System and method for prolonging wireless data product's life

• US 7,680,471 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Emory, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thanh C
• Application Number:
  US11/804,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/422, 455/426.1, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/575.1, 455/140, 455/142, 375/259, 375/260, 375/261
• US Class Current: 455/142
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Digital upgrade system and method for translating analog commands and digital commands in wireless customer services premises equipment (CPE). The digital upgrade system receives a command from a CPE Host and translates the command from analog to digital in order to broadcast it over a wireless digital network to be received by a client. Alternatively, the digital upgrade system receives a digital command from a digital network and translates it to an analog command to be received by a functionality module of a wireless CPE Host.

Claims

1. A digital upgrade system for an analog wireless data device having an analog signal processing function and a pre-existing form factor comprising linear dimensions of the device, comprising:

a digital radio transceiver for communicating signals via a digital wireless network, each of the signals compatible with a digital wireless data transport; and

a software module, functionally connected to the digital radio transceiver, for performing the steps of;

receiving a digital command output by the digital radio transceiver, the digital command carried by one of the signals compatible with the digital wireless data transport and received by the digital radio transceiver;

translating the digital command into an analog command compatible with an analog data transport associated with the analog wireless data device; and

outputting the analog command for processing by the analog wireless data device,

wherein the digital radio transceiver and the software module are designed to replace a corresponding analog radio transceiver of the analog wireless data device and configured to fit within the pre-existing form factor of the analog wireless data device.

2. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein the software module interfaces with the analog wireless data device substantially in the same manner as the analog radio transceiver previously interfaced with the analog wireless data device.

3. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein each of the digital wireless signals comprises a SMS digital-formatted message.

4. The digital upgrade system of claim 3, wherein the software module translates the SMS digital-formatted message to an AMPS analog-formatted message.

5. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein the software module and digital radio transceiver are integrated within a single unit for use in the analog wireless data device.

6. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein the software module further performs the steps of:

receiving an analog command from the analog wireless data device;

translating the analog command into a digital command compatible with the digital radio transceiver; and

outputting the digital command to the digital radio transceiver for transmission as one of the digital wireless signals via the digital wireless data transport.

7. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein the digital radio transceiver uses a MIN to determine the command received over the digital wireless network.

8. The digital upgrade system of claim 1, wherein the software module uses a MIN to determine the command received over the digital wireless network.

9. A digital upgrade system for prolonging the useful life of wireless data products, comprising:

a printed circuit board of substantially the same size and shape as an analog wireless data radio transceiver, the printed board comprising;

interconnecting wiring;

a digital radio transceiver for communicating signals via a digital wireless network, each of the signals compatible with a digital wireless data transport; and

a microprocessor operable to translate a digital command carried by one of the signals communicated via the digital wireless network into an analog command to be processed by the analog wireless data device, wherein the microprocessor performs the steps of;

receiving the digital command from the digital radio transceiver, the digital command obtained by the digital radio transceiver in response to processing one of the signals compatible with the digital wireless data transport;

translating the digital command into an analog command compatible with an analog wireless data transport associated with the analog wireless data device; and

outputting the analog command to the analog wireless data device.

10. The digital upgrade system of claim 9, the printed board further comprising a pin header that fits substantially within a form-fit pre-existing pin connection on the analog wireless data device.

11. The digital upgrade system of claim 9, wherein the digital command comprises an SMS message and the analog signal comprises an AMPS message.

12. A method for translating a digital command compatible with a digital wireless network for processing by an analog wireless data device, comprising the steps of:

replacing an analog radio transceiver of the analog wireless data device with the combination of a digital radio transceiver and a software module, each configured to fit within a pre-existing form factor of the analog wireless data device.

obtaining the digital command in response to processing a signal received by the digital radio transceiver via the digital wireless network, the signal compatible with a digital wireless data transport;

translating at the software module the digital command into an analog command compatible with an analog data transport associated with the analog wireless data device; and

outputting the analog command from the software module for processing by the analog wireless data device.

13. The digital upgrade system of claim 12, wherein the digital command comprises an SMS message.

14. The digital upgrade system of claim 12, wherein the digital command is translated to an AMPS message.

15. A method for prolonging the useful life of an analog wireless data device, comprising the steps of:

removing an analog radio transceiver from the analog wireless data device;

replacing the analog radio transceiver with a component of substantially the same size as the analog radio transceiver, the component comprising a digital radio transceiver and a software module, the component designed to connect to the analog wireless data device through a pre-existing form-fitting connection, the component operative to perform the steps of;

obtaining the digital command in response to processing a signal received by the digital radio transceiver via a digital wireless network, the signal compatible with a digital wireless data transport;

using the software module to translate the digital command into an analog command compatible with the analog wireless data device; and

outputting the analog command from the software module for processing by the analog wireless data device.

16. The digital upgrade system of claim 15, wherein the digital command comprises an SMS message.

17. The digital upgrade system of claim 16, wherein the software module translates the SMS message to an AMPS message.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital radio transceiver uses a mask and MIN number to determine the command received over the wireless data transport.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at the software module an analog command from the analog wireless data device;

using the software module to translate the analog command into a digital command compatible with the digital radio transceiver; and

outputting the digital command to the digital radio transceiver for communication via the digital wireless data transport.

20. A digital upgrade system for an analog wireless data device having an analog signal processing function and a pre-existing form factor comprising linear dimensions of the device, comprising:

a digital radio transceiver for communicating signals via a digital wireless network, each of the signals compatible with a digital wireless data transport; and

a software module, functionally connected to the digital radio transceiver, operable to translate a message from the digital radio transceiver by performing the steps of;

receiving a digital command output by the digital radio transceiver, the digital command carried by one of the signals compatible with the digital wireless data transport and received by the digital radio transceiver;

translating the digital command into an analog command compatible with an analog data transport associated with the analog wireless data device; and

outputting the analog command for processing by the analog wireless data device,

and operable to translate a message from the analog wireless data device by performing the steps of;

receiving an analog command from the analog wireless data device;

translating the analog command into a digital command compatible with the digital radio transceiver; and

outputting the digital command to the digital radio transceiver for transmission as one of the digital wireless signals via the digital wireless data transport,

wherein the digital radio transceiver and the software module are designed to replace a corresponding analog radio transceiver of the analog wireless data device and configured to fit within the pre-existing form factor of the analog wireless data device.