System and method for obtaining information from a wireless modem

Systems and methods for obtaining information from a wireless modem are provided. An information requesting device can send an information request to the wireless modem. The wireless modem authenticates the information request, obtains the requested information and provides the obtained information to the information requesting device. The information can be a current location of the wireless modem, a received signal strength, whether the wireless modem is transmitting or receiving data, whether an external device is coupled to the wireless modem, and/or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless communication devices, such as cellular telephones, currently provide a number of different capabilities. For example, in addition to voice processors for supporting voice communications, many wireless communication devices include modems for supporting data communications. Additionally, many wireless communication devices now include global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers, which are used for determining a current position of the device based on information received from satellites.

GPS receivers were added to wireless communication devices to support emergency 911 services. Specifically, when a user of a wireless communication device calls an emergency call center, the GPS receiver can provide the user's current location to the operator while the operator at the emergency call center is speaking with the user. Although the use of GPS receivers in the emergency 911 services context is particularly useful, it requires an established voice call for the GPS receiver to provide the current location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods for obtaining information from a wireless modem are provided. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a wireless modem receives an information request packet, which contains an information request and an authentication token. The wireless modem authenticates the information request packet using the authentication token. When the packet has been authenticated, the modem obtains the requested information and forms an information response packet. The information response packet is addressed to the information requestor and includes the obtained information and the authentication token.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system in accordance with the present invention. The system includes an information requesting device105which can be selectively coupled via network120to an information providing device150. The information requesting device105can be a wireless or wired communication device, such as a telephone, computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager and/or the like. If the information requesting device is a wireless communication device, network120can be one or more wireless communication networks. If the information requesting device105is a wired communication device, network120can comprise at least a wireless network and a wired voice and/or data network. The information requesting device105includes a processor110and memory115. Processor110can be a microprocessor, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or the like. Memory115can be read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, a hard drive and/or the like.

The information providing device150can be any type of a wireless communication device, such as a wireless telephone, computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager and/or the like. The information providing device150includes an antenna155, GPS module160, external coupler165and wireless modem170. The antenna155can be any type of antenna capable of coupling the information providing device150to the wireless network120. The GPS module160can be simply a GPS receiver, or can include additional circuitry for processing signals received from a GPS satellite. External coupler165can couple the modem170to an external device, such as a computer, meter (e.g., an electric or water meter), control device (e.g., a security alarm), switch, relay, and/or the like.

The wireless modem170includes a processor175and memory195, which can operate as a server to receive and respond to information requests. The processor175includes monitoring logic177, information request receiving logic179, authentication logic181, information obtaining logic183and transmitting logic185, all of which will be described in more detail below. The processor175can be a microprocessor, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or the like. Memory195is coupled to the processor175and can store information for the processor and/or include a program for operation of the processor. Memory195can be read-only memory, random access memory, flash memory, a hard drive and/or the like.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for an information providing device in accordance with the present invention. The monitoring logic177of the information providing device's processor175monitors a particular port for incoming packets (step205). When the information request receiving logic179receives an incoming packet over the particular monitored port (step210), the authentication logic181determines whether the information request packet includes an authentication token (step215).FIG. 3aillustrates an exemplary information request packet. The information request packet can be a user datagram protocol (UDP) packet or the like. The packet includes a header address of the information providing device150. The header address can include an Internet Protocol (IP) address, as well as a UDP port number being monitored by the information providing device150. The body of the packet includes an authentication token and the information request. The information request can be formatted in any manner, including eXtenisble Markup Language (XML), Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML), plain text, encrypted text and/or the like.

When an information request packet does not include an authentication token (“No” path out of decision step215), then the information receiving device discards the packet (step220). When the information request packet includes an authentication token (“Yes” path out of decision step215), then the authentication logic181attempts to authenticate the token. The authentication can be performed using any known authentication technique and can include comparing the authentication token with information stored in the information providing device150. When the authentication logic181is not able to authenticate the token (“No” path out of decision step225), then the packet is discarded (step220).

When the authentication logic is able to authenticate the token (“Yes” path out of decision step225), then the information obtaining logic183examines the information request to determine the type of information being requested (step230). The information being requested can include a current location of the information providing device150(obtained from GPS module160), whether a device (e.g., a computer, meter, control device, switch, relay, and/or the like) is connected to external coupler165, data from a device (e.g., computer, meter, control device, switch, relay, and/or the like) connected to external coupler165, whether the wireless modem170is transmitting or receiving data, the current signal strength of signals the information providing device150is receiving from the network, and/or the like.

The information obtaining logic then obtains the requested information (step235) and generates an information response packet (step240).FIG. 3billustrates an exemplary information response packet. The information response packet can be a UDP packet or the like. The information response packet includes a header address, which is the address and port number of the information requestor. The information response packet also includes the same authentication token that was sent in the information request packet, as well as the obtained information. The obtained information can be formatted in the same manner as the information request. The transmitting logic185then transmits the information response packet, using antenna155, to the information requesting device105(step245).

The present invention provides a protocol for allowing a user to send a query packet with authentication to a mobile device and receive information in response. Accordingly, wireless modems can use the protocol to automatically or autonomously report information in response to queries. An additional advantage of the present invention is that a modem using the disclosed protocol to autonomously report data reduces query traffic, which results in a more efficient use of network resources and/or wireless airtime.

Although exemplary embodiments have been described in connection with an information requesting device obtaining information from a single information providing device, the present invention provides a technique in which the information requesting device can easily obtain information from a number of information providing devices. In contrast, conventional wireless communication devices with wireless modems do not include a mechanism or protocol for responding to information requests.