operation center.

5. The method of claim 1, whereby the step of converting the voice call to a data call includes sending the voice call to a voice-to-data conversion application for converting the voice call to a data call.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

establishing a two-way communication between the operations center server and the remote installation site via the transfer server;

whereby a first leg of the two-way communication between the remote installation site and the transfer server is a voice communication; and

whereby a second leg of the two-way communication between the transfer server and the operation center server is a data communication.

7. The method of claim 6, whereby the step of sending a data response from the operations center server to the remote installation site includes sending the data response from the operations center server to the remote installation site via a data link.

8. The method of claim 6, whereby the step of sending a data response from the operations center server to the remote installation site includes prompting an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site to provide equipment installation information to the operations center server.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby the step of prompting an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site includes prompting the equipment installer for an equipment identification code for a piece of equipment to be installed at the remote equipment installation site.

10. The method of claim 9, whereby the step of prompting an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site includes prompting the equipment installer for an equipment operator identification code associated with the piece of equipment.

11. The method of claim 8, whereby the step of prompting an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site includes the step of:

during the two-way communication, sending from the remote equipment installation site, the equipment installation information in response to prompts from the operation center server.

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

during the two-way communication, activating an alarm test at the remote equipment installation site;

receiving an indication of the alarm test at the operation center server; and

sending a response from the operation center server indicating whether the alarm test is successful.

13. The method of claim 12, whereby the step of activating an alarm test at the remote equipment installation site includes:

sending an alarm test signal from the remote equipment installation site to the operations center server;

sending a response from the operations center server indicating whether the alarm test is successful includes sending the response via the transfer server and converting the response from data to voice; and

sending the voice response to an equipment installer from the transfer server indicating whether the alarm test is successful at the remote equipment installation site.

14. The method of claim 1, whereby an equipment associated with the equipment installation information includes a remote monitoring device installed at the remote equipment installation site operated remotely from the operations center server.

15. The method of claim 14, whereby the remote equipment installation site is a vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, whereby the remote equipment installation site is a piece of equipment.

17. The method of claim 1, whereby an equipment associated with the equipment installation information includes an alarm system installed on a piece of equipment operated remotely from the operations center server.

18. A system for providing equipment installation data and testing from a remote equipment installation site, comprising:

a wireless transceiver operative to send a voice call from the remote equipment installation site to an operations center server;

a transfer server operative

to receive the call;

to establish a data connection between the transfer server and the operations center server;

to operate a voice-to-data conversion application to convert the voice call to a data call;

to send the data call to the operations center server;

to receive a data response from the operations center server;

to convert the data response from the operations center server to a voice response; and

to send the voice response to the remote installation site.

19. The system of claim 18, whereby the transfer server is further operative to establish a data connection between the transfer server and the operations center server while maintaining a voice communication link between the transfer server and the remote installation site.

20. The system of claim 19, whereby the operations center server is operative to prompt an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site via the transfer server to provide equipment installation information to the operations center server.

21. The system of claim 20, whereby the operations center server is further operative

to receive an indication of an alarm test activated at the remote equipment installation site; and

to send an alarm test response from the operations center server indicating whether the alarm test is successful; and

the transfer server is further operative

to receive the alarm test response from the operations center server;

to convert the alarm test response from data to voice; and

to send the voice response to an equipment installer at the remote equipment installation site.

22. The system of claim 18, whereby the remote equipment installation site is a vehicle.

23. The method of claim 18, whereby the remote equipment installation site is a piece of equipment.