Service Escrowed Transportable Wireless Event Reporting System

• US 20120302207A1
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless America Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Comer, Edward I., Marett, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Claims

1. A method, for providing a system for wireless event monitoring and associated event monitoring services, comprising the steps of:

in preparation for sale of the system through a mass-market sales channel, associating a number with the system;

associating with the number a specified amount of the services to be deemed prepaid with consumer purchase of the system;

subsequent to consumer purchase of the system, receiving from the system a wireless signal conveying the number; and

responsive to receiving the number, activating services for the system in accordance with the specified amount of services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system automatically sends the number to a remote monitoring station upon power up.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein substantially all components of the system are contained in a package suitable for sale at a retail outlet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is contained in a blister-pack-type package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the number conveys identity of the system as unique to all other systems for wireless event reporting provided through the mass-market sales channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a controller, and wherein the number is assigned to the controller during manufacture.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the number establishes an operational identity for a controller of the system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the number is generic to a group of systems for wireless event monitoring distributed through the mass-market sales channel, and

wherein responsive to the step of receiving from the system the wireless signal conveying the number, the system is assigned a different, unique operational identity for future communications.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a cell phone.

10. A system comprising

a replacement SIM card that is configured for purchase by a consumer through a mass-market sales channel and for insertion by the consumer into an existing cell phone, the replacement SIM card operable to allow the existing cell phone to function as a controller within an operating environment of a portable event reporting system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system comprises the cell phone with the inserted SIM card, and wherein the cell phone with the inserted SIM card is operable to receive signals from wireless event detectors.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the cell phone with the inserted SIM card is operable to send a wireless transmission through a designated alert mechanism upon detection of a reportable event.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the cell phone functioning as the controller with the inserted SIM card comprises embedded software for detection of reportable events transmitted by wireless event detectors.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the cell phone functioning as the controller with the inserted SIM card has a finite service life period in accordance with services prepayment.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the system comprises the cell phone, and

wherein the SIM card is inserted in the cell phone.

16. A method, for providing a wireless event monitoring system that comprises hardware, embedded software, and monitoring service, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning an identity to a controller during manufacture of the controller; and

offering for sale through a mass-market sales channel a package comprising;

the hardware;

the embedded software; and

the monitoring service,

wherein the hardware comprises the controller,

wherein the controller is operable to automatically connect to a wireless network upon power up using the assigned identity, and

wherein the monitoring service is escrowed for activation of services upon the automatic connection of the controller to the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the hardware comprises a cell phone that comprises embedded software for detection of reportable events transmitted by wireless event detectors.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller comprises a cell phone.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to connect to a remote monitoring station over the wireless network based on the assigned identity.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of sending a message to the controller to establish an operational identity for the controller in accordance with the assigned identity.