US6233327B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-function general purpose transceiver
Assignee: Sipco LLC
•
Filing: 1998-06-22
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2018-06-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is generally directed to a system and associated method for communicating information to a predetermined location. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location and configured to transmit a signal containing an instruction code that uniquely identifies an instruction to be carried out. The system further includes a transceiver disposed remotely from the transmitter and configured to receive the transmitted signal. The transceiver circuit includes a line interface circuit configured to interface with a telephone line that is part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone call over the telephone line. Finally, the system includes a central station remotely located from said transceiver but being in communication with said transceiver via the PSTN. The central station further include a decoder configured to decode the instruction code. In accordance with a broader aspect, the invention is directed to a general purpose transceiver having a receiver for receiving an information signal and a transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing signal over a phone line to a central station. A portion of the information signal includes an instruction code, which may be decoded by the central station and acted upon accordingly. Consistent with the general purpose nature of the transceiver, the phone number of the central station may be transmitted to the transceiver as part of the information signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Petite
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W40/00; H04W40/02; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/02; G06Q20/04; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F9/00; G07F9/001; G07F9/002; G07F9/02; H04M; H04M11/00; H04W52/00; H04W52/02; H04W52/0209; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A system of communicating information to a predetermined location comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal containing an instruction code, the instruction code uniquely identifying an instruction to be carried out; a transceiver configured to receive the transmitted signal, said transceiver circuit including a line interface circuit configured to interface with a telephone line that is part of the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone call over the telephone line, said transceiver further including a controller configured to control the reception of the transmitted signal and to control the communication of information over the telephone line; a central station located remote from said transceiver but being in communication with said transceiver via the PSTN, said central station having a decoder configured to decode the instruction code; and wherein the transceiver is disposed within a public, pay-type telephone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A system of communicating information to a predetermined location comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal containing an instruction code, the instruction code uniquely identifying an instruction to be carried out; a transceiver configured to receive the transmitted signal, said transceiver circuit including a line interface circuit configured to interface with a telephone line that is part of the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone call over the telephone line, said transceiver further including a controller configured to control the reception of the transmitted signal and to control the communication of information over the telephone line; a central station located remote from said transceiver but being in communication with said transceiver via the PSTN, said central station having a decoder configured to decode the instruction code; and wherein the transceiver is disposed within a public, pay-type telephone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system is a service request system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signal further includes a phone number for the transceiver to dial in order to establish connection with the central station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signal further includes a logical IP address for the transceiver in order to route the message to the central station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a RF transmitter configured to transmit a low-power RF signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signal further includes a transmitter identifier code, an unique transmission destination address and a burst transmission length identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the transceiver controller is configured to communicate the transmitted signal to the central station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as defined in claim 7 , wherein the transceiver controller is configured to communicate a transceiver identification code to the central station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the decoder includes a look-up table.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 8 , wherein the central station includes means for evaluating the transceiver identification code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the means for evaluating the transceiver code is configured to determine a geographical location of the transceiver, based on the transceiver identification code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , further including means associated with the transmitter for sensing a service condition, and the transmitter being configured to transmit the transmitted signal in response thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the central station further includes means for notifying service personnel of a service condition, in response to a communication from the transceiver.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for performing an automated service request comprising the steps of: sensing a service condition; notifying a transmitter of the service condition; transmitting an information signal from the transmitter to a remotely-located transceiver, disposed in a public pay-type telephone the information signal including a function code that specifies the service condition, wherein the information signal is a radio-frequency signal; placing a call from the transceiver to a central station over a phone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); communicating at least the function code from the transceiver to the central station; and decoding the function code at the central station to identify the service request.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for performing an automated service request comprising the steps of: sensing a service condition; notifying a transmitter of the service condition; transmitting an information signal from the transmitter to a remotely-located transceiver, disposed in a public pay-type telephone the information signal including a function code that specifies the service condition, wherein the information signal is a radio-frequency signal; placing a call from the transceiver to a central station over a phone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); communicating at least the function code from the transceiver to the central station; and decoding the function code at the central station to identify the service request.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 14 , further including the step of communicating a transceiver identification code from the transceiver to the central station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the decoding step more specifically includes decoding both the function code and the transceiver identification code to identify the service request.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as defined in claim 15 , further including the step evaluating the transceiver identification code at the central station to determine a geographic location of the transceiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the information signal further includes a transmitter identification code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the information signal further includes a phone number of the central station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 18 , wherein the decoding step more specifically includes decoding both the function code and the transmitter identification code to identify the service request.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 18 , further including evaluating the transmitter identification code at the central station to determine a geographic location of the transmitter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 14 , further including the step of placing a service call in response to the decoding step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the sensing step senses a failed condition of a system within an automobile, and the transmitting step includes transmitting information from a transmitter disposed within the automobile.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
A transceiver comprising: a receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal including an encoded instruction code; a transmitter configured to transmit a formatted electric signal over a phone line comprising part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); a controller circuit including: a first portion configured to obtain the instruction code from the received signal; a second portion configured to establish a connection over the phone line to a predetermined location; a third portion configured to deliver the obtained instruction code to the transmitter for transmission over the phone line; and wherein the transmitter is a public pay type telephone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
A transceiver comprising: a receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal including an encoded instruction code; a transmitter configured to transmit a formatted electric signal over a phone line comprising part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); a controller circuit including: a first portion configured to obtain the instruction code from the received signal; a second portion configured to establish a connection over the phone line to a predetermined location; a third portion configured to deliver the obtained instruction code to the transmitter for transmission over the phone line; and wherein the transmitter is a public pay type telephone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The transceiver as defined in claim 24 , wherein the circuit is a programmable circuit, and the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are specially programmed code segments.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transceiver as defined in claim 24 , further including a look-up table for decoding the instruction code to identify an associated function.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transceiver as defined in claim 24 , further including means for decoding the instruction code to identify an associate function.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transceiver as defined in claim 26 , wherein the associated function is a service request.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transceiver as defined in claim 24 , wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for relaying an electronic message from a transmitter to a central location comprising the step of: transmitting an information signal from the transmitter to a remotely-located transceiver, the information signal including an instruction code that uniquely specifies a message; placing a call from the transceiver to a central station identified by a predetermined phone number over a phone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); wherein placing the call includes placing the call from a public, pay-type telephone; and communicating the instruction code from the transceiver to the central station.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for relaying an electronic message from a transmitter to a central location comprising the step of: transmitting an information signal from the transmitter to a remotely-located transceiver, the information signal including an instruction code that uniquely specifies a message; placing a call from the transceiver to a central station identified by a predetermined phone number over a phone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); wherein placing the call includes placing the call from a public, pay-type telephone; and communicating the instruction code from the transceiver to the central station.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
78 words
A transceiver comprising: means for receiving an electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal including an encoded instruction code; means for transmitting a formatted electric signal over a phone line comprising part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); means for obtaining the instruction code from the received signal and delivering the obtained instruction code to the means for transmitting for communication over the phone line to a predetermined destination; and wherein the transmitting means is a public, pay-type telephone.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
78 words
A transceiver comprising: means for receiving an electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal including an encoded instruction code; means for transmitting a formatted electric signal over a phone line comprising part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); means for obtaining the instruction code from the received signal and delivering the obtained instruction code to the means for transmitting for communication over the phone line to a predetermined destination; and wherein the transmitting means is a public, pay-type telephone.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
26 words
The system as defined in claimed 6 , wherein the transmitted signal further comprises: a message identification field; a packet identification field; and a data field.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 6 , wherein the unique transmission destination address is an Internet protocol (IP) address.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system defined in claim 32 , wherein the data field comprises personal identification information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as defined in claim 32 , wherein the data field comprises personal account information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as defined in claim 32 , wherein the transmitted signal further comprises: a field adaptively configured for data transmission error correction.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as defined in claim 32 , wherein the transmitted signal further comprises: a field configured to indicate to a destination device that a subsequent message is to follow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |