Automatic remote communication using network telephony

• US 7,890,117 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Zonoun, Mohammad R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US09/522,325
• Time in Patent Office: 3,995 Days
• Field of Search: 455/440, 455/414.1, 455/456, 455/414, 455/404, 455/521, 455/456.1, 455/404.1, 340/538.11, 340/854.1, 340/993, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/538.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus to provide remote communication using network telephony. In a transmitter, an activation message is decoded to generate an activation command. The activation message is sent from an activator via a communication medium in response to a telephony call. An information message is transmitted, responsive to the activation command, to a receiver using a communication protocol. In a receiver, an activation message is decoded to generate an activation command. The activation message is sent in response to a telephone call. An information message is received, responsive to the activation command. The information message is sent from a transmitter according to a communication protocol via a communication medium.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a decoder to decode an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from a request subsystem via a communication medium in response to a telephony call, the decoder generating an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern; and

a transmitting unit coupled to the decoder to transmit a signal modulated from an information message to a receiver using a communication protocol, in response to the activation command, the information message containing a geographical location of a transmitter containing the transmitting unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver is coupled to a server, the server embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting unit comprises a modulator to modulate the information message according to a modulating scheme.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the modulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the modulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of the transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a decoder to decode an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from an activator in response to a telephony call, the decoder generating an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern; and

a receiving unit coupled to the decoder to receive a signal containing an information message upon enabled by the activation command, the information message being sent from a transmitter according to a communication protocol via a communication medium and containing a geographical location of the transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the receiving unit is coupled to a server, the server embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the receiving unit comprises a demodulator to demodulate the signal according to a demodulating scheme.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the demodulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the demodulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the transmitter.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

21. A method comprising:

decoding an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern to generate an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from a request subsystem via a communication medium in response to a telephony call; and

transmitting a signal modulated from an information message responsive to the activation command, by a transmitting unit, to a receiver using a communication protocol, the information message containing a geographical location of a transmitter containing the transmitting unit.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein transmitting comprises modulating the information message according to a modulating scheme.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the modulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the modulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of the transmitter.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

31. A method comprising:

decoding an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern to generate an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from an activator in response to a telephone call; and

receiving a signal containing an information message upon enabled by the activation command, the signal being sent from a transmitter according to a communication protocol, the information message containing geographical location information of the transmitter.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprises embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein receiving comprises demodulating the information message according to a demodulating scheme.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the demodulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the demodulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the transmitter.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

41. A computer program product comprising:

a machine useable medium having computer program code embedded therein, the computer program product having;

computer readable program code for decoding an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern to generate an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from a request subsystem via a communication medium in response to a telephony call; and

computer readable program code for transmitting a signal modulated from an information message, responsive to the activation command by a transmitting unit, to a receiver using a communication protocol, the information message containing a geographical location of a transmitter containing the transmitting unit.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 further comprises computer readable program code for embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the computer readable program code for transmitting comprises computer readable program code for modulating the information message according to a modulating scheme.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the modulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

46. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the modulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

47. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitting unit.

48. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

49. The computer program product of claim 48 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of one of the decoder and the transmitter.

50. The computer program product of claim 49 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

51. A computer program product comprising:

a machine useable medium having computer program code embedded therein, the computer program product having;

computer readable program code for decoding an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern to generate an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the activation message being sent from an activator in response to a telephony call; and

computer readable program code for receiving a signal containing an information message, upon enabled by the activation command, the information message being sent from a transmitter according to a communication protocol, the information message containing geographical location information of the transmitter.

52. The computer program product of claim 51 further comprises computer readable program code for embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

53. The computer program product of claim 52 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

54. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein the computer readable program code for receiving comprises demodulating the information message according to a demodulating scheme.

55. The computer program product of claim 54 wherein the receiver is a tone receiver compatible with the demodulating scheme.

56. The computer program product of claim 55 wherein the demodulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

57. The computer program product of claim 51 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

58. The computer program product of claim 57 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

59. The computer program product of claim 58 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of the transmitter.

60. The computer program product of claim 59 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

61. A system comprising:

a request subsystem to transmit an activation message in response to a telephony call; and

a transmitter to communicate with the request subsystem via a communication medium, the transmitter comprising;

a decoder to decode the activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, the decoder generating an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, and

a transmitting unit coupled to the decoder to transmit a signal modulated from an information message, responsive to the activation command, to a receiver using a communication protocol, the information message containing geographical location information of the transmitter.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the receiver is coupled to a server, the server embedding the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the transmitting unit comprises a modulator to modulate the information message according to a modulating scheme.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the modulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the modulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

67. The system of claim 61 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of one of the decoder and the transmitter.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.

71. A system comprising:

an activator to transmit an activation message containing a predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern in response to a telephony call; and

a receiver coupled to the server, the receiver comprising;

a decoder to decode the activation message, the decoder generating an activation command upon detecting the predefined frequency, code, or bit pattern, and

a receiving unit coupled to the decoder to receive a signal containing an information message upon enabled by the activation command, the information message being sent from a transmitter according to a communication protocol via a communication medium and containing geographical location information of the transmitter.

72. The system of claim 71 further comprises a server coupled to the receiver to embed the information message in network data to be sent over a network.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the communication protocol uses one of a multi-frequency tone, an ultra-red signal, a microwave signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the receiver comprises a demodulator to demodulate the information message according to a demodulating scheme.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the demodulating scheme is compatible with a sound signal.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the demodulating scheme uses a pseudo random binary sound (PRBS).

77. The system of claim 71 wherein the information message includes a location identifier corresponding to the geographical location of the transmitter.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the location identifier includes global positioning system (GPS) information.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein the telephony call is made by a person located in proximity of the geographical location of the transmitter.

80. The system of claim 79 wherein the telephony call is an emergency call using an emergency call number.