System and method for obtaining information from a wireless modem

• US 8,155,623 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Lai, Duc Dinh
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, MARCOS L
• Application Number:
  US11/191,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,447 Days
• Field of Search: 713/156, 713/172, 713/185, 713/161, 713/168, 713/169, 713/170, 713/153, 713/206, 455410-411, 455/557, 455/456.1, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining information from a wireless modem are provided. An information requesting device can send an information request to the wireless modem. The wireless modem authenticates the information request, obtains the requested information and provides the obtained information to the information requesting device. The information can be a current location of the wireless modem, a received signal strength, whether the wireless modem is transmitting or receiving data, whether an external device is coupled to the wireless modem, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless modem, comprising the acts of:

monitoring, by the wireless modem, a port for information request packets;

receiving, by the wireless modem, an information request packet;

authenticating, by the wireless modem, the information request packet;

obtaining, by the wireless modem, information requested by the information request packet; and

transmitting, by the wireless modem, an information response packet including the obtained information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information request packet includes an authentication token used for authenticating the information request packet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information response packet includes the authentication token.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information request and response packets are user datagram protocol (UDP) packets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the information request and response packets is formatted according to eXtenisble Markup Language (XML), Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), plain text or encrypted text.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is geographical location information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether a computer is coupled to the wireless modem.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether the wireless modem is transmitting or receiving data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is a signal strength for signals being received by the wireless modem.

10. A wireless modem, comprising:

logic for monitoring a port for information request packets;

logic for receiving an information request packet;

logic for authenticating the information request packet;

logic for obtaining information requested by the information request packet; and

logic for transmitting an information response packet including the obtained information.

11. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information request packet includes an authentication token used for authenticating the information request packet.

12. The wireless modem of claim 11, wherein the information response packet includes the authentication token.

13. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information request and response packets are user datagram protocol (UDP) packets.

14. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information in the information request and response packets is formatted according to eXtenisble Markup Language (XML), Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), plain text or encrypted text.

15. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is geographical location information.

16. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether a computer is coupled to the wireless modem.

17. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether the wireless modem is transmitting or receiving data.

18. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is a signal strength for signals being received by the wireless modem.

19. An information providing device, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a modem operatively configured together with the wireless communication device, wherein the modem includes

logic for monitoring a port for information request packets;

logic for receiving an information request packet;

logic for authenticating the information request packet;

logic for obtaining information requested by the information request packet; and

logic for transmitting an information response packet including the obtained information.

20. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information request packet includes an authentication token used for authenticating the information request packet.

21. The information providing device of claim 20, wherein the information response packet includes the authentication token.

22. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information request and response packets are user datagram protocol (UDP) packets.

23. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information in the information request and response packets is formatted according to eXtenisble Markup Language (XML), Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), plain text or encrypted text.

24. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is geographical location information.

25. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether a computer is coupled to the wireless modem.

26. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is whether the wireless modem is transmitting or receiving data.

27. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information requested by the information request packet is a signal strength for signals being received by the wireless modem.

28. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information providing device is a wireless telephone.

29. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information providing device is a personal digital assistant.

30. The information providing device of claim 19, wherein the information providing device is a computer.