Status monitoring system utilizing an RFID monitoring system

• US 7,280,642 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 30 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton
• Application Number:
  US11/123,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 379/62.1, 379/69, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/201, 379/213, 379/88.14, 379/88.16
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A status monitoring system utilizing an RFID tag. In an embodiment of the present invention, a status of a receiving device comprises a device address, whether the device is able to receive communications from a sending device, and a recipient list of users able to use the receiving device at any particular time. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the recipient list is created by the receiving device in response to the detection of a qualified user within a preset access distance of the receiving device. A sending device may access this status information and determine how to communicate with a user on the recipient list.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining status of a receiving device over a network comprising:

equipment adapted to provide output signals indicative of the status of the receiving device, wherein the receiving device comprises an address for receiving communications;

a status file connected to the equipment for receiving the output signals from the equipment;

a first network connected to the status file;

a sending device connected to the first network, the sending device comprising instructions for accessing the status file over the first network, and for obtaining the status of the receiving device, wherein the status comprises a user identifier of a potential user of the receiving device determined to be within a preset access distance of the receiving device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises a telephone, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the receiving device comprises off-hook signals from the telephone if the telephone is off-hook.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the status file comprises the off-hook status of the telephone if the of telephone is off hook.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises a telephone, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the receiving device comprises on-hook signals from the telephone if the telephone is on-hook.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the status file comprises the on-hook status of the telephone if the of telephone is on-hook.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computing device, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over IP, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over a packet switched network, a personal data assistance, a cell phone, a radio phone, and a video phone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a sending device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computing device, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over IP, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over a packet switched network, a personal data assistance, a cell phone, a radio phone, a video phone, a switch, a router, a proxy server, and a PBX.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a second network and wherein the sending device is adapted to:

associate a user address with the user identifier; and

route communications addressed to the user address to the address of the receiving device via the second network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a telephone and the user address and the receiving device address are telephone numbers.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network and second network are selected from the group consisting of a wired network, wireless network, a fiber network, hybrid fiber coax network, a switched network, a packet-based network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, and the Internet.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, computing device, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over IP, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over a packet switched network, a personal data assistance, a cell phone, a radio phone, and a video phone.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein a sending device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computing device, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over IP, a digital telephone adapted to provide voice over a packet switched network, a personal data assistance, a cell phone, a radio phone, a video phone, a switch, a router, a proxy server, and a PBX.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a telephone and the user address and the receiving device address are telephone numbers.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the potential user is associated with an RFID tag, and wherein the system further comprises an RFID monitor adapted to determine a presence of the RFID tag within the present distance of the receiving device.

12. A system for determining the status of a receiving device over a network comprising:

the receiving device, wherein the receiving device comprises a receiving device address, and wherein the receiving device is adapted to receive communications from a sending device;

a datastore comprising a user identifier associated with a user address;

a receiving device monitor adapted to;

provide state data indicative of a state of the receiving device; and

provide proximity data indicative of a potential user being within a preset access distance of the receiving device, and wherein the proximity data comprises a user identifier associated with the potential user;

a status file adapted to receive the state data and the proximity data from the receiving device monitor;

a first network connected to the status file;

the sending device connected to the first network and a second network, wherein the sending device is adapted to;

access the status file over the first network;

obtain the state data and the proximity data of the receiving device;

using the user identifier, obtain a user address; and

route communications addressed to the user address to the receiving device address via the second network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiving device comprises a telephone, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the receiving device comprises off-hook signals from the telephone if the telephone is off-hook.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the status file comprises the off-hook status of the telephone if the of telephone is off hook.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiving device comprises a telephone, and wherein the signals indicative of the status of the receiving device comprises on-hook signals from the telephone if the telephone is on-hook.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the status file comprises the on-hook status of the telephone if the of telephone is on-hook.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the potential user is associated with an RFID tag, wherein the system further comprises and RFID monitor, and wherein the RFID monitor is further adapted to:

determine a presence of the RFID tag within the present distance of the receiving device; and

provide the proximity data to the receiving device monitor.

21. A system for determining the status of a receiving device over a network comprising:

the receiving device, wherein the receiving device comprises a receiving device address, and wherein the receiving device is adapted to receive communications from a sending device;

a datastore comprising a user identifier associated with a user address of a potential user of the receiving device;

an RFID tag comprising an RFID tag identifier that is associated with the user identifier;

a receiving device state monitor adapted to provide state data indicative of a state of the receiving device;

an RFID monitor adapted to provide proximity data indicative of the RFID tag being located within a preset access distance of the receiving device, and wherein the proximity data comprises the RFID tag identifier;

a status file adapted to receive the state data from the receiving device state monitor and the proximity data from the RFID monitor;

a first network connected to the status file;

the sending device connected to the first network and a second network, wherein the sending device is adapted to;

access the status file over the first network;

obtain the state data and the proximity data of the receiving device;

using the RFID identifier, obtain the user identifier, and the user address; and

route communications addressed to the user address to the receiving device address via the second network.