Computer method and system for management and control of wireless devices

• US 6,628,965 B1
• Filed: 10/16/1998
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Mobile Data Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Mobile Data Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: LaRosa, Mark I., Gervasio, Patrick, Petrov, Andrew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/173,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422, 455/460, 455/556, 455/557, 379/265-1-2, 709/201-203, 709/217-219, 709/230, 709/313, 709/315, 709/337
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

A system and method of operating a computer system manages and controls wireless devices through a wireless control subsystem. The wireless control subsystem includes a programming module to extend a base communications API of a multi-tasking operating system through a set of programming objects callable by at least one wireless-related application. The wireless control subsystem also includes a system module having a plurality of layers of linked programming objects which propagate information from object to object indicative of the occurrence of system level events related to the operation and/or status of the wireless devices. System level events are communicated from a wireless device to the system module and through the layers of objects within the system module. Information indicative of said system level events is further propagated from the system module to the programming module to the wireless-related application.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system for managing and controlling wireless devices comprising:

(a) providing at least one wireless device connected to a first computer of the computer system;

(b) providing a multi-tasking operating system having a base shell and base communications API to the first computer, said base shell of said operating system providing a base graphical-user interface (GUI) displaying GUI elements on a user desktop, said GUI elements including a control panel folder containing icons representing configuration controls of said operating system;

(c) providing a wireless control subsystem to the first computer including a shell extension module extending said base shell of said operating system through providing a first set of COM objects configured to provide a folder icon in said control panel folder containing device icons therein representing said wireless devices and a program icon in said control panel folder for accessing controls of said wireless control program subsystem by selection of said program icon; and

(d) actuating the first computer by said wireless control subsystem such that said COM objects are used by said wireless control program subsystem to display graphical indicia to said base shell of said operating system indicating activation of said wireless control program subsystem.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first set of COM objects are configured to place an additional program icon on said user desktop.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first set of COM objects are configured to display representations of said wireless devices folder and program icon in an exploring window.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said user desktop includes a task tray region for displaying icons representing programs that extend said operating system and wherein said first set of COM objects are configured to locate a program icon in said task tray region upon activation of said wireless control subsystem.

5. A method of operating a computer system for managing and controlling wireless devices comprising:

(a) providing at least one wireless device connected to a first computer of the computer system and at least one wireless-related application running on the same computer;

(b) providing a multi-tasking operating system having a base shell and base communications API to the first computer; and

(c) providing a wireless control subsystem to the first computer including;

(i) a shell extension module extending said base shell of said operating system through providing a first set of COM objects used by said wireless control program subsystem to display graphical indicia to said base shell of said operating system indicating activation of said wireless control program subsystem,

(ii) a programming module extending said base communications API through a set of programming objects callable by wireless-related applications for enabling wireless communications among said wireless device and said wireless-related applications, and

(iii) a system module comprising a plurality of linked programming objects operative to propagate information indicative of an occurrence of system level events related to at least one of the operation and status of said wireless device through said linked programming objects of said system module to said programming objects of said programming module and then to said at least one application running on the first computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless control subsystem further comprises an industry standard module which exposes one or more industry-standard programming interfaces to a programmer to enable development of custom wireless applications which can communicate with said programming module and said system module.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said one or more industry-standard programming interfaces comprises ActiveX.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said one or more industry-standard programming interfaces comprises Winsock.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said one or more industry-standard programming interfaces comprises OBDC.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein said programming objects of said programming module includes application socket objects which represent single socket connections with each application, and said plurality of said linked programming objects include a first layer of cable objects representing a communication link with a wireless device, a second layer of socket objects representing a user created socket connection, and a third layer of process objects representing the link between the system module and the programming module, and said wireless control subsystem actuates the first computer to:

(i) sense at said cable objects the occurrence of a system level event related to the operation and/or status of said wireless device,

(ii) send first signals from said cable objects indicative of said system level event to said socket objects,

(iii) send second signals from said socket objects indicative of said system level event to said process objects,

(iv) send third signals indicative of said system level event from said process objects to said application socket objects of said programming module, and from said application socket objects to the application.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said system module is operative to propagate through said objects a system level event indicative of when said at least one wireless device is in an out-of-coverage area.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said wireless control subsystem is configured to hold in abeyance communications with a said wireless device determined to be in an out-of-coverage area until said system module determines when said at least one wireless device returns to a coverage area by sensing the occurrence of an in-coverage system event.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said system module is operative to propagate through said objects real-time system level events to provide diagnostic information about the status of said at least one wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said real-time diagnostic information is displayed on a display device of the first computer in an on-screen diagnostic panel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said diagnostic information includes registration status, signal strength and device address.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein said system module further comprises at least one wizard program for automatic and simplified configuration and registration of said at least one wireless device to said wireless control subsystem.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless control subsystem is operative to allow said at least one said wireless device to communicate simultaneously with two or more of said applications.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the computer system further includes a second remote computer and at least one wireless-related application running on the second remote computer, said second remote computer having a programming module and being connected to the first computer via a communications link, and said wireless control subsystem is operative to allow said at least one said wireless device to communicate simultaneously with said at least one application running on said first computer and said at least one application running on said second remote computer.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless control subsystem is operative to allow said at least one application running on said first computer to communicate with two or more of said wireless devices simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer system further includes a second remote computer and at least one wireless-related application running on the second remote computer, said second remote computer having a system module and being connected to the first computer via a communications link, and said wireless control subsystem is operative to allow said at least one application running on said second remote computer to communicate with two or more of said wireless devices simultaneously.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein said at least one wireless device comprises at least one wireless device operable with a first wireless network protocol and at least one wireless device operable with a second, different wireless network protocol.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein said system module utilizes sockets for data transport.

23. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless devices are assigned a unique numeric address, and wherein said system and shell extension modules are operative to match said numeric addresses to user-friendly monikers.