System and method of querying a device, checking device roaming history and/or obtaining device modem statistics when device is within a home network and/or a complementary network

• US 7,136,642 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: XRS Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GeoLogic Solutions, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Franklin, Julian M., Massie, Rodney E., Leboulanger, Patrick, Speaks, Chantel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramos-Feliciano, Eliseo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US11/370,103
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.3, 455/455, 455/426.2, 455/428, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/403, 455/414.1, 455/560, 455/426.1, 455/454, 455/448, 455/417, 370/351, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a user to query availability, roaming history and/or modem statistics of a wireless device that can roam between at least two different wireless networks, without assistance from network service provider personnel.

Claims

1. A system enabling a first device operatively communicable with at least a primary wireless network to transmit a device query to a wireless device operatively communicable with the primary wireless network and at least a secondary wireless network, said system comprising:

a host computer, operatively communicable with the primary wireless network, capable of receiving a query from the first device;

a routing switch receiving the query from said host computer, retrieving a profile of the wireless device comprising network data characteristic of communication requirements associated with the primary wireless network and the secondary wireless network with which the wireless device is communicable, appending to the query a first transmission header characteristic of first communication requirements associated with the primary wireless network, transmitting the query and the first transmission header to the primary wireless network and, responsive to the profile after a predetermined number of transmission attempts in the primary wireless network, appending a second transmission header characteristic of second communication requirements associated with the secondary wireless network to the query in accordance with a communication protocol used by the secondary wireless network, and transmitting the query and the second transmission header to the secondary wireless network; and

a switch operatively communicable with the secondary wireless network for receiving the query and the second transmission header transmitted by said routing switch, transmitting the query and at least a portion of the second transmission header to the wireless device via the secondary wireless network, and transmitting a query response from the wireless device to the first device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said routing switch queues each query prior to transmitting to the secondary wireless network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the query comprises at least one of a wireless device availability check, a roaming history report and a modem statistics report.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a wireless device registered with the primary wireless network.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a non-wireless device registered with the primary wireless network.

6. A system enabling a first device operatively communicable with at least a primary wireless network to query a wireless device operatively communicable with the primary wireless network and at least a secondary wireless network, said system comprising:

a primary wireless network comprising a routing switch receiving the query from the first device, retrieving a profile of the wireless device comprising network data characteristic of communication requirements associated with the primary wireless network and the secondary wireless network with which the wireless device is communicable, appending to the query a first transmission header characteristic of internal routing and radio frequency communication requirements associated with the primary wireless network, transmitting the query and at least a portion of the first transmission header to the wireless device in the primary wireless network and, responsive to the profile after a predetermined number of transmission attempts in the primary wireless network, appending a second transmission header characteristic of second internal routing and radio frequency communication requirements associated with the secondary network, and transmitting the query and the second transmission header to the secondary wireless network; and

a switch operatively communicable with the secondary wireless network for receiving the query and the second transmission header transmitted by said routing switch, transmitting the query and at least a portion of the second transmission header to the wireless device via the secondary wireless network, and transmitting a query response from the wireless device to the first device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said routing switch queues each query prior to transmitting to the secondary wireless network.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the query comprises at least one of a wireless device availability check, a roaming history report and a modem statistics report.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first device is a wireless device registered with at least the primary wireless network.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first device is a non-wireless device registered with at least the primary wireless network.