U.S. patent application number 10/404586 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for location and events reporting in a wireless telecommunications network.
Invention is credited to Bagarozy, Douglas A., Jampolsky, Laurie M., McConnell, Von K..
Application Number | 20030190912 10/404586 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28042117 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030190912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jampolsky, Laurie M. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Location and events reporting in a wireless telecommunications
network
Abstract
A wireless telecommunications network (10) that is operable to
collect and report data relating to the status and use of a
wireless phone (34) or other telecommunications device in near
real-time in response to data collection requests made by
subscribers or other authorized persons.
Inventors: |
Jampolsky, Laurie M.;
(Overland Park, KS) ; Bagarozy, Douglas A.;
(Overland Park, KS) ; McConnell, Von K.; (Leawood,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY WILLIAMS LLP
2405 GRAND BLVD., SUITE 400
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108
US
|
Family ID: |
28042117 |
Appl. No.: |
10/404586 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10404586 |
Mar 31, 2003 |
|
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09401933 |
Sep 23, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/423 ;
455/425; 709/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 24/08 20130101;
H04Q 3/0029 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/423 ;
455/425; 709/217 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20; G06F
015/16 |
Claims
Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention,
what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent includes the following:
1. A method of collecting and reporting data relating to a
telecommunications device served by a network, wherein the network
includes a switching center and a control point, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a data collection request
relating to the telecommunications device; (b) setting a trigger in
the switching center for the telecommunications device; (c)
launching a query from the switching center to the control point in
response to triggering of the trigger; (d) sending a data
collection query from the control point to the switching center in
accordance with the data collection request; (e) sending data
relating to the telecommunications device from the switching center
in response to the data collection query; (f) collecting the data
relating to the telecommunications device; and (g) reporting the
data.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
telecommunications device is a wireless mobile unit.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data relates to
active use of the telecommunications device.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data does not
relate to active use of the telecommunications device.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trigger is an
origination rigger that is triggered when a communication is
originated from the telecommunications device.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the trigger is a
destination trigger that is triggered when a communication is
directed to the telecommunications device.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data collection
request specifies a particular type of data to be reported.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step
of providing a template in the form of a World Wide Web document
adapted to facilitate creation and transmittal of the data
collection request.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step
of sorting the data in accordance with the data collection request,
wherein such sorting occurs following collecting and prior to
reporting the data.
10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data is
reported in the form of a World Wide Web document.
11. A method of collecting and reporting data relating to a
telecommunications device served by a network, wherein the network
includes a switching center and a control point, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a data collection request
relating to the telecommunications device; (b) launching a query to
the control point; (c) sending a data collection query from the
control point to the switching center in accordance with the data
collection request; (d) collecting data relating to the
telecommunications device from the switching center in response to
the data collection query; and (e) reporting the data.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the
telecommunications device is a wireless mobile unit.
13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the data relates
to active use of the telecommunications device.
14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the data does not
relate to active use of the telecommunications device.
15. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the data
collection request specifies a particular type of data to be
reported.
16. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including the step
of providing a template in the form of a World Wide Web document
adapted to facilitate creation and transmittal of the data
collection request.
17. The method as set forth in claim 11, further including the step
of sorting the data in accordance with the data collection request,
wherein such sorting occurs following collecting and prior to
reporting the data.
18. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the data is
reported in the form of a World Wide Web document.
19. A method of collecting and reporting data relating to a
telecommunications device served by a network, wherein the network
includes a switching center and a control point, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) providing a template in the form of a
World Wide Web document adapted to facilitate creation and
transmittal of a data collection request for data relating to the
telecommunications device, wherein the data collection request
specifies a particular type of data to be reported; (b) receiving
the data collection request relating to the telecommunications
device; (c) launching a query to the control point; (d) sending a
data collection query from the control point to the switching
center in accordance with the data collection request; (e)
collecting data relating to the telecommunications device from the
switching center in response to the data collection query; and (f)
reporting the data in the form of a World Wide Web document.
20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the
telecommunications device is a wireless mobile unit.
21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the data relates
to active use of the telecommunications device.
22. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the data does not
relate to active use of the telecommunications device.
23. The method as set forth in claim 19, further including the step
of sorting the data in accordance with the data collection request,
wherein such sorting occurs following collecting and prior to
reporting the data.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation and claims
priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of an
earlier-filed U.S. patent application titled "LOCATION AND EVENTS
REPORTING IN A WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK", Ser. No.
09/401,933, filed Sep. 23, 1999. The identified earlier-filed
application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications
networks, and more particularly, to a wireless telecommunications
network operable to collect and report data relating to the status
or use of a telecommunications device in near real-time.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Many subscribers of wireless telecommunications network
services desire to obtain information regarding the use of their
wireless phones for billing and other purposes. Similarly, many
persons or organizations that allow others to use their phones or
that pay for wireless phone services for others, such as parents
who allow their children to use their phones and companies that
provide work phones to their employees, desire to obtain
information regarding when, where, and for what purpose the phones
are being used.
[0006] Unfortunately, however, existing wireless networks only
provide such information periodically in historical reports,
typically in billing reports at the end of each month. Moreover,
the information that is provided typically only includes the
originating and/or destination phone numbers and the length of
calls but does not include other desirable information such as
location tracking for the phone and other status information.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention solves the above-described problems
and provides a distinct advance in the art of wireless
telecommunications networks. More particularly, the present
invention provides a wireless telecommunications network that is
operable to collect and report data relating to the status and use
of a wireless phone or other telecommunications device in near
real-time in response to data collection requests made by
subscribers or other authorized persons.
[0008] The wireless telecommunications network of the present
invention broadly includes: a base transceiver station operable for
transmitting wireless communications to and receiving wireless
communications from at least one telecommunications device served
by the network; a mobile switching center coupled with the base
transceiver station and operable for switching and coordinating
communications between the base transceiver station and other
network components and for launching call routing queries; and a
service control point coupled with the mobile switching center and
operable for receiving the call routing queries and for providing
routing instructions to the mobile switching center in response to
the call routing queries.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
service control point is operable for receiving a data collection
request for data relating to the use or status of a
telecommunications device, for collecting data from other
components of the network in accordance with the data collection
request, and for allowing access to the data collected in
substantially real-time. In preferred forms, the network also
includes a web interface coupled with the service control point and
accessible via the internet. The web interface is operable for
receiving data collection requests from authorized persons via the
internet and for forwarding the data collection request to the
service control point. The network may also be provided with a data
collection device and a data reporting device coupled with the SCP
and accessible via the internet for collecting the requested data
and organizing the data in predefined reports.
[0010] The data collection and reporting functions of the present
invention can be implemented to provide numerous new network
reporting services. For example, the network can collect and report
information relating to the current location of a particular phone
in the network on a call-by-call basis. A subscriber or other
authorized person can use this service to periodically receive
location tracking information for a phone or to issue a data
request to the network via the internet or other medium to
determine the current location of their phone on a near real-time
basis. Moreover, such information can be collected and reported by
the network even if calls are not made by the phone.
[0011] The network can also collect and report information relating
to the status or use of a phone such as when a phone moves into or
out of a particular service area, how long the phone is in a
particular service area, the originating phone number of calls
received by the phone, the destination phone numbers of calls made
by the phone, etc. A subscriber or other authorized person can use
this service to determine, for example, when a phone first
registers with a provider in a certain area so that they know that
the phone and the person operating it has safely arrived in the
area. Similarly, a subscriber can be immediately notified when a
phone is used to dial a particular number such as 911 so that they
can take appropriate action.
[0012] Additionally, the network of the present invention can be
used to track the location of devices attached to certain assets
such as vehicles, railroad cars, packages, etc. without calls being
made from the devices. The network can even be used to collect and
report various user inputted responses to announcements sent to a
phone such as in tele-voting or market sampling without asking the
location of the phone because the network can immediately determine
the location of the phone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0013] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described
in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless
telecommunications network constructed and configured in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram broadly illustrating the steps
performed to collect and report data relating to the status or use
of a telecommunications device in the wireless telecommunications
network in accordance with pre-defined data collection
requests.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram broadly illustrating the steps
performed to collect and report data relating to the status or use
of a telecommunications device in the wireless telecommunications
network in accordance with on-demand data collection requests.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
System Architecture
[0017] Turning now to the drawing figures, and particularly FIG. 1,
a wireless telecommunications network 10 constructed in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The
wireless telecommunications network is coupled with a conventional
public switched telephone network (PSTN) 12 and is preferably a
code division multiple access (CDMA) PCS wireless intelligent
network such as the PCS network owned and operated by Sprint PCS.
The PSTN 12 merely refers to the entire local, long distance, and
international landline phone system used in the United States.
[0018] The wireless telecommunications network 10 broadly includes
a base transceiver station (BTS) 14, a digital access and
cross-connect system (DACS) 16, a base station controller (BSC) 18,
a mobile switching center (MSC) 20, a signal transfer point (STP)
22, a service control point (SCP) 24, and a home location register
(HLR) 26. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
the network also includes a data collection device 28, a data
reporting device 30, and a web interface 32, which cooperate with
the SCP and other components of the network for providing certain
data collection and reporting functions described below.
[0019] In more detail, the BTS 14 provides wireless communications
to and from mobile telecommunications devices in a
telecommunications cell such as the illustrated PCS or AMPS phones
34,36. The BTS includes a plurality of transceivers coupled with
one or more antennas that together provide wireless communications
within the cell. The cell is preferably subdivided into three
sectors and is part of a CDMA PCS telecommunications network such
as the Sprint PCS network described above. The BTS is operable to
control transmission and reception of CDMA PCS traffic
independently in the three sectors using selected ones of a defined
set of codes for each sector. The codes may include, for example,
Walsh codes. An example of a BTS that may be used with the present
invention is the Nortel CDMA Outdoor 1900 MHZ base station. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that the wireless network may
include numerous BTSs positioned in telecommunications cells
throughout the country.
[0020] The DACS 16 is a digital switching device that is coupled
with the BTS 14 with signaling data links and trunk circuits 38.
The DACS is operable for routing and switching control messages
between the BTS and the other components in the wireless network.
Additional DACS may be positioned at other concentration points in
the network and is well known in the art.
[0021] The BSC 18 is coupled with the DACS 16 with signaling data
links and trunk circuits 40 and is operable to control operation of
the DACS and the BTS 14. The BSC is a high-capacity switch that
provides total overview and control of wireless functions supported
by the network 10 such as call handover control, cell configuration
management, and BTS and mobile phone power level management. The
BSC multiplexes signals from multiple BTSs into transmission
signals that are sent to the MSC 20. The BSC also routes network
signals and calls from other components of the wireless network to
the appropriate BTS for transmission to the mobile stations.
[0022] The MSC 20 is coupled with the BSC 18 and other base station
controllers with signaling data links and trunk circuits 42 and is
operable to coordinate the establishment of calls to and from the
mobile stations and to handle transmission facilities management,
mobility management, and call processing. The MSC is also connected
with the PSTN 12 by signaling data links and trunk circuits 44 to
provide switching between the wireless network and the PSTN.
[0023] The MSC 20 either includes an integrated visitor location
register (VLR) 46 or is coupled with a stand-alone VLR. The VLR
includes a database that contains information relating to mobile
phones that are resident in their home service area, roaming
outside of their home service area, or roaming in another wireless
network. When a mobile phone is active in any service area, it
automatically registers with the base station or mobility
controller in that area. The local provider in the service area
then queries the HLR 26 through the STP 22 using Signaling System
#7 (SS7) or other signaling to retrieve information needed to
verify the legitimacy of the mobile phone and to obtain a profile
of the features associated with the mobile phone. The HLR responds
to the query by transferring the necessary data to the VLR. This
information is maintained in the VLR of the MSC as long as the
mobile phone remains active within that coverage area. The HLR also
updates its own database to indicate the current location of the
mobile phone so that it can forward calls to the phone through the
local provider in the service area. The querying process in the
preferred wireless network is accomplished via SS7 links using the
STP and SCP 24 as described below.
[0024] The STP 22 is connected between the MSC 20 and the SCP 24 by
signaling data links 48, 50 and is operable to route signaling
messages therebetween. STPs are well known in the art with an
example being the DSC Megahub.
[0025] The SCP 24 is coupled with the STP 22 to exchange signaling
messages with the MSC 20 and other mobile switching centers. The
SCP includes, or is operable to access, a plurality of databases
for providing intelligence and routing information to the wireless
network 10 and PSTN 12.
[0026] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
SCP 24 is programmed or otherwise configured to receive data
collection requests relating to the status or use of one of the
mobile devices 34 or 36 or any other device served by the network,
for collecting data from other components in the network in
accordance with the request, and for allowing access to the
collected data in substantially real-time as described in more
detail below. Some or all of the data collection and reporting
functions of the SCP may also be implemented in a service node or
intelligent peripheral device 54.
[0027] The HLR 26 may be a database residing on the SCP 24 or may
be a stand-alone database or service control point coupled with the
STP 22 by signaling data links 52 for servicing several SCPs. In
either case, the HLR includes a database containing subscriber data
and information used to identify a subscriber of the wireless
network and subscriber data relating to features and services
available to the subscriber. The HLR, which represents the "home"
database for subscribers, may, for example, contain a record for
each home subscriber that includes location information, subscriber
status, subscribed features, and directory numbers. The HLR is used
in conjunction with the VLR as described above to support mobility
management features to which the user has subscribed when that user
is in or roaming outside of his home area.
[0028] Some or all of the location information stored in the HLR 26
may also be stored in a mobile position center (MPC) or position
device equipment (PDE) resident in or coupled with the SPC 24. The
MPC or PDE may include, for example, cell sector information and
other location information such as GPS readings for a mobile
device.
[0029] As is well known in the art, the MSC 20, STP 22, SCP 24, HLR
26, and VLR 46 all communicate via out of band signaling, typically
using IS-41, SS7 or TCP/IP protocols to facilitate the routing of
calls through the wireless network 10. The signaling allows the
network elements to exchange information to more quickly and
efficiently route calls over the network.
[0030] The data collection device 28 is coupled with the SCP 24 by
data links 56 and is configured for communicating with the SCP
using IS-41, SS7, or TCP/IP protocols. The data collection device
is operable for storing and collecting data initially collected by
the SCP. The data collection device is preferably a computer-based
device coupled with an internal or external database. Alternately,
the data collection device may be an integral component of the SCP
or other network component.
[0031] The data reporting device 30 is coupled with the data
collection device 28 by data links 58 and is configured for
communicating with the data collection device using IS-41, SS7, or
TCP/IP protocols. The data reporting device is operable for
arranging the data collected by the SCP 24 and the data collection
device into reports that can then be accessed by a subscriber of
the network or other person as described in more detail below. The
data reporting device is preferably a computer-based device coupled
with an internal or external database. Alternately, the data
reporting device may be an integral component of the data
collection device 28, SCP, or other network component.
[0032] The web interface 32 is coupled with the SCP 24 by data
links 60 and is configured for communicating with the SCP using
IS-41, SS7, or TCP/IP protocols. The interface may be coupled
directly with the SCP or indirectly via one or more internet
gateways or firewalls. The web interface serves as an interface
between the SCP and the internet so that components external to the
network 10 can communicate with the SCP via the internet as
described below.
[0033] To provide the data collection and reporting functions of
the present invention, the SCP 24, data reporting device 30, web
interface 32, and service node/intelligent peripheral 54 are all
operable to receive requests and other information from subscribers
of the network and other authorized persons via the internet 62.
For example, a subscriber of the network may operate a personal
computer 64 or an administrator or billing representative of the
network may operate a call processing or billing computer 66 to
issue data collection requests to the network 10 via the internet
as described below.
Operation
[0034] The components of the wireless telecommunications network
10, including the SCP 24, the data collection device 28, the data
reporting device 30, and the MSC 20, are programmed to perform the
data collection and reporting functions of the present invention.
The software that performs and/or controls the steps of the present
invention is stored on computer-readable memory devices resident on
or accessible by the components of the network.
[0035] Data may be collected and reported either in accordance with
pre-defined data requests or on-demand requests. FIG. 2 broadly
illustrates the steps performed by the network to collect and
report data in accordance with pre-defined data requests. Triggers
are first set in the HLR 26 for a particular telecommunications
device as depicted in step 202. For example, an origination or
destination trigger may be set in the HLR for phone 34 so that the
MSC 20 currently serving the phone is instructed to invoke or query
the SCP 24 each time a call is originated from or directed to the
phone.
[0036] Data collection requests are then set in the SCP 24 as
depicted in step 204. As is known in the art, the SCP receives much
information relating to the parameters of a call. The data
collection requests of the present invention instruct the SCP to
collect certain subsets of this information relating to the status
or use of a telecommunications device served by the network such as
the phone 34. For example, the data collection requests may
instruct the SCP to collect and report information relating to: the
location of the telecommunications device; the number of calls made
by the telecommunications device; the number of calls received by
the telecommunications device; the duration of calls made by the
telecommunications device; the duration of calls made to the
telecommunications device; the terminating phone numbers for calls
made by the telecommunications device; the originating phone
numbers for calls received by the telecommunications device; how
long the telecommunications device has been in a particular
location; and when the telecommunications device last made or
received a call.
[0037] The data collection requests may be set in the SCP 24 by a
person authorized to do so such as a subscriber operating computer
64 or a network administrator operating computer 64. To assist in
the setting of data collection triggers, the SCP may include an
HTML data collection template that can be filled in to indicate the
type of data or information to be gathered.
[0038] Once the query triggers have been set in the HLR 26 and the
data collection requests have been set in the SCP 24, the wireless
telecommunications network 10 may begin collecting and reporting
data for a particular telecommunications device as soon as that
device becomes active in the network. For example, if the phone 34
is the subject of a data collection request, the network begins
data collection when the MSC 20 receives a communication such as a
call request or registration attempt from the phone as depicted in
step 206. The MSC recognizes that the phone is subject to an
origination trigger, and in response, sends a TCAP query message to
the SCP via the STP 22 as depicted in step 208.
[0039] The SCP 24 analyzes the query and recognizes that the phone
34 is subject to certain data collection requests in accordance
with the information in the HTML template. The SCP receives the
requested information along with additional call parameter
information from the MSC 20 and/or HLR 26 either after the call has
been completed or during call processing as depicted in step 210.
The SCP then sorts the requested information from the collected
information in accordance with the data collection requests. For
example, if the data collection requests instruct the SCP to
collect information relating to the location of the phone and the
terminating number of calls made by the phone, the SCP collects the
location information from the HLR and the destination phone numbers
from the MSC.
[0040] After the SCP 24 has collected and sorted the data, it
periodically or immediately outputs the data to the data collection
device 28 as depicted in step 212, which in turn periodically or
immediately outputs the data to the data reporting device 30 as
depicted in step 214. The data reporting device organizes the data
into defined reports in accordance with the information entered
into the HTML template or instructions from the requester and makes
this information available to authorized persons via the internet.
For example, the subscriber operating the computer 64 or the
administrator operating the computer 66 may access the data
reporting device 30 via the internet 62 at any time to review the
collected data. Alternately, the data reporting device may
automatically send the collected information to the computer 64 or
66 via the internet.
[0041] FIG. 3 broadly illustrates the steps performed by the
wireless telecommunications network 10 to collect and report data
in response to requests for information that are not made through
pre-set instructions to the SCP 24. For example, a subscriber
operating computer 64 may access the SCP via the internet 62 and
the web interface 32 to request certain information on a one-time
basis. As with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, triggers are
first set in the HLR 26 for a particular telecommunications device
as depicted in step 302. For example, an origination or destination
trigger may be set in the HLR for phone 34 so that the MSC 20
currently serving the phone is instructed to invoke or query the
SCP 24 each time a call is originated from or directed to the
phone.
[0042] Once the triggers have been set, an authorized person may
send a data request to the SCP as depicted in step 304. For
example, a subscriber may access the SCP from computer 64 and
request current location information for phone 34 as well as a list
of all phone numbers that have been dialed by the phone during a
selected time period.
[0043] In response to the data collection request, the SCP 24 sorts
the requested data from other information collected from the HLR
26, the MSC 20, or other network components as depicted in step
306. For example, if the data request instructs the SCP to collect
information relating to the location of the phone 34 and the
terminating number of calls made by the phone, the SCP receives and
sorts the location information from the HLR and the destination
phone numbers for the phone from the MSC.
[0044] After the SCP 24 has collected the data, it periodically or
immediately outputs the data to the data collection device 28 as
depicted in step 308, which in turn periodically or immediately
outputs the data to the data reporting device 30 as depicted in
step 310. The data reporting device organizes the data into defined
reports in accordance with the information entered into the HTML
template or instructions from the requester and makes this
information available to authorized persons via the internet. For
example, the subscriber operating the computer 64 or the
administrator operating the computer 66 may access the data
reporting device 30 via the internet 62 at any time to review the
collected data. Alternately, the data reporting device may
automatically send the collected information to the computer 64 or
66 via the internet.
[0045] Although the invention has been described with reference to
the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing
figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and
substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the
invention as recited in the claims. For example, although the data
collection and reporting functions of the present invention are
preferably preformed by the SCP 24 in cooperation with other
components of the network 10, some or all of these data collection
and reporting functions may also be implemented in the service
node/intelligent peripheral device 54 or other network device.
* * * * *