Method and apparatus for transmitting message from short-range wireless device over a satellite network

• US 8,913,960 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalstar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Globalstar Incorporated
• Inventors: Monte, Paul A., Bravo, Alfonso, Beech, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US14/201,208
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/423, 455/420, 455/553.1, 455/566, 455/419, 455/552.1, 455/557, 455/418, 345/689, 345/650, 345/204, 345/205
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A communications system including a SN Device including a satellite transmitter and a local wireless transceiver and a GUI Device, separate from the SN Device. The GUI Device includes a user interface and local wireless transceiver capable of establishing a wireless link with the SN Device. The GUI Device transmits command information to the SN Device and the SN Device transmits at least location data to a satellite network.

Claims

1. A method of communication in a communications system, where the communication system comprises a satellite network device, including a satellite transmitter, global positioning system receiver circuitry, and a short range non cellular wireless transceiver, and a graphical user interface device, physically separate from the satellite network device, the graphical user interface device including a user interface and short range non-cellular wireless transceiver, where the graphical user interface device and satellite network device are capable of communicating with each other over a short range non-cellular wireless communications link;

the method comprising the steps of;

a) receiving a command at the satellite network device over the short range non-cellular wireless transceiver from the graphical user interface device, and

b) the satellite network device, in response to said command, transmitting data through the satellite transmitter, where said data includes at least user device identity data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the satellite network device further receives a digital alpha numeric text message from the graphical user interface device, and said transmitted data further included a portion of said text message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said satellite network device further receives a text message from the graphical user interface device, and said transmitted data further includes location data.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said location data is either received by the satellite network device from either the graphical user interface device or through the global positioning system receiver circuitry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the satellite network device satellite transmitter is a simplex or a duplex transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the short range non-cellular wireless communications link is in the approximately 250 MHz to approximately 5 GHz range.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the short range non-cellular wireless communications link further comprises a wi-fi, blue tooth, wi-MAX, or ANT wireless protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 where the data transmitted includes indicia that an emergency response is needed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications system further comprises a remote back office in communication with a communications network, said back office comprising a data storage and a processor, said back office capable of communication with said satellite network device through a satellite communications network, wherein said data transmitted further comprises third party server identity data, said third party server identity data being transmitted to said back office.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the third party server identity data is a third party application key or a system destination code.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the user device identity data is one or more of an electronic serial number of the graphical user interface device, an electronic serial number of the satellite network device, or a user logon ID previously established.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the text message comprises a utility meter value.

13. A communications system comprising:

a) a satellite network device including a satellite transmitter, global positioning system receiver circuitry, and a short range non cellular wireless transceiver;

b) at least one graphical user interface device, separate from the satellite network device, the graphical user interface device including a user interface and short range non-cellular wireless transceiver capable of establishing a wireless communications link with the satellite network device;

c) wherein the satellite network device transmits data to at least one of said at least one graphical user interface device through the short range non-cellular wireless transceiver and the at least one of said at least one graphical user interface device, upon receipt of said data, displays a portion of said data on the associated user interface; and

d) wherein the satellite network device and the at least one graphical user interface device each have a housing and there is no physical connection between the satellite network device housing and the at least one graphical user interface housings.

14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein said at least one graphical user interface device comprises a plurality of graphical user interface devices.

15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein each graphical user interface device contains a unique device identifier, and said data transmitted contains at least one of said unique device identifiers.