Operator independent, transparent wireless modem management

• US 7,627,022 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Monroe, Daniel Richard, Rea, Gregory Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Torres; Juan A
• Application Number:
  US10/759,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An operator independent, transparent wireless modem management system is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the modem management system comprises the steps of receiving a short message service message at the wireless modem and examining the short message service message for modem management information. If the short message service message comprises modem management information, then the wireless modem processes the short message service message. A wireless modem for accomplishing the same is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor;

at least one memory coupled to the processor, the at least one memory including instructions to cause the processor to implement a wireless protocol;

a RF transceiver coupled to the processor; and

an interface coupled to the processor, the interface to receive signals from an equipment;

wherein the processor is to process the signals received from the equipment over the interface; and

wherein the processor is further to process one or more short message service messages received through the RF transceiver from a wireless network, the shot message service messages including modem management information; and

wherein the modem management information is to allow at least one of remote initialization and remote control of the equipment, wherein the modem management information includes program code to execute on the wireless modem, wherein the processor is to process the short message service messages at the wireless modem including handling a request for a call log history, and wherein the equipment is selected from a utility meter, a meter concentration point, a utility meter control system, a substation monitor, telemetry equipment, a vending machine, and a computer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said modem management information comprises wireless modem configuration parameters.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said modem management information comprises a command for a wireless modem to perform a function stored internally to the wireless modern.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor processes the one or more short message service messages received through the RF transceiver by parsing data from the one or more of the short message service messages, testing the parsed data for a modem management command indictor, and processing the short message service message when the modem management command indictor is detected.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless protocol comprises a global system for mobile communications protocol.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless protocol comprises a general packet radio services protocol.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory holds modem management software to allow the processor to handle the one or more short message service messages including the modem management information received through the RF transceiver.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the equipment is external to the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a receptacle to receive a line coupled to the user equipment.

10. A method performed by a wireless modem comprising:

receiving a short message service message at a RF transceiver of a wireless modem from a wireless network, wherein the wireless modem comprises the RF transceiver, a processor coupled with the RF transceiver, a non-volatile memory coupled with the processor, a volatile memory coupled with the processor, and a wireless protocol stack means;

examining the short message service message for modem management information with the wireless protocol stack means and the processor; and

processing the short message service message at the wireless modem with the wireless protocol stack means and the processor when the short message service message includes the modem management information, wherein said processing the short message service message comprises the wireless modem performing at least one of remote initialization and remote control of equipment that is coupled with the wireless modem, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises locating program code in the short message service message that is to execute on the wireless modem, and wherein the equipment is selected from a utility meter, a meter concentration point, a utility meter control system, a substation monitor, telemetry equipment, a vending machine, and a computer.

11. The method of claim 10, said examining comprising:

parsing the short message service message; and

testing the parsed short message service message for a modem management command indicator, the command indicator indicating whether the short message service message includes the modem management information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises initializing the wireless modem based upon the modem management information contained in the short message service message.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises checking a quality of a wireless signal detected at the wireless modem.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises selecting a RF Channel for wireless communications on the wireless modem.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises authenticating a party sending short message service messages to the wireless modem.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said processing the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises initializing communication parameters for event detection and notification.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said receiving the short message service message at the wireless modem comprises receiving the short message service message from a wireless Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) communication network.