Patent ID: 6529723
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B60R,G07C,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
A method of acquiring status information, the method utilizing remote communication between a user and a mobile user object, the method comprising the steps of:inputting a user initiated status request to an automatic network operations center via a user interface, wherein said user initiated status request corresponds to at least one monitored feature of said mobile user object, and wherein said inputting step occurs on demand; transmitting said user initiated status request to said automatic network operations center via a first communication link; receiving said user initiated status request by said automatic network operations center, wherein said receiving step occurs automatically without human intervention; transmitting said user initiated status request to a control module coupled to said mobile user object via a second communication link, wherein said transmitting said user initiated status request step uses a first communication module coupled to said automatic network operations center and a second communication module coupled to said control module, wherein said mobile user object is one of a plurality of objects coupled to said automatic network operations center, and wherein said user initiated status request transmitting step occurs automatically without human intervention; polling said mobile user object to determine a status associated with said at least one monitored feature in response to said user status request, wherein said polling step is automatically performed by said control module without human intervention; transmitting said status associated with said at least one monitored feature to said automatic network operations center via said first and second communication modules and said second communication link, wherein said status transmitting step occurs automatically without human intervention; and notifying said user of said status associated with said at least one monitored feature by said automatic network operations center via a notification interface, wherein said notifying step is performed in accordance with a set of notification instructions stored within said automatic network operations center, wherein said notifying step occurs automatically without human intervention.