Method and system for remotely configuring mobile telemetry devices

• US 7,594,038 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Humphries, L. Scott, Ngo, Huey-Jiun, Puranik, Gagan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred; Alford W
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, RICHARD B
• Application Number:
  US10/758,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/8, 710 10- 12
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An approach is provided for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network is disclosed. A client (e.g., web browser application) communicates with a fleet and asset management system to obtain information about a plurality of objects (vehicle or asset). In response to the user input, the client transmits the user input to the fleet and asset management, wherein the fleet and asset management generates a configuration message based on the user input for transmission over the wireless network to the one telemetry device for configuring an input/output (I/O) port of the telemetry device. The I/O port is coupled to a corresponding one of the objects. The telemetry device sets parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message.

Claims

1. A method for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network, the method comprising:

transmitting a configuration message over the wireless network to one of the telemetry devices for configuring a programmable input/output (I/O) port of the one telemetry device, wherein the I/O port couples to an object, and the one telemetry device sets parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message;

receiving data corresponding to the I/O port of the one telemetry device for managing a plurality of objects corresponding to the telemetry devices, wherein the wireless network is a two-way paging system;

receiving a location data request for Assisted-Global Positioning System (A-GPS) data over the wireless network from the one telemetry device; and

transmitting the A-GPS data in response to the location data request, wherein the one telemetry device determines location of the object based upon the A-GPS data.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a control message to the one telemetry device, in response to the control message the one telemetry device controlling one of the object via the I/O port and status of the I/O port.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein a signal is received over the I/O port controls operation of the one telemetry device.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the object is an automobile, and the signal represents an output of a sensor or a switch of the automobile.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one telemetry device autonomously obtains GPS data to determine the location of the object.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message from a client to initiate transmission of the configuration message.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network has a protocol that specifies a format for the configuration message including,

a field for providing port settings including,

a port field specifying the I/O port, and

a pin setting field for specifying pin settings for the I/O port, wherein the pin setting field specifies information on type of pin and information on configuration of the pin.

8. A fleet and asset management system for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network, the system comprising:

a presentation server configured to generate a configuration message for transmission over the wireless network to one of the telemetry devices for configuring a programmable input/output (I/O) port of the one telemetry device, wherein the I/O port couples to an object, and the one telemetry device sets parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message;

a messaging server configured to transmit the configuration message and to receive data corresponding to the I/O port of the one telemetry device for managing a plurality of objects corresponding to the telemetry devices, wherein the wireless network is a two-way paging system; and

a GPS server configured to receive a location data request for Assisted-Global Positioning System (A-GPS) data over the wireless network from the one telemetry device, and to transmit the A-GPS data in response to the location data request,

wherein the one telemetry device determines location of the object based upon the A-GPS data.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the presentation server generates a control message for transmission to the one telemetry device, in response to the control message the one telemetry device controlling one of the objects via the I/O port and status of the I/O.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein a signal is received over the I/O port controls operation of the one telemetry device.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the object is an automobile, and the signal represents an output of a sensor or a switch of the automobile.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the one telemetry device autonomously obtains GPS data to determine the location of the object.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the presentation server receives a message from a client to initiate transmission of the configuration message.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the wireless network has a protocol that specifies a format for the configuration message including,

a field for providing port settings including,

a port field specifying the I/O port, and

a pin setting field for specifying pin settings for the I/O port;

wherein the pin setting field specifics information on type of pin and information on configuration of the pin.

15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

transmitting a configuration message over the wireless network to one of the telemetry devices for configuring a programmable input/output (I/O) port of the one telemetry device, wherein the I/O port couples to an object, and the one telemetry device sets parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message;

receiving data corresponding to the I/O port of the one telemetry device for managing a plurality of objects corresponding to the telemetry devices, wherein the wireless network is a two-way paging system;

receiving a location data request for Assisted-Global Positioning System (A-GPS) data over the wireless network from the one telemetry device; and

transmitting the A-GPS data in response to the location data request, wherein the one telemetry device determines location of the object based upon the A-GPS data.

16. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

transmitting a control message to the one telemetry device, in response to the control message the one telemetry device controlling one of the object via the I/O port and status of the I/O.

17. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein a signal is received over the I/O port controls operation of the one telemetry device.

18. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the object is an automobile, and the signal represents an output of a sensor or a switch of the automobile.

19. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the one telemetry device autonomously obtains GPS data to determine the location of the object.

20. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to perform the step of:

receiving a message from a client to initiate transmission of the configuration message.

21. A method for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network, the method comprising:

communicating with a fleet and asset management system to obtain information about a plurality of objects;

receiving a user input relating to configuration of one of a plurality of telemetry devices corresponding to the plurality of objects; and

in response to the user input, transmitting the user input to the fleet and asset management system,

wherein the fleet and asset management system generates a configuration message based on the user input for transmission over the wireless network, including a two-way paging system, to the one telemetry device for configuring an input/output (I/O) port of the one telemetry device according to a protocol adapted for the two-way paging system, the I/O port being coupled to a corresponding one of the objects, and the one telemetry device setting parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving another user input to instruct the fleet and asset management system to transmit a control message to the one telemetry device, in response to the control message the one telemetry device controlling one of the objects via the I/O port and status of the I/O port.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein a signal received over the I/O port controls operation of the one telemetry device.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the object is an automobile, and the signal represents an output of a sensor or a switch of the automobile.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein the wireless network is a two-way paging system and includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) reference network for providing Assisted-Global Positioning System (A-GPS) data to the telemetry devices for determining locations of the corresponding objects, the one telemetry device being configured to determine autonomously location of the corresponding object.

26. A client device for configuring telemetry devices over a wireless network, the client device comprising:

means for communicating with a fleet and asset management system to obtain information about a plurality of objects;

means for receiving a user input relating to configuration of one of a plurality of telemetry devices corresponding to the plurality of objects; and

means for transmitting the user input to the fleet and asset management system, in response to the user input,

wherein the fleet and asset management system generates a configuration message based on the user input for transmission over the wireless network, including a two-way paging system, to the one telemetry device for configuring an input/output (I/O) port of the one telemetry device according to a protocol adapted for the two-way paging system, the I/O port being coupled to a corresponding one of the objects, and the one telemetry device setting parameters relating to the I/O port according to the configuration message.

27. A client device according to claim 26, wherein another user input is received instructing the fleet and asset management system to transmit a control message to the one telemetry device, in response to the control message the one telemetry device controlling the corresponding one of the objects via the I/O port.

28. A client device according to claim 27, wherein a signal received over the I/O port controls operation of the one telemetry device.

29. A client device according to claim 28, wherein the object is an automobile, and the signal represents an output of a sensor or a switch of the automobile.

30. A client device according to claim 26, wherein the wireless network is a two-way paging system and includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) reference network for providing Assisted-Global Positioning System (A-GPS) data to the telemetry devices for determining locations of the corresponding objects, the one telemetry device being configured to determine autonomously location of the corresponding object.