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`
`US 20020180614A1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2002/0180614 A1
`Gonzalez et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`(54) INTERNET-READY COMMUNICATION
`MODULES
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(76) Inventors: Javier Janez Gonzalez, Baracaldo
`(ES); Albert" J “an Martinez Lebena,
`Santander (ES)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... .. G08B 1/00
`(52) US. Cl. ................... .. 340/870.01; 340/531; 340/540
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Daniel G. Nguyen
`Jenkens & Gilchrist
`A Professional Corporation
`1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
`Dallas’ TX 75202 (Us)
`(21) App1_ No;
`10/037,092
`
`(22) Flled?
`
`Oct- 22! 2001
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application NO_ 60/283,131, ?led on Apr'
`11, 2001.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In a method and system for collecting data from remote
`terminal units using the Internet, each remote terminal unit
`is connected to an Internet-ready communication module
`having an Internet-like client running thereon. The Internet
`like client provides the communication protocols and pro
`cedures to alloW direct, bearer service and network inde
`pendent communication betWeen the communication
`module and an Internet server.
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`Samsung, Exh. 1012, p. 1
`
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`

`
`US 2002/0180614 A1
`
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`INTERNET-READY COMMUNICATION MODULES
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is related to, claims priority from,
`and hereby incorporates, US. Provisional Application No.
`60/283,131, entitled “Internet Ready Modules,” ?led With
`the United States Patent and Trademark Of?ce on Apr. 11,
`2001.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] The invention is related to collection of data from
`remote terminal units and, more particularly, to a method
`and system of collecting data from the remote terminal units
`and controlling the remote terminal units using the Internet.
`
`[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
`[0005] Remote terminal units, such as remote monitoring
`units and remote measuring units, are devices that alloW the
`monitoring and measuring of peripherals instruments such
`as sensors, alarms, poWer meters, and the like, that are
`remotely located. Remote terminal units may also refer to
`remote controller units that are used, for example, to control
`traf?c lights and other similar peripheral devices. For pur
`poses of this description, the term “remote terminal units”
`(RTU) is used to refer to all such remote measurement,
`monitoring, and controller units. These remote terminal
`units communicate With, and are controlled by, a central
`control system that collects data from the remote terminal
`units. The type of data collected may include municipal
`utility data such as kiloWatts of electricity or other types of
`data such as alarm or sensor data. In addition to collecting
`data, the control system can also order the remote terminal
`units to perform speci?c actions such as, for example,
`shutting off the electricity, or resetting the sensor or alarm
`system. The remote terminal units may then control the
`peripherals instruments in accordance With the received
`commands.
`
`[0006] Generally, there are tWo Ways of collecting the
`measurement or sensor data from the remote terminal units.
`One Way calls for operators to manually access the remote
`terminal units, read the data therefrom, and carry the data
`back to the central office to be compiled and processed. A
`number of dif?culties are involved With this method, hoW
`ever, including being sloW and tedious, inef?cient, as Well as
`offering little or no real-time information.
`
`[0007] Another Way to collect the measurement or sensor
`data is to transmit the data from the remote terminal units to
`the central control unit. Such communications have histori
`cally been performed via land lines and analog modems.
`More recently, Wireless communication services such as
`circuit sWitched data (CSD) and short message service
`(SMS), based on, for example, the Global System for Mobile
`Communication (GSM), have been employed to transmit the
`data via Wireless communication modules.
`
`board, as these modules are intended primarily for M2M
`(Machine-to-Machine) communications Where the presence
`of a human operator is not needed. Interaction With these
`modules is typically carried out through a serial communi
`cation port such as a UART (Universal Asynchronous
`Receiver Transmitter) port. Examples of communication
`modules may include various types of modems and the like.
`
`[0009] A Wireless communication module is a communi
`cation module that is capable of communicating over a radio
`frequency interface. The Wireless communication modules
`employ one or more different Wireless bearer services such
`as CSD or SMS to transmit and receive data. Such an
`arrangement has a number of advantages including acces
`sibility, mobility, and ubiquity of the communication mod
`ule. Examples of Wireless communication modules may
`include various types of Wireless modems and the like.
`
`[0010] Presently available Wireless communication mod
`ules, hoWever, are not Well suited for access to the Internet.
`AWireless communication module With SMS capability, for
`example, must ?rst connect to an SMS Center (SMSC), then
`to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), before connecting to
`a server on the Internet. Any response to the communication
`module is sent from the Internet server back through the ISP,
`the SMSC, then to the Wireless communication module. This
`arrangement lacks a direct data path betWeen the commu
`nication module and the Internet server and may result in
`some delays or latency betWeen the time When the data is
`transmitted and the time When the data is received.
`
`[0011] For CSD service, a direct connection to the Internet
`server may be provided through an ISP in a manner similar
`to the Way a data call is established in the Public SWitched
`Telephone NetWork (PSTN). HoWever, for CSD service,
`usually there is a need for a communication protocol to be
`implemented on both sides of the connection in order to
`effect the data transfer. For example, a protocol is needed to
`handle transmission errors and recovery therefrom, to nego
`tiate data How control, and to generally carry out the data
`transmission in an orderly Way.
`
`[0012] Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to provide a
`system and method for collecting data from remote terminal
`units and for controlling the remote terminal units using
`communication modules that are capable of direct, bearer
`service and access netWork independent connection to the
`Internet.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0013] The present invention is directed to a method and
`system for collecting data from remote terminal units and for
`controlling the remote terminal units using the Internet.
`Each remote terminal unit is connected to an Internet-ready
`communication module having an Internet-like client appli
`cation running thereon. The Internet-like client application
`provides the communication protocols and procedures to
`alloW direct, bearer service and access netWork independent
`communication betWeen the communication module and an
`Internet server.
`
`[0008] In general, a communication module is a device
`that can be connected to an external or host device such as
`a remote terminal unit for the purpose of sending and
`receiving data. Communication modules typically lack any
`man-to-machine interface (MMI) such as a display or key
`
`[0014] In general, in one aspect, the invention is directed
`to a method of collecting data from a plurality of remote
`terminal units using the Internet. The method comprises
`providing the data from each remote terminal unit to a
`communication module connected to the remote terminal
`
`Samsung, Exh. 1012, p. 9
`
`

`
`US 2002/0180614 A1
`
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`unit, the communication module having an Internet or
`Internet-like client application executing thereon. The
`method further comprises conforming the data to an Internet
`or Internet-like protocol via the Internet or Internet-like
`client application and transmitting the data in accordance
`With the Internet or Internet-like protocol via the commu
`nication module to an Internet server. The data is thereafter
`stored in a database of the Internet server, and an acknoWl
`edgment message is issued from the Internet server to the
`remote terminal unit via the communication module.
`[0015] In general, in another aspect, the invention is
`directed to a system of collecting data from a plurality of
`remote terminal units using the Internet. The system com
`prises an Internet server con?gured to receive the data from
`the plurality of remote terminal units and to issue acknoWl
`edgement messages to the remote terminal units. Adatabase
`is connected to the Internet server and adapted to store the
`data received by the Internet server. The system further
`comprises a communication module connected to each
`remote terminal unit and con?gured to transmit the data in
`accordance With an Internet or Internet-like protocol to the
`Internet server. An Internet or Internet-like client application
`residing in the communication module is con?gured to
`conform the data to the Internet or Internet-like protocol.
`[0016] In general, in still another aspect, the invention is
`directed to a method of controlling a remote terminal unit
`using Internet or Internet-like protocols. The method com
`prises establishing a connection betWeen a communication
`module connected to the remote terminal unit and an Inter
`net server in accordance With an Internet or Internet-like
`protocol, and receiving an instruction message from the
`Internet server over the connection. The method further
`comprises processing the instruction message using an Inter
`net or Internet-like client application executing on the com
`munication module, and providing a content of the instruc
`tion message to the remote terminal unit.
`[0017] In general, in yet another aspect, the invention is
`directed to a system of controlling a remote terminal unit
`using Internet or Internet-like protocols. The system com
`prises a communication module connected to the remote
`terminal unit and con?gured to establish a connection
`betWeen the remote terminal unit and an Internet server in
`accordance With an Internet or Internet-like protocol. The
`system further comprises an Internet or Internet-like client
`application executing on the communication module and
`con?gured to process an instruction message received from
`the Internet server over the connection, and provide a
`content of the instruction message to the remote terminal
`unit.
`[0018] In general, in still another aspect, the invention is
`directed to a communication module capable of being con
`nected to a remote terminal unit and con?gured to connect
`the remote terminal unit to an Internet server. The commu
`nication module comprises a transceiver unit adapted to
`transmit and receive data to and from the Internet server, a
`communication port for facilitating communication betWeen
`the communication module and the remote terminal unit,
`and a control unit connected to the transceiver unit and the
`communication port via a system bus, the control unit
`con?gured to control the transmission of data to the Internet
`server. An Internet or Internet-like client application resides
`in the control unit and is con?gured to conform the data
`transmission to an Internet or Internet-like protocol.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0019] A more complete understanding of the present
`invention may be had from the folloWing detailed descrip
`tion When taken in conjunction With the accompanying
`draWings, Wherein:
`[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a system of collecting data from
`a plurality of remote terminal units according to some
`embodiments of the invention;
`
`[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a remote terminal unit including
`an Internet-ready communication module according to some
`embodiments of the invention;
`[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of the OSI protocol
`stack versus the WAP protocol stack;
`
`[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of collecting data from
`a plurality of remote terminal units according to some
`embodiments of the invention;
`
`[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a system Where no connection to
`the Internet is needed according to some embodiments of the
`invention although the same protocols and methods are
`used;
`[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a system Where communication
`modules are connected to an Internet server through the
`PSTN via a dial-up connection and an ISP according to some
`embodiments of the invention; and
`
`[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a system similar to the system of
`FIG. 6, but Where Wireless communication modules have
`been replaced by Wired communication modules according
`to some embodiments of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0027] FolloWing is a detailed description of the draWings
`Wherein reference numerals for like and corresponding
`elements are carried forWard.
`
`[0028] Embodiments of the invention provide a method
`and system of collecting data from remote terminal units
`using the Internet. Each terminal unit has a communication
`module connected thereto for sending the data to, and
`receiving commands and instructions from, an Internet
`server. The communication module includes an Internet or
`Internet-like client application executing thereon that is
`con?gured to conform the transmission of data to an Internet
`server using an Internet or Internet-like protocol. The data
`received by the Internet server is stored on a database thereof
`and is accessible to authoriZed personnel from almost any
`location via the WorldWide Web.
`
`[0029] For purposes of this description, the term “Internet
`like” refers to the various Internet-based protocols that have
`been developed or are noW being developed to enable Wired
`and Wireless devices alike to connect directly to the Internet.
`Also, the term “Internet server” refers to a server that
`supports and is capable of running Internet or Internet-like
`protocols such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and
`other suitable protocols. Thus, the Internet server does not
`necessarily have to be connected to the Internet and can be
`connected to, for example, a private netWork or some other
`netWork.
`
`[0030] Referring noW to FIG. 1, a system 100 of collect
`ing data from remote terminal units 102 and controlling the
`
`Samsung, Exh. 1012, p. 10
`
`

`
`US 2002/0180614 A1
`
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`remote terminal units according to some embodiments of the
`invention is shoWn. The system 100 includes a plurality of
`remote terminal units 102a-102x (hereinafter, 102), each of
`Which has a communication module 104a-104x (hereinafter,
`104) either internally connected or externally connected
`thereto as shoWn. In some embodiments, the communication
`modules 104 are communication modules that are capable of
`transmitting and receiving data over a radio frequency
`interface 106 via an access netWork 108. The access netWork
`108 may include any number of presently available access
`netWorks such as GSM, CDMA, and TDMA that provide
`different Wireless bearer services like CSD, SMS, GPRS and
`the like, as Well as soon to be developed access technologies.
`
`[0031] The access netWork 108 is in turn connected via a
`netWork connection 110 to one or more proxy/gateWay
`servers 112. The one or more proxy/gateWay servers 112
`operate to connect, via a netWork connection 114, the access
`netWork 108 to the Internet to thereby establish a commu
`nication path from the remote terminal units 102 to an
`Internet server 116. Examples of the one or more proxy/
`gateWay servers 112 may include dedicated Workstations or
`other high-end computers that are capable of linking a
`netWork such as the access netWork 108 to the Internet.
`
`[0032] The Internet server 116, in some embodiments,
`may be a Web server that is capable of hosting a Web site
`thereon and including any softWare programs or applications
`needed to maintain and operate the Web site. Such a Web site
`may be accessed by connecting to the Internet server 116
`(e. g., via a modem or netWork connection) from any number
`of commercially available Web broWser applications and
`opening the appropriate URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
`Examples of the Internet server 116, like the proxy/gateWay
`servers 112, may include one or more dedicated Worksta
`tions or other high-end computers that are capable of hosting
`a Web site thereon.
`
`[0033] In some embodiments, the Internet server 116 is
`also capable of accessing one or more databases connected
`thereto. The database 118 serves as a repository for the
`collected data and other information needed to operate and
`maintain the Web site. More speci?cally, the database 118
`stores the measurement and sensor data received from the
`remote terminal units 102 via the communication modules
`104. Such data may then be accessed by clients and other
`authoriZed personnel, represented here by reference numer
`als 120a-120d, via any commercially available Web broWser
`applications. Examples of the database 118 may include an
`OracleTM database, a MS AccessTM, and the like, running on
`one or more dedicated Workstations or high-end computers.
`Note that the database 118 is shoWn in FIG. 1 as separate
`from the Internet server 116 for illustrative purposes only,
`and those of ordinary skill in the art Will understand that, in
`some embodiments, the database 118 may be implemented
`as an integral part of the Internet server 116.
`
`[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of an
`exemplary remote terminal unit 102 and a communication
`module 104 according to some embodiments of the inven
`tion, both interconnected as shoWn. The remote terminal unit
`102 has a number of functional components including a host
`CPU 202 Which is responsible for the overall operation of
`the remote terminal unit 102 and the communication With,
`and control of, the communication module 104. One or more
`peripheral devices 204 are connected to the remote terminal
`
`unit 102 and may include various types of meters for
`measuring commodities such as electricity, gas, and the like,
`or other types of monitoring instruments such as sensors and
`alarms. Such instruments are preferably capable of output
`ting their data to, or otherWise being read by, the host CPU
`202.
`[0035] The host CPU 202 is con?gured to read or other
`Wise obtain the measurement and/or sensor data from the
`one or more peripheral devices 204. This data is thereafter
`provided by the host CPU 202 to the communication module
`104 to be transmitted to the Internet server 116. The sched
`uling of the transmission may be set and modi?ed as needed
`by the particular application residing in the remote terminal
`unit 102. For example, in some embodiments, the host CPU
`202 can be con?gured to initiate the data transmission as
`each measurement event occurs in real-time, or at some
`prede?ned regular interval (e.g., once a month).
`[0036] The communication module 104 also has a number
`of functional components therein including a control unit
`206, a communication port 208, and a transceiver unit 210,
`all interconnected via a system bus 212, as shoWn. The
`transceiver unit 210 alloWs the communication module 104
`to transmit and receive data to and from a central control
`unit. In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 210 is a
`radio transceiver unit that is capable of sending and receiv
`ing data over the radio frequency interface 106 using one of
`several available Wireless bearer services. LikeWise, the
`communication port 208 alloWs the communication module
`104 to transmit and receive data over a serial connection.
`The control unit 206 controls the operation of the commu
`nication module 104 including the transmission and recep
`tion of data via the transceiver unit 210 and/or the commu
`nication port 208. Communication betWeen the transceiver
`unit 210, communication port 208, and the control unit 206
`is facilitated by the system bus 212.
`[0037] Although presently available communication mod
`ules are capable of transmitting and receiving data using
`various Wired and Wireless bearer services, they are not
`capable of direct access to the Internet. Therefore, in accor
`dance With some embodiments, the communication module
`104 of the present invention includes an Internet or Internet
`like client application 214 residing in the control unit 206.
`The Internet or Internet-like client application 214 is respon
`sible for establishing a direct communication path to the
`Internet server 116. More speci?cally, the Internet or Inter
`net-like client application 214 executes the protocols and
`procedures that alloW the communication module 104
`(hence, the remote terminal unit 102) to communicate
`directly With the Internet server 116. Examples of such an
`Internet or Internet-like client application 214 may include
`WAP based, HTTP based, and TCP/IP based client applica
`tions, or any other suitable Internet or Internet-like client
`application.
`[0038] In some embodiments, the Internet or Internet-like
`client application 214 alloWs the Internet server 116 to
`transmit commands or instructions to the remote terminal
`unit 102. Thus, different remote terminal units 102 may be
`instructed to perform different tasks according to the data
`received therefrom. In this Way, true bi-directional, near
`real-time communication can be established from the remote
`terminal unit 102 to the Internet server 116.
`[0039] In some embodiments, the Internet or Internet-like
`client application 214 uses only the basic protocol stack
`
`Samsung, Exh. 1012, p. 11
`
`

`
`US 2002/0180614 A1
`
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`(e.g., the WAP stack) and does not need a high-level
`browsing function. Most Internet applications include a
`browsing layer that interprets the transmitted data such that
`a human observer will be able to view the data in a
`user-friendly form. There are, however, some applications
`that are intended only for machine to machine (M2M)
`communications where the presentation of data is less
`important than the pure data content. In these applications,
`it is not necessary to include the browsing functionality
`because there is no one at the receiving end to observe the
`data. Thus, in the Internet or Internet-like client application
`214 of the present invention, the browsing functionality can
`be deliberately disabled or otherwise omitted and only the
`basic protocol stack is used. An advantage of this arrange
`ment is that any complications and/or interventions by the
`browsing layer are avoided. In addition, by using only the
`basic protocol stack, the communication module 104 can
`maintain compatibility with any future versions or revisions
`of the Internet or Internet-like protocol stack.
`
`[0040] Moreover, where a WAP based client application is
`used, a “by-pass” of the applications layer of the WAP
`protocol stack may be achieved, in accordance with some
`embodiments of the invention. FIG. 3 illustrates the layers
`of the standard WAP protocol stack and the corresponding
`layers of the standard OSI protocol stack. Most WAP based
`client applications may be considered to be as closed “black
`boxes,” that is, they have an input and an output, but no
`intermediate entry or exit points. The input point in the WAP
`stack is the Wireless Application Environment
`layer.
`By using an appropriate command, however, the WAE layer
`may be by-passed and the next layer, which is the Wireless
`Session Protocol (WSP) layer, can be accessed directly, as
`will now be explained.
`
`[0041] In this illustration, the command that is used is a
`proprietary version of one of the HayesTm modem “ T”
`commands. More speci?cally, the command that is used is
`“AT*E” immediately followed by “URL.” This “AT*E”
`command is proprietary in the sense that it is not one of the
`standard HayesTM modem “AT” commands, but is instead an
`especially created command for use with the communication
`module 104. As such, the communication module 104 will
`need to be speci?cally designed to properly receive and
`interpret this command or other similar commands.
`
`[0042] When an event has occurred that causes the remote
`terminal unit 102 to want to send measurement data to the
`Internet server 116, the remote terminal unit 102 initiates a
`connection with the Internet server 116 through the com
`munication module 104 by issuing the proprietary “AT*E”
`command. This command causes the WSP layer of the WAP
`based client application 214 in the communication module
`104 to open a WSP session to the prede?ned URL (e.g.,
`http://www.xyZ.com) or an IP address (provided it is known)
`of the Internet server 116. More speci?cally, the WAP based
`client application 214 opens a WSP session from the com
`munication module 104 to the proxy/gateway server 112,
`which subsequently opens an HTTP session to the Internet
`server 116. Thus, by using the “AT*E” command, the WSP
`layer may be accessed directly, thereby by-passing the WAE
`layer of the WAP protocol stack, to establish a connection
`with the Internet server 116. Note that the Internet or
`Internet-like client application 214 establishes the commu
`nication link to the proxy/gateway server before the WSP
`session is launched.
`
`[0043] Once a connection to the Internet server 116 has
`been established, data may be sent from the remote terminal
`unit 102 to the Internet server 116, and instructions may be
`issued back to the remote terminal unit 102, by using the
`GET method of the WSP and HTTP protocols. The GET
`method uses a data format in which the data to be sent is in
`form of variable name and value pairs appended to the URL.
`The variable name and value pairs must be connected with
`an “=” sign and each name and value pair must be separated
`with an “&” sign. No blank spaces are allowed in the
`variable names or values. If a blank space is required, a “+”
`sign is used in this format to indicate the blank space. Thus,
`for example, the correct syntax to invoke a WSP/HTTP
`session to send the data shown in Table 1 is: AT*EURL=
`“http://www.xyZ.com/data?Total+Kwh=25.78&Peak+
`Power=34.788”
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Variable Name
`
`Total Kwh
`Peak Power
`
`Value
`
`25 .78
`34.788
`
`[0044] where the “?” indicates a separation between the
`URL and the data appended thereto.
`
`[0045] Although the GET method is typically used in WSP
`and HTTP sessions to transmit data to a server, the POST
`method can be used in a similar manner for this purpose as
`well. The POST method is actually preferred when the
`amount of data to be transmitted is large.
`
`[0046] Note that because the data is appended to the URL
`(in the GET method) and can therefore be seen by others on
`the Internet, security measures should be taken to prevent
`unauthoriZed access or tampering therewith. Security via
`encryption over the bearer service is generally available, but
`additional security is certainly advisable when communicat
`ing over the Internet. Thus, for example, data located in the
`URL may be encrypted with a transaction identi?cation. In
`addition, or alternatively, the data may be encrypted with a
`public and a private key, which allows generally reliable
`data transmission over the Internet. The security layer within
`the Internet or Internet-like protocol stack itself should also
`be enabled or otherwise operative.
`
`[0047] At the Internet server 116, the variable name and
`value pairs must be extracted in order to retrieve the data.
`One way in which this extraction can be done is by using
`CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts at the Internet
`server 116. CGI scripts are basically programs written in the
`C++, Perl, or any other suitable programming languages that
`reside on the Internet server 116 and that can be called from
`the client side, i.e., the remote terminal unit 102. A CGI
`script reads from the standard input message the particular
`method that has been used and the parameters that have been
`sent. The CGI script then executes its scripted function to
`extract the data, which is then stored by the Internet server
`116 in the database 118. The CGI script thereafter uses the
`data or a portion thereof in a standard output message to
`send a response back to the invoking remote terminal unit
`102. An exemplary response may be something like “OK.
`Passed Parameters=2. Last Passed Variable Name=Peak
`Power” to con?rm the data was properly received.
`
`Samsung, Exh. 1012, p. 12
`
`

`
`US 2002/0180614 A1
`
`Dec. 5, 2002
`
`[0048] In some embodiments, the Internet server 116 can
`also cause an instruction message to be sent to the remote
`terminal unit 102 via the CGI script. For example, in
`response to the data that Was received, the Internet server
`116 can request that the remote terminal unit 102 send
`another set of data in 10 hours by issuing the following
`instruction: “Next Report 10 Hrs.”
`
`[0049] Once the response message reaches the invoking
`communication module 104, the WAP based client applica
`tion 214 processes the response and extracts the contents
`thereof including any instructions therein. The WAP based
`client application 214 thereafter sends the contents of the
`response message to the remote terminal unit 102 to carry
`out any instructions that may have been received from the
`Internet server.
`
`[0050] After the remote terminal unit 102 receives con
`?rmation from the Internet server 116 that the data has been
`received correctly, it can direct the communication module
`104 to release the WSP session. Different methods can be
`used to release the session; for example, one of the “AT”
`modem commands such as “ATH” may be used to release
`the session.
`
`[0051] Because there are likely to be many remote termi
`nal units 102 sending data to the Internet server 116, each
`remote terminal unit 102 can be identi?ed by a unique ID
`and storage space in the database 118 allocated according to
`that ID. AuthoriZed clients or customers may vieW the data
`associated With their respective remote terminal units 102 or
`a prede?ned set of terminal units. Furthermore, because the
`data is stored on the Internet (i.e., a Web site), access may
`be obtained from essentially any location in the World
`virtually at any time. Such access may be in the form of
`HTML pages created “on-the-?y” by the Internet server 116
`