Wireless communications application specific enabling method and apparatus

• US 6,285,868 B1
• Filed: 01/10/1997
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aeris Communications Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aeris Communications Inc.
• Inventors: LaDue, Christoph Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/778,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 370/264, 370/524, 370/398, 379/59, 379/60, 455/412, 455/410, 455/466, 455/517, 455/511, 455/422, 455/419, 455/403, 340/988, 340/989, 340/992, 340/425.5, 340/431, 340/445, 340/447, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wireless communication on an existing wireless communication network comprising taking existing data and manipulating the data to create manipulated data. The manipulated data is then translated into an application specific message. The application specific message is applied to control and communicate with an application specific apparatus, whereby wireless communication on the existing wireless communication network is provided without causing any disruption, system overloading, or limitation on normal system communication activity.

Claims

1. A method for communicating messages from a communicator over a cellular telephone network that includes a voice channel and a control channel wherein the voice channel conveys data and the control channel conveys control signals that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising:

a) encoding at the communicator a message comprising data related to a specific application to create an encoded message for transmission over the control channel as control signals, comprising retrieving from a memory of the communicator one of a plurality of alternative Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in which one of a plurality of alternative messages is encoded; and

b) transmitting the encoded message from the communicator over the control channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial step of transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from a remote monitoring device to the communicator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises an alarm system, and transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from the remote monitoring device to the communicator comprises transmitting the message comprising data related to a status of the alarm system from the alarm system to the communicator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a tracking system, and transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from the remote monitoring device to the communicator comprises transmitting the message comprising tracking data from the tracking system to the communicator.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving at a central monitoring station the encoded message transmitted from the communicator over the control channel; and

decoding the encoded message to extract the message transmitted by the remote monitoring device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein decoding the encoded message to extract the message transmitted by the remote monitoring device comprises decoding the retrieved one of a plurality of alternative Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in which one of a plurality of alternative messages is encoded to extract the message.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote monitoring device comprises a public utility meter, and transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from the remote monitoring device to the communicator comprises transmitting the message comprising data related to public utility usage information from the public utility meter to the communicator.

8. In a wireless data communications network that includes a voice channel for transmitting voice data and a control channel for transmitting control data that controls access to and use of the voice channel, a method for transmitting messages from a central monitoring station to a remote device coupled to a communicator, over the control channel of the wireless data communications network, comprising:

a) encoding at the central monitoring station a message comprising data related to a specific application to create an encoded message for transmission over the control channel as control signals to the communicator, comprising retrieving from a memory accessible by the central monitoring station one of a plurality of alternative Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in which one of a plurality of alternative messages is encoded; and

b) transmitting the encoded message from the central monitoring station over the control channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel, to the communicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the control channel for transmitting control data that controls access to and use of the voice channel includes a digital traffic channel and transmitting the encoded message from the central monitoring station over the control channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel, to the communicator comprises transmitting the encoded message from the central monitoring station over the digital traffic channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel, to the communicator.

10. the method of claim 9, further comprising the initial step of transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from an application specific central monitoring system to the central monitoring station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from an application specific central monitoring station to the central monitoring station comprises transmitting the message comprising data related to a request for status of a remote alarm system from a security system central monitoring station to the central monitoring station.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from an application specific central monitoring station to the central monitoring station comprises transmitting the message comprising data related to a request for a location of a remote object from a tracking system central monitoring station to the central monitoring station.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the message comprising data related to a specific application from an application specific central monitoring station to the central monitoring station comprises transmitting the message comprising data related to a request to read a public utility meter from a public utility central monitoring station to the central monitoring station.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

a) receiving at the communicator the encoded message transmitted from the central monitoring system over the control channel as control signals;

b) decoding at the communicator the encoded message to extract the message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein decoding at the communicator the encoded message to extract the message comprises searching for the one of the plurality of alternative MINs comprising the encoded message in a table of Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in a memory of the communicator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the one of the plurality of alternative MINs comprising the encoded message is in the table of Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in the memory of the communicator, transmitting the message from the communicator to the remote device.

17. A communicator for communicating messages to a central monitoring station over a cellular telephone network that includes a voice channel and a control channel wherein the voice channel conveys data and the control channel conveys control signals that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the communicator comprising:

an interface coupled to a remote data source to receive a message from the remote data source, the message comprising information related to a specific application; and

a logic circuit coupled to the interface that encodes the message received from the remote data source to create an encoded message for transmission to the central monitoring station over the control channel as control signals, wherein the logic circuit retrieves from a memory of the communicator one of a plurality of alternative Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs) in which one of a plurality of alternative messages is encoded, and

a transmitter coupled to the logic circuit that transmits the encoded message to the central monitoring station over the control channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel.

18. The communicator of claim 17, wherein the communicator is mobile.