Data messaging in a cellular communications network

• US 5,544,225 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iron Oak Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Highway Master Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, William C. III, Westerlage, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): OEHLING, GEORGE J
• Application Number:
  US08/465,525
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 340/988, 340/989, 340/992, 340/425.5, 340/431, 340/445, 340/447, 342/357, 342/385, 342/386, 342/388, 342/389, 342/450, 342/457
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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: H04B 7/18558 Arrangements for managing communications, i.e. for setting up, maintaining or releasing a call between stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A messaging unit (16) equipped with a cellular transceiver (38) is attached to a truck trailer (12) located within a communications network (10). The messaging unit (16) generates a data message in response to the occurrence of a reporting event. Upon generation of a data message, the cellular transceiver (38) transmits the data message over the network (10) via voice or data channels. The data message is received at an MTSO (20) and then routed to a platform (24), a clearinghouse (22), or the platform (24) through the clearinghouse (22). The data message stored at the platform (24) or the clearinghouse (22) is accessed by a host (26). A data message may be sent over a voice channel of the network (10) subject to a handshake protocol between the messaging unit (16) and the platform (24). Data messages may also be sent over a data channel of the network (10) by altering the mobile identification number (MIN) or electronic serial number (ESN) of the cellular transceiver (38). Furthermore, data messages may be sent over a data channel of the network (10) by issuing a feature request with appended data digits.

Claims

1. A system for communicating location or status information of a mobile item to be monitored using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit coupled to the mobile item, the messaging unit having a cellular transceiver coupled to the cellular telephone network, the messaging unit operable to alter an identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the location or status information of the mobile item and to transmit the altered identifier of the cellular transceiver; and

a platform coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to recognize a received altered identifier transmitted by the messaging unit to obtain the location or status information of the mobile item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform stores location or status information represented by the altered identifier.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a host coupled to the platform and operable to access the location or status information stored by the platform.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a switch coupled to the cellular telephone network and operable to recognize the altered identifier, and upon recognition, route the altered identifier to the platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the messaging unit is attached to a trucking trailer located within a service area of the cellular telephone network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the altered identifier coveys the location or status information on a reporting event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is operable to translate the altered identifier into the location or status information on a reporting event and to store the location or status information on the reporting event.

8. An apparatus for communicating location or status information of a mobile item to be monitored using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit coupled to the mobile item, the messaging unit having a cellular transceiver coupled to the cellular telephone network, the messaging unit operable to alter an identifier of the cellular transceiver to reflect the location or status information of the mobile item; and

wherein the cellular transceiver transmits the altered identifier to a remote location that recognizes the altered identifier to obtain the location or status information of the mobile item.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, comprising a sensor to generate the location or status information of the mobile item.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a positioning system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the altered identifier comprises a mobile identification number of the cellular transceiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the altered identifier comprises an electronic serial number of the cellular transceiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier by dialing a telephone number.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier by issuing a feature request.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cellular transceiver initiates transmission of the altered identifier during pre-call validation communication.

16. A method for communicating status or location information of a mobile item to be monitored using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

receiving the status or location information of the mobile item at a messaging unit;

altering, by the messaging unit, an identifier of a cellular transceiver to reflect the status or location information of the mobile item;

transmitting the altered identifier of the cellular transceiver using the cellular telephone network; and

receiving the altered identifier at a remote location, the remote location operable to recognize the altered identifier to obtain the status or location information of the mobile item.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising the step of receiving the altered identifier at a platform disposed at the remote location.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the status or location information is generated in response to a time-out signal from a real-time clock.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the status or location information comprises a sensor signal beyond predetermined limits.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the status or location information is generated in response to comprises a request to initiate communication with the mobile item.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the altered identifier is a mobile identification number of the cellular transceiver.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the altered identifier is an electronic serial number of the cellular transceiver.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by dialing a telephone number.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated by issuing a feature request.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of transmitting the altered identifier is initiated during pre-call validation communication.

26. The method of claim 17, comprising the following steps performed at the remote location:

translating the altered identifier to retrieve the status or location information; and

storing the status or location information.