System and methods for conserving wireless resources

• US 20020042266A1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Discrete Wireless Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Discrete Wireless Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: DeKraker, Michael, Heyward, Craig, Thacher, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US09/974,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

The intelligent mobile unit system is an all-in-one device that has the intelligence to determine if a new transmission of the current status is warranted based upon a change of status of the mobile unit since the last status transmission. Since the mobile unit has the intelligence to broadcast its status when necessary, a host system that receives the status updates knows the relevant current status at all times. Consequently, the host system can provide the mobile unit status to all inquiries without requesting an update from the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method for providing status information from a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

comparing, at a mobile unit, current status data with the last broadcast status data;

determining a broadcast status criteria wherein the broadcast status criteria includes a plurality of predetermined criterions;

transmitting the current status databased upon the broadcast status criteria;

receiving the current status data at a host system;

storing the current status data;

receiving a request for the status information;

retrieving the current status data from storage on the host system; and

proving the status information based upon the stored current status data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if an external power source is currently connected to the intelligent mobile unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if an external sensor has changed status.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if the mobile unit has entered or exited a predetermined geographical zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if the mobile unit has triggered a preset alarm.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has exceeded a predetermined speed limit.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has exited a geographically defined zone.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has moved during a predetermined time period.

9. A system for providing status information from a mobile unit, comprising:

an all-inclusive container with a connector for an external power source and at least one connector for external sensor signals;

an internal power supply chargeable by the external power source;

an internal global positioning receiver connected to the internal power supply;

an internal processor coupled to the global positioning receiver wherein the processor transmits current status data based upon a broadcast status criteria;

internal memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory stores the broadcast status criteria;

an internal radio modem coupled to the processor; and

an internal antenna coupled to the radio modem.

10. A system for providing status information from a mobile unit, comprising:

an all-inclusive container with a connector for an external power source;

an internal power supply chargeable by the external power source;

an internal global positioning receiver connected to the internal power supply;

an internal processor coupled to the global positioning receiver wherein the processor determines a broadcast criteria based upon if external power is available;

internal memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory stores the broadcast criteria;

an internal radio modem coupled to the processor; and

an internal antenna coupled to the radio modem.

11. A system for providing status information from an intelligent mobile unit, comprising:

an all-in-one box mobile unit comprising;

a container with an external power source connection and at least one external sensor signal connection comprising;

an internal power supply chargeable by the external power source;

an internal global positioning receiver connected to the internal power supply;

an internal processor coupled to the global positioning receiver wherein the processor transmits current status data based upon a broadcast status criteria;

internal memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory stores the broadcast status criteria;

an internal radio modem coupled to the processor; and

an internal antenna coupled to the radio modem;

a wireless network wherein the wireless network receives wireless data packets transmitted from the radio modem;

a host system that receives data packets from the wireless network and stores the data packet information on a storage mechanism;

a global computer network for delivering a status request to the host system wherein the global computer network delivers the status information based upon the stored data packet information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if an external sensor has changed status.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if the mobile unit has entered or exited a predetermined geographical zone.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the broadcast criteria includes determining if the mobile unit has triggered a preset alarm.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has exceeded a predetermined speed limit.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has exited a geographically defined zone.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining if the mobile unit has triggered a predetermined alarm includes determining if the mobile unit has moved during a predetermined time period.

12. A system for providing status information from a mobile unit, comprising:

a mobile unit containing a radio modem, a global position receiver, and a processor wherein the processor causes a transmission if a broadcast criteria has been satisfied, the broadcast criteria includes a plurality of criterions;

a wireless network wherein the wireless network receives wireless data packets transmitted from a radio modem within the mobile unit;

a global computer network for delivering a status request to a host system;

the host system that receives data packets from the wireless network, stores the data packet information on a storage mechanism, and provides the status information from the stored information at the host system.

13. A method for providing status information from a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

comparing, at the mobile unit, current status data with last broadcast status data;

determining a broadcast criteria wherein the broadcast criteria includes a plurality of predetermined criterions of which one criterion is whether external power is available to the mobile unit;

transmitting the current status databased upon the broadcast status criteria;