WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`lntemational Bureau
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(51) II1teI‘l13ti01131 Patent Cl3SSifi¢3ti0Il 6 1
`H04Q 7/22, G08C 17/02, H04M 11/00
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`WO 99/49680
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`30 September 1999 (3009.99)
`
`(81) Designated States: AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG,
`BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB,
`GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG,
`KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK,
`MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI,
`SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TI‘, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA,
`ZW, ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ,
`UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD,
`RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK,
`ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI
`patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR,
`NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`Published
`With international Search report.
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`amendments.
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US99/06429
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`24 March 1999 (24.03.99)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`60/079,215
`
`24 March 1998 (2403.98)
`
`US
`
`(63) Related by Continuation (CON) or Continuation-in-Part
`(CIP) to Earlier Application
`US
`Filed on
`
`60/079,215 (CIP)
`24 March 1998 (2403.98)
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): BELLSOUTH
`INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION [US/US];
`Suite 510, 824 Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 (US).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): WHITLEY, Kevin, T.
`[US/US]; 5030 Oak Hollow Drive, Acworth, GA 30102
`(US). WARFEL, Karl, B. [US/US]; 1296 Pinehurst Road,
`Greyson, GA 30017 (US). SHAND, Arthur, M. [US/US];
`10881 Big Canoe, Big Canoe, GA 30143 (US).
`
`(74) Agents: PRATT, John, S. et al.; Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, Suite
`2800, 1100 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309—4530 (US).
`
`(54) Title: WIRELESS TELEMETRY METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH OR CONTROLLING INTELLI-
`GENT DEVICES
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`Methods and apparatus are disclosed for remotely
`monitoring and controlling via a wireless network various
`devices deployed in homes and businesses. The present
`invention allows for monitoring and control of various
`gateways distributed to remotely located facilities to be
`monitored and the devices coupled to those gateways
`to be controlled via a wireless communications network.
`Preferably,
`the network is a GSM network adapted to
`provide short messaging services or any type of wireless
`network adapted to operate a General Packet Radio
`System for delivering data over the network. Messages
`are packaged at each gateway for delivery via the network
`.
`.
`.
`.
`to a destination terminal, whether a fixed terminal or a
`mobile station. Likewise, customers may forward data
`and commands to a particular gateway either from a
`mobile station or by accessing a fixed terminal, such as
`through an Internet connection. Transporting messages or
`-
`-
`-
`commands via the short messaging service of the GSM
`network or via the GPRS protocol avoids the prohibitive
`cost of setting up a call for each message and avoids the
`significant capital costs needed to set up a separate communication network for data delivery.
`
`SHORT MESSAGING
`SERVICE
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`DATABASE
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`DATABASE
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`COMMUNICATION
`GATEWAY
`
`SIERRA WIRELESS 1003 / 001
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`

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`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`Albania
`Armenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d’Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Gennany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`Ll
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`N0
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`R0
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`SZ
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`US
`UZ
`VN
`YU
`ZW
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
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`WO 99/49680
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`PCT/US99/06429
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`WIRELESS TELEMETRY METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`
`COMMUNICATING WITH OR CONTROLLING INTELLIGENT DEVICES
`
`The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for remotely monitoring
`
`and controlling via a wireless network various devices deployed in homes and businesses.
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority under U.S. law to United States provisional patent
`
`application 60/079,215, filed March 24, 1998, which application is hereby incorporated in
`
`its entirety by this reference.
`
`BACKGLI,-OUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Numerous systems exist for automated, remote monitoring of various appliances,
`
`including electric utility meters and the like. For instance, systems exist that couple
`
`utility meters to remotely located databases via the wired Public Switched Telephone
`
`Network (“PSTN”) so that the meters can be more efficiently and cheaply read remotely.
`
`Typically, such meter reading systems couple a database to a gateway that interfaces with
`
`the meter and, in many cases, other devices in a particular facility or portion thereof.
`
`These systems, however, are generally one way, sending data from the meter to the
`
`central processor.
`
`Moreover,
`
`even when the system provides
`
`for
`
`two—way or duplex data
`
`communication that allows commands and other data to be down or up loaded to or from
`
`the gateway, a complete call must be made between the central processor and the
`
`gateway. Such calls are expensive, since they involve the full architecture of the PSTN in
`
`delivering the data, even when the amount of data delivered is relatively small. Also. the
`
`data or commands must be sent to or from a relatively intelligent central processor to
`
`which few persons will have access. This means, for instance, that customers at whose
`
`premises gateways are located cannot themselves send data (including commands for
`
`devices within the premises) to the gateway via the PSTN.
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`Systems exist that use short bursts of radio transmission to control and receive data
`
`from remote power distribution control terminals. For instance, a company called ITRON
`
`owns a U.S. Patent No. 5,475,867 to Blum on such a system, albeit a system that uses
`
`supplemental controllers for expanding the fairly limited geographical range of the basic
`
`system. This system, however, would be expensive to deploy and operate since an
`
`essentially new architecture would need to be deployed.
`
`Several companies, such as CellNet Data, Greenland and possibly ITRON, are
`
`trialing meter
`
`reading systems that use two—way paging, which provides broader
`
`geographic coverage. While such a system eliminates the trouble and expense of setting
`
`up a separate call each time data must be up or downloaded, paging messages provide
`
`limited payload for data, thereby limiting the potential for controlling and updating the
`
`gateway. Also,
`
`it is unclear whether such systems will allow users to send data and
`
`commands to or receive data from the gateway directly and without the need to go
`
`through a central processor or control center, which limits the flexibility of the system for
`
`users wishing to receive data about their facilities and remotely control various devices at
`
`the facility.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention overcomes the above problems by providing a system and
`
`method for gathering and sending data over an existing wireless network remotely to
`
`control and monitor various gateways and the devices coupled to those gateways. A
`
`system according to the present invention uses multiple gateways that communicate ov.er
`
`a wireless communications network capable of carrying digital data.
`
`The wireless
`
`communications network allows the gateway to send data and receive commands directly
`
`from the customer, which could own or manage the facility in which the gateway is
`
`located. The customer can send and receive such data via a mobile station or a fixed
`
`terminal. Simultaneously or independently, data and commands may be up and down
`
`loaded to or from a control center coupled to the wireless network. Thus, the present
`
`invention provides a system and methods for providing customers a virtual direct
`
`-2-
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`connection for routing messages to a gateway from a mobile station or fixed terminal, or
`
`vice versa.
`
`The present
`
`invention uses multiple control and reporting gateways that are
`
`deployed in homes, businesses and other facilities. These gateways are configured to
`
`collect data, such as data describing use of electric power or other utilities by the
`
`particular facility at which they are located or data describing the status of various sensors
`
`after arming of a security system. Also, gateways may be coupled to various devices
`
`within the facility in order to control the devices. For instance, gateways may control the
`
`lights within a facility according to a pre-programmed pattern that the user may change by
`
`communicating new commands via the present
`
`invention.
`
`Or, gateways may be
`
`configured remotely to receive commands and data, which allows remote control over the
`
`devices (e.g., home appliances or electronics) with which the gateway may communicate.
`
`Each uniquely addressable gateway includes a transceiver capable of communicating
`
`over a wireless network.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, a monitoring and control system may
`be provided that receives data from gateways on an essentially real time basis and can
`
`send data (including commands) to such gateways at any time over a wireless network.
`
`This allows for essentially real time monitoring of the facility at which the gateway is
`
`located. Preferably, the wireless network will be a GSM (“Global System for Mobile”)
`
`communications network capable of providing Short Messaging Services (“SMS”). SMS
`
`messages allow users of the network and the gateways to send and receive packets of data
`
`(about 160 characters) without setting up an actual call connection. Receiving terminals,
`
`whether mobile stations, such as handsets or pagers, or fixed terminals, like computer
`
`workstations, reassemble one or multiple related SMS message packets into readable
`
`messages, such as an e-mail or page.
`
`In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for uploading a
`
`large data file via the wireless network. For such larger files, an actual circuit-switched
`call is made from the gateway to a central processor coupled to the wireless network’s
`
`switch or MSC.
`
`The central processor includes a controller with a communications
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`processor and database server. The communications processor sets up a session with the
`
`gateway during which the gateway can upload the file via the wireless network.
`
`In a
`
`wireless network, large files of digital data from the gateway may be moved from the
`
`MSC to a destination via the Inter-Working Function (“IWF”). The central processor can
`
`be co—resident with the MSC or coupled to it via another network connection, such as the
`
`PSTN or a wireless connection.
`
`An example use for this embodiment involves a program by which the gateway
`
`periodically polls the devices it connects to for energy usage rates. Each poll generates a
`
`message that is about 100 bytes long. Rather than forwarding each message via the
`
`wireless network to the customer or a database, the gateway aggregates all reads for a
`
`particular time period and then uploads the entire file to the central processor via the IWF.
`
`A customer may access the central database in order to determine energy or device
`
`utilization at the customer’s facility. The database can be coupled to a control system that
`
`regularly downloads data and commands to the gateways. In that event, the customer can
`
`also pass instructions to the control system to forward desired commands or new data to
`
`the gateway in order to control the devices coupled to it.
`
`An alternative embodiment of the invention takes advantage of the architecture
`
`and protocols of the GPRS or General Packet Radio System to deliver data from and
`
`commands to gateways.
`
`The GPRS protocol provides an architecture and various
`
`interface layers (both hardware and software) for implementing a packet data system
`
`(e.g.,
`across existing wireless networks, regardless of the type of wireless protocol
`TDMA, CDMA, GSM) used by those networks.
`Certain GPRS protocols
`for
`
`implementing this architecture are described in the following documents, each of which is
`
`incorporated in its entirety by this reference: (1) GPRS MS—SGSN LLC, GSM 04.64
`
`(ETSI No. TS 101 351); (2) GPRS MS—SGSN SNDCP, GSM 04.65 (ETSI No. TS 101
`
`297); (3) IW PLMN GPRS-PDN GSM 09.60 (ETSI No. EN 301 347); (4) GPRS PDN.
`
`GSM 09.61 (ETSI No. TS 101 348); and (5) Digital Cellular Telecommunications System
`
`(Phase 2+): GPRS Project scheduling and open issues, GSM 10.60.
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`The present invention implements a GPRS over a wireless network, such as a
`
`GSM network.
`
`Such a network uscs base station controllers to route voice
`
`communications to the existing wireless system infrastructure, such as MSCS, HLRS and
`
`the like.
`
`In a GPRS capable network, however, the handshakes generated by wireless
`
`devices inform the base stations that a particular transaction is a packet data transaction;
`
`in turn, the base stations so inform their base station controller, which can then route the
`
`packet data to a support node rather than an MSC and its supporting infrastructure. The
`
`support node may communicate with other public wireless or wired networks or with an
`
`IP (internet protocol) network. By, for instance, repackaging the wireless data message
`
`into an internet packet, the support node interfaces more easily between the base stations
`
`and the IP network than existing wireless systems. This protocol may result in not only
`
`higher data transmission rates (i.e, larger data payloads than the limited SMS packets), but
`
`also in faster data delivery since data transfer does not require signalling to set up
`
`connections among network elements.
`
`Whether using GSM short messaging services or GPRS messages to deliver data to
`
`and from multiple gateways located throughout a particular region, the present invention
`
`performs the following processes:
`
`0 Formatting messages for wireless delivery to and from particular or groups of
`
`gateways.
`
`In an SMS implementation,
`
`this may be accomplished at
`
`the
`
`gateway, which formulates messages to other terminals into a short message
`
`format, or, if the message is destined to a particular gateway, at the originating
`
`terminal.
`
`In a GPRS implementation, the support node places messages in
`
`varying formats depending on which network over which they will be
`
`transmitted and appropriate to that network. Additionally, as packet data
`
`messages are transferred among network elements in the GPRS, information is
`
`added or substracted from the message header depending on the particular
`
`stage of intra-network transfer.
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`0 Transmitting the message from the gateway to a network element or vice versa.
`
`The Short Messaging Service Control center handles this functionality, since it
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`-5-
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`is programmed to identify and route SMS messages to their appropriate
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`destination.
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`In the GPRS implementation, transmission is accomplished by
`
`first having the base station controllers forward packet data messages to a
`
`support node router, which routes the messages to their desired destination.
`
`0 Delivering messages to the user directly or to a central processor for storing
`
`and processing. In either implementation, messages may be delivered via an IP
`
`network or other public or private communications network.
`
`Routing commands or data to one or groups of gateways. The commands or
`
`data can be formulated at and sent out by the central processor over either the
`
`GPRS or SMS implementation. However, because each gateway is uniquely
`
`addressable through, for instance, a phone number, IP address, or similar
`
`identifier, the customer can formulate messages or commands that will be
`
`routed directly from the customer’s mobile station or fixed terminal to the
`
`gateway.
`
`The present invention accordingly aims to achieve at least one, multiple or all of
`
`the following objectives:
`
`To provide a system and method for monitoring in real
`
`time and for
`
`controlling remotely located gateways;
`
`To provide a method for allowing customers to remotely monitor and
`
`control devices located in the customer’s facility that communicate with a
`
`gateway;
`
`To provide a method for allowing customers to receive monitoring
`
`information about activities at their facility via a mobile station or a fixed terminal;
`
`To additionally provide a method that allows customers to control
`
`the
`
`gateway and devices coupled to the gateway from their mobile station or a fixed
`
`terminal communicating over the wireless network;
`
`To provide a method for customers to forward commands and data to a
`
`central processor for delivery to the gateway;
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`To take advantage of the short messaging service capability of a deployed
`
`GSM network to more efficiently provide remote monitoring and control of
`
`multiple distributed gateways;
`
`To provide a central processor for receiving monitoring messages from
`
`remotely located gateways and aggregating those messages to track activities at the
`
`facility associated with a particular gateway; and
`
`To provide methods for customers to access data stored at the central
`
`processor.
`
`Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become
`
`l0
`
`apparent upon reading the rest of this document.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the present invention
`
`that implements various methods for receiving and sending data from and to a selected
`
`gateway.
`
`Figure 2 shows a simplified block diagram of the system shown in Figure 1, with
`
`labels indicating the functionality of various system components.
`
`Figure 3 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the system shown in
`
`Figure 1 detailing the method and system components used to route SMS messages.
`
`Figure 4 shows a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a wireless GSM
`
`system using the GPRS format and architecture to route data and commands to and from
`
`a gateway.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`System Overview: SMS Application
`
`Figure 1 shows a system 10 for implementing the methods of the present invention.
`
`System 10 monitors and controls various devices deployed in multiple facilities 12, which
`
`could be a home, office building or industrial complex. Each facility 12, or portion
`
`thereof, has a gateway 20 that acts as a data collection and control device, as defined
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`below. Data received from various devices within and associated with facility 12 is
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`packaged by gateway 20 for forwarding via a wireless digital communications network,
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`which may be either a cellular network or a Personal Communication System (“PCS”)
`
`network. The system 10 of the present invention aims to route messages from various
`
`gateways 20 to terminals. A terminal may be a fixed terminal, such as central processor
`
`40, an ISDN terminal or a workstation 35 (shown in Figure 3), as well as a mobile station.
`
`The phrase “mobile station” means a device for sending and receiving data over a
`
`wireless network and includes, for instance, a pager 31, a handset 32 or an internet
`
`communicator 34 that may be a Nokia 9000 GSM communicator capable of accessing the
`
`internet via a GSM wireless network.
`
`Such a network may have a number of cellular sites, each served by a tower 30
`
`holding a base station and appropriate equipment for receiving and transmitting wireless
`
`voice and data messages. Those messages are routed to the appropriate terminal, such as a
`
`pager 31, cellular handset 32, cellular internet communicator 34, or workstation 35, by the
`
`mobile switching center (“MSC”) 36 that may be a switch provided by Nortel, Lucent,
`
`Erricson or other switch makers. If the messages are Short Messaging Service (“SMS”)
`
`messages, MSC 36 receives each SMS message, determines it is an SMS and switches the
`
`SMS message to a SMSC (“Short Message Service Center”) 38, which may be a platform,
`
`such as one provided by Logica-Aldiscon, Inc, of Lexington Massachusetts, either co—
`
`located with the MSC 36 or coupled to it via a communication link. SMSC 38 listens on a
`socket for SMS messages in order to route received SMS messages to the appropriate
`
`destination. Additionally, SMSC 38 receives outgoing SMS messages and reformats those
`
`messages for transmission through the MSC 36. Typically, for instance, SMSC 38 may
`
`link to MSC 36 via a SS7 data communication link (as shown in Figure 3); SMSC 38 can
`
`then route SMS messages to subscribers roaming in other wireless networks via Signal
`
`Transfer Points within the SS7 network.
`
`The term “gateway” includes any device that (a) provides a physical
`
`interface
`
`between internal devices associated with a particular facility 12 and external networks
`
`and, optionally, (b) may provide a platform for delivering various services to the facility
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`12. Thus,’ gateways 20 may couple to a remote facility 12 and may monitor, control or
`
`both monitor and control various devices within the facility 12, such as lights, security
`
`sensors, an answering machine, a home computer, etc. For instance, gateway 20 may be a
`
`set—top box, personal computer or other device provided with a processor, such as an Intel
`
`386 or 486 processor, and communicates with various, optionally addressable, devices
`
`located throughout the facility. Gateway 20, which may be uniquely addressable, also has
`
`a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving communications via a digital wireless
`
`network.
`
`Additionally, for the embodiment of the present
`
`invention that uses a GSM
`
`network, gateway 20 is an integrated GSM enabled communications device programmed
`
`to format and manage data packets sent and received via the short messaging service
`
`provided by a GSM network, as described further below. Gateway 20 sends and receives
`
`SMS messages via and as part of the architecture of a GSM network. For instance,
`
`gateway 20 may be a GSM device that allows transfer of data, facsimile or e—mail
`
`messages, but which does not have voice capability. These messages can be formulated
`
`and read by a SIM or “Subscriber ldentity Module” card that can be plugged in or
`
`otherwise incorporated into gateway 20. Gateway 20 is programmed to generate text for
`
`an outgoing SMS message, place it in the SIM card of the gateway 20 and initiate the data
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`transfer over the GSM network. Thus, gateway 20 may use bi-directional host computer
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`to SMSC programming code to control the SIM card interface and the automatic SMS
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`message routing application. The GSM network also delivers messages to the correct
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`location and gateway 20 confirms the accuracy of any received message to the sender.
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`When an SMS message is received at the gateway 20, the gateway 20 reads the SMS
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`message from the SIM card and processes the contents of the SMS message as though it
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`was entered directly from a command console.
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`Figure 3 shows the methods and components of system 10 used for formulating
`and reading SMS messages sent and received by and from SMSC 38 to and from a
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`selected gateway 20. SMSC 38 may be provided with a SMS Application that facilitates
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`sending and monitoring of short messages between an end user and the SMSC 38. The
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`messages can be generated by using a GUI based front end application or by delivering a
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`message in a pre-defined format to the relational database tables used to store outgoing
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`messages. The SMS Application queues outgoing messages and sends them one at a time
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`to the SMSC 38 for distribution on the GSM network.
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`In turn, the SMSC 38 returns a
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`message indicating the delivery status of the outgoing message.
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`SMSC 38 may
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`communicate over an intemet network with e-mail users or over a TNPP network with
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`pagers; likewise, through those networks or the PSTN, users may communicate with the
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`SMSC 38 to formulate and send messages for subscribers. Finally, Figure 3 shows the
`OSS/LAN support structure for supporting operations of an SMSC 38.
`H
`The SMS Application can be configured to receive an SMS message from the
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`SMSC 38.
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`In this configuration, the SMSC 38 will receive a message from the GSM
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`network and forward it via a direct connection to the SMS Application rather than
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`initiating a message transfer to another mobile station or terminal via the GSM network.
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`Through the incorporation of a fully bi-directional message transfer system, a wireless end
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`user may (a) receive messages and initiate responses via the GSM network to control
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`devices attached to gateway 20 or (b) update the application database directly. Thus, as
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`A
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`Figure 2 indicates, DCS Messaging software, developed by BellSouth Mobility, and
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`deployed on the central processor 40 may be programmed to perform at
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`least
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`the
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`following tasks:
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`0 Front End Client Application — This task enables end users to input a
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`text message, up to 190 bytes, and send the message directly to the
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`SMSC 38 for distribution across the GSM network. A graphical user
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`interface or GUI allows for flexible, intuitive input and output. After
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`entry of messages,
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`this application updates the Database (such as
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`databases provided by the Oracle Corporation) Tables with the message
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`data.
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`0 Database Tables — This task stores outgoing text messages, message
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`status for
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`inquiry and resolution and routing information for
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`the
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`message. The database tables can be populated by the front end client
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`application or directly from another server process.
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`Message Server - This task mediates between various Database Tables
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`and the socket used for communicating with the SMSC 38.
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`It will
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`query Database Tables for new outgoing messages and query the SMSC
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`38 to check the status of existing messages, which are routed to central
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`processor 40 for storage in the Database Tables.
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`Socket Layer — This task performs the bi-directional communication
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`between the Message Server and the SMSC.
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`An API on workstation 42 accesses the DCS Messaging software, which acts as a server to
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`provide the GUI that allows input of new messages into the central processor 40.
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`Alternatively, by reconfiguring MSC 36 to route SMS messages and reconfiguring
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`gateway 20 to listen for such messages, the system 10 could be configured so that SMS
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`messages go directly to the gateway 20 without passing through a SMSC 38. Such
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`distributed message delivery eliminates possible routing errors at SMSC 38. A central
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`processor 40 may also receive or be copied on the messages from gateway 20 to handset
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`32 or communicator 34. On the other hand,
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`this distributed architecture would be
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`substantially more expensive and complex, requiring dedicated SS7 links between MSC
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`36 and each of gateways 20, which also would have to be provided with software to
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`enable SMS routing throughout the network.
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`Methods for Delivering SMS Messages
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`In one embodiment of this invention, the wireless network is a GSM network
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`represented by tower 30, pager 31, handset 32, communicator 34, and MSC 36, which
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`may be a Nortel switch running GSM. This network provides integrated voice and
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`enhanced digital services, including e-mail or SMS to the user’s mobile station, which
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`may also have integrated voice mail, caller ID functions, a fax mailbox, etc. The GSM
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`standard defines a short messaging service, which allows users of the network to send and
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`receive short data messages, usually in the form of alphanumeric text. Such messages can
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`be sent and received even during an on-going communication session. SMS messages
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`may be configured for delivery to a particular identified terminal, such as handset 32, or
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`they may be broadcast throughout a specific geographical area by using the SMS cell
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`broadcast feature. This broadcasting function, described in the GSM 03.41 and GSM
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`04.1] that are incorporated herein by this reference, is useful for reprogramming multiple
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`gateways 20 simultaneously or warning customers at various facilities l2 of particular
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`events in their geographic area (e. g., a weather warning or the like).
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`A system 10 using a GSM network allows SMS messages with a payload of about
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`160 bytes or characters to be sent at 9600 Baud from a gateway 20 to a terminal via a
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`GSM network and supporting sub—components. A GSM network supports multiple points
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`of origin or destination of the SMS messages, allowing for two-way communication
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`among terminals and gateways 20, each of which are provided with a unique identifier,
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`such as a phone number or an IP address. Significantly, this architecture allows data
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`communications among gateways 20 and mobile stations, like pager 31, handsets 32 and
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`communicator 34, or fixed terminals, through virtual direct connections among all of those
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`devices using the GSM network and supporting sub-components for transport. This
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`provides a virtual point-to-point connection via the GSM network, and the SMS messages
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`may or may not be sent to or through the central processor 40. By taking advantage of the
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`SMS services provided in a GSM network,
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`the network functionality required for
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`forwarding short data messages to and from gateways 20 need not be developed from
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`scratch.
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`By way of example, assume that gateway 20 monitors facility 12 for energy usage
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`data or alarms indicating a security breach as well as communicates with various
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`electronic devices, such as an electronic thermostat or lights. The digital GSM network
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`allows gateway 20 to periodically upload a SMS message, providing essentially real time
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`monitoring of energy usage at the particular facility 12. For instance, the GSM network
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`may allow message uploading as frequently as every 5 minutes. Gateway 20 could be
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`programmed to provide periodic (e.g., hourly) reports on energy usage.
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`If a security
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`sensor coupled to gateway 20 triggers, gateway 20 could be configured to package and
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`transmit, usually on a priority basis, a SMS message indicating a breach in security, as
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`well as other data including the date and time, the location of the facilities, or the location
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`of the sensor.
`
`In another embodiment of this invention, a microcell may be provided for very
`
`large facilities 12, such as industrial complexes, manufacturing facilities, distribution
`
`facilities or the like. A microcell allows persons within a large facility 12 to communicate
`
`with one another and the gateway 20 for that facility 12 via handsets 32.
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`Such
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`communications may be routed via MSC 36. For instance, such a microcell would
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`provide the facility 12 with a wireless PBX, wireless data connectivity to corporate
`
`databases or wireless internet access.
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`Methods for Delivering Data via the IWF
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`An alternative embodiment of