Radio and data network system

• US 7,321,573 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Tower Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. Pfeiffer
• Inventors: Pfeiffer, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phunkulh, Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US10/230,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

An improved radio and data network system (15) for communicating data to a user comprising a radio (19), a data collection unit (20), the data collection unit operatively adapted to communicate with the radio, a first tower (21) having a defined first coverage area (22), the first tower operatively adapted to communicate with the radio when the radio is in the first coverage area, a hub (25), a computer network (28), the hub operatively adapted to communicate with the first tower and with the computer network, the data collection unit, radio, first tower and hub so configured and arranged that data from the collection unit is transmittable by the radio to the first tower when the radio is in the first coverage area, is transmittable from the first tower to the hub, and is accessible to the user via the computer network. The hub may comprise a first server (29) operatively adapted to communicate with the first tower and a second server (30) operatively adapted to communicate with the computer network and the first server. The invention also provides a method for communicating data to a user. The invention also provides a radio switching system The invention also provides a method for switching a radio from a control channel to a data channel.

Claims

1. A network system for communicating data to a user, comprising:

a radio;

said radio operatively adapted to transmit on a data channel and a control channel and to selectively alternate between transmitting on said data channel and transmitting on said control channel;

a data collection unit;

said data collection unit operatively adapted to communicate with said radio;

a first tower having a defined first coverage area;

said first tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said first coverage area;

a hub;

a computer network;

said hub operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and with said computer network;

said data collection unit, radio, first tower and hub so configured and arranged that data from said collection unit is transmittable by said radio to said first tower when said radio is in said first coverage area, is transmittable from said first tower to said hub, and is accessible to said user via said computer network.

2. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said data collection unit is selected from a group consisting of a temperature gauge, an electronic fuel monitor, a global positioning system, an odometer, a fare meter, an engine control interface, and a laptop computer.

3. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said data collection unit is an internal component of said radio.

4. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said control channel comprises a voice channel.

5. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said control channel comprises a tower marker beacon.

6. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said control channel is a function of said defined coverage area.

7. The network system set forth in claim 6, wherein said data channel is a function of said control channel.

8. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio has automatic roaming capability.

9. The network system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

a second tower having a defined second coverage area;

said second tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area;

said hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower;

said data collection unit, radio, second tower and hub so configured and arranged that data from said collection unit is transmittable by said radio to said second tower when said radio is in said second coverage area, is transmittable from said second tower to said hub, and is accessible to said user via said computer network.

10. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said hub comprises a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and a second server operatively adapted to communicate with said computer network and said first server.

11. The network system set forth in claim 9, wherein said hub comprises:

a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and said second tower;

a second server operatively adapted to communicate with said computer network and said first server; and

a third server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower, said second tower, said first server and said second server.

12. The network system set forth in claim 11, wherein said third server communicates, through one of said towers, with said radio.

13. The network system set forth in claim 11, wherein said first server communicates, through one of said towers, with said radio on said data channel.

14. The network system set forth in claim 10, wherein said hub comprises a firewall between said computer network and said second server.

15. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio includes a radio identifier that is associated with data transmitted by said radio.

16. The network system set forth in claim 15, and further comprising a user workstation operatively adapted to communicate with said hub via said computer network.

17. The network system set forth in claim 16, wherein said workstation is a personal computer.

18. The network system set forth in claim 16, wherein said workstation includes a station identifier that is associated with said workstation.

19. The network system set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said radio identifier corresponds to said station identifier;

said hub is configured and arranged to operatively sort data based on the radio identifier associated with said data; and

said hub is configured and arranged such that data associated with said radio identifier is selectively accessible to a workstation having a station identifier corresponding to said radio identifier.

20. The network system set forth in claim 11, and further comprising a switch connecting said first server, second server and third server.

21. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said computer network comprises the world wide web.

22. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said computer network comprises a wide area network.

23. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said computer network comprises a local area network.

24. The network system set forth in claim 23, wherein said computer network comprises a communications satellite.

25. The network system set forth in claim 19, and further comprising a second workstation having a second station identifier corresponding to said radio identifier.

26. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said data and control channels are digital.

27. The network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said data and control channels are analogue.

28. The network system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

a second tower having a defined second coverage area;

said second tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area;

a second hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower and with said computer network;

said data collection unit, radio, second tower and second hub so configured and arranged that data from said collection unit is transmittable by said radio to said second tower when said radio is in said second coverage area, is transmittable from said second tower to said second hub, and is accessible to said user via said computer network.

29. A network system for communicating a signal, comprising:

a radio;

said radio operatively adapted to receive on a data channel and a control channel and to selectively alternate between receiving on said data channel and receiving on said control channel;

a display device;

said display device operatively adapted to communicate with said radio;

a first tower having a defined first coverage area;

said first tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said first coverage area;

a hub;

a computer network;

said hub operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and with said computer network;

a user workstation;

said user workstation operatively adapted to communicate with said hub via said computer network;

said workstation, hub, first tower, radio and display device so configured and arranged that a signal from said workstation is transmittable from said workstation to said hub via said computer network, is transmittable from said hub to said first tower, is transmittable from said first tower to said radio when said radio is in said first coverage area, and is displayable on said display device.

30. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said display device is a computer monitor.

31. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said control channel comprises a voice channel.

32. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said control channel comprises a tower marker beacon.

33. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said radio has automatic roaming capability.

34. The network system set forth in claim 29, and further comprising:

a second tower having a defined second coverage area;

said second tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area; and

said hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower;

said workstation, hub, second tower, radio and display device so configured and arranged that a signal from said workstation is transmittable from said workstation to said hub via said computer network, is transmittable from said hub to said second tower, is transmittable from said second tower to said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area and is displayable on said display device.

35. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said hub comprises a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said tower and a second server operatively adapted to communicate with said computer network and said first server.

36. The network system set forth in claim 34, wherein said hub comprises:

a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and said second tower;

a second server operatively adapted to communicate with said computer network and said first server; and

a third server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower, said second tower, said first server and said second server.

37. The network system set forth in claim 35, wherein said hub comprises a firewall between said computer network and said second server.

38. The network system set forth in claim 36, wherein said third server communicates, through one of said towers, with said radio.

39. The network system set forth in claim 36, wherein said first server communicates, through one of said towers, with said radio on said data channel.

40. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said radio includes a radio identifier that is associated with said radio.

41. The network system set forth in claim 40, wherein said workstation includes a station identifier that is associated with signals transmitted from said workstation.

42. The network system set forth in claim 41, wherein:

said radio identifier corresponds to said station identifier;

said hub is configured and arranged to operatively sort signals based on the station identifier associated with said signal; and

said hub is configured and arranged such that signals associated with said station identifier are selectively transmittable to a radio having a radio identifier corresponding to said station identifier.

43. The network system set forth in claim 36, and further comprising a switch connecting said first server, second server and third server.

44. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said computer network comprises the world wide web.

45. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said computer network comprises a wide area network.

46. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said computer network comprises a local area network.

47. The network system set forth in claim 46, wherein said computer network comprises a communications satellite.

48. The network system set forth in claim 42, and further comprising a second workstation having a second station identifier corresponding to said radio identifier.

49. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said data and control channels are digital.

50. The network system set forth in claim 29, wherein said data and control channels are analogue.

51. The network system set forth in claim 29, and further comprising:

a second tower having a defined second coverage area;

said second tower operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area;

a second hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower and with said computer network;

said workstation, second hub, second tower, radio and display device so configured and arranged that a signal from said workstation is transmittable from said workstation to said hub via said computer network, is transmittable from said hub to said first tower, is transmittable from said first tower to said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area, and is displayable on said display device.

52. A method for communicating a signal comprising the steps of:

providing a radio;

providing a display device operatively adapted to communicate with said radio;

providing a first tower having a defined first coverage area and operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said first coverage area;

providing a computer network;

providing a server hub operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower and said computer network;

providing a workstation operatively adapted to communicate with said hub via said computer network;

providing said hub with a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower;

providing said hub with a second server operatively adapted to communicate with said computer network and said first server;

transmitting said signal from said workstation to said second server via said computer network;

transmitting said signal from said second server to said first server;

transmitting said signal from said first server to said first tower;

transmitting said signal from said first tower to said radio;

displaying said signal on said display device;

providing a second tower having a defined second coverage area and operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said second coverage area;

providing a third server operatively adapted to communicate with said first tower, said second tower, said first server and said second server;

sending a notice from said third server to said radio indicating that said radio is to receive a transmission on a data channel of said radio;

sending a notice from said radio to said first server indicating that said radio is ready to receive a transmission on said data channel; and

sending a notice from said first server to said second server prompting said second server to transmit said signal.

53. The method set forth in claim 52, and further comprising the steps of:

providing a firewall;

providing a router operatively adapted to communicate with said firewall, said first server and said second server;

transmitting said signal from said workstation to said firewall;

said firewall creating a network address translation;

transmitting said signal from said firewall to said router; and

transmitting said signal from said router to said second server.

54. The method set forth in claim 52, and further comprising the steps of:

associating a radio identifier with said radio;

associating a station identifier with signals transmitted from said workstation;

said hub corresponding said radio identifier with said station identifier;

said hub sorting signals based on the station identifier associated with said signal;

transmitting signals associated with said station identifier to a radio having a radio identifier corresponding to said station identifier.

55. The method set forth in claim 54, and further comprising the step of providing a second radio having a second radio identifier corresponding to said station identifier.

56. The method set forth in claim 52, and further comprising the steps of:

providing said hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower;

transmitting said signal from said hub to said second tower when said radio is in said second coverage area; and

transmitting said data from said second tower to said hub.

57. The method set forth in claim 56, and further comprising the step of determining if said radio is in said first coverage area or said second coverage area.

58. The method set forth in claim 52, and further comprising the steps of:

providing a second hub operatively adapted to communicate with said second tower and with said computer network;

transmitting said signal from said workstation to said second hub via said computer network when said radio is in said second coverage area;

transmitting said signal from said second hub to said second tower; and

transmitting said signal from said second tower to said radio.

59. The method set forth in claim 58, and further comprising the step of determining if said radio is in said first coverage area or said second coverage area.

60. The method set forth in claim 59, wherein said step of determining if said radio is in said first coverage area or said second coverage area comprises the step of first determining if said radio is in the coverage area the radio last transmitted or received from.

61. A radio switching system comprising:

a radio;

said radio operatively adapted to transmit and receive on a control channel or a data channel and to roam on said control channel;

said control channel having a switching protocol that defines a switch signal;

a tower having a defined coverage area and operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said coverage area;

a hub operatively adapted to communicate with said tower;

said hub comprising a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said tower, a second server operatively adapted to store data and to communicate with said first server, and a third server operatively adapted to communicate with said tower and said first server and to initiate the transmission of said switch signal;

said radio operatively adapted to switch said radio from receiving on said control channel to receiving on said data channel when said radio receives a switch signal;

said hub operatively adapted to initiate the transmission of said switch signal;

said radio operatively adapted to send a clear-to-receive signal to said first server on said data channel after receiving said switch signal;

said first server operatively adapted to send a server-transmit signal to said second server after receiving said clear-to-receive signal;

said second server operatively adapted to transmit said data to said first server after receiving said server-transmit signal; and

said first server operatively adapted to transmit said data to said tower after said first server receives said data from said second server.

62. The radio switching system set forth in claim 61, wherein said control channel comprises a voice channel.

63. The radio switching system set forth in claim 61, wherein said control channel comprises a tower marker beacon.

64. A method for switching a radio from a control channel to a data channel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio operatively adapted to transmit and receive on a control channel or a data channel;

providing said control channel with a switching protocol that defines a switch signal;

providing a tower having a defined coverage area and operatively adapted to communicate with said radio when said radio is in said coverage area;

providing a first server operatively adapted to communicate with said tower;

providing a second server operatively adapted to store data and to communicate with said first server;

providing a third server operatively adapted to communicate with said tower and said first server;

sending a prompt signal from said second server to said third server;

said third server initiating the sending of said switch signal from said first tower to said radio after receiving said prompt signal from said second server;

said radio switching from receiving on said control channel to receiving on said data channel after receiving said switch signal;

sending a clear-to-receive signal from said radio to said first server on said data channel after receiving said switch signal;

sending a server-transmit signal from said first server to said second server after said first server receives said clear-to-receive signal;

transmitting said data from said second server to said first server after said second server receives said server-transmit signal; and

transmitting said data from said first server to said tower after said first server receives said data from said second server.