Abstract: Efficient routing of a message over a data network. A first communication device sends a message to a telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator determines the communication protocol of the first communication device and the communication protocol of a second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator converts the message to a data format compatible with the second communication device, wherein the message is converted to one of at least three different communication protocols. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator then forwards the message for receipt by the second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator can convert and forward the message without completing a store and forward process.

Abstract: Efficient routing of a message over a data network. A first communication device sends a message to a telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator determines the communication protocol of the first communication device and the communication protocol of a second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator converts the message to a data format compatible with the second communication device, wherein the message is converted to one of at least three different communication protocols. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator then forwards the message for receipt by the second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator can convert and forward the message without completing a store and forward process.

Abstract: Efficient routing of a message over a data network. A first communication device sends a message to a telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator determines the communication protocol of the first communication device and the communication protocol of a second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator converts the message to a data format compatible with the second communication device, wherein the message is converted to one of at least three different communication protocols. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator then forwards the message for receipt by the second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator can convert and forward the message without completing a store and forward process.

Abstract: Efficient routing of a message over a data network. A first communication device sends a message to a telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator determines the communication protocol of the first communication device and the communication protocol of a second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator converts the message to a data format compatible with the second communication device, wherein the message is converted to one of at least three different communication protocols. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator then forwards the message for receipt by the second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator can convert and forward the message without completing a store and forward process.

Abstract: A service provider uses a telemetry gateway to communicate with radio communication devices using various incompatible short message service (SMS) protocols. A communication, from the service provider to a radio communication device, passes through the telemetry gateway. The telemetry gateway determines the communication protocol of the radio communication device and converts the communication from a common protocol to the radio communication device's protocol. The telemetry gateway also determines and sends the converted communication over the appropriate communication path for receipt by the radio communication device. The telemetry gateway is also operable for providing registration information and receiving a communication from a radio communication device. The telemetry gateway can convert the received communication to a common protocol and transmit the converted communication to the service provider.

Abstract: A service provider uses a telemetry gateway to communicate with radio communication devices using various incompatible short message service (SMS) protocols. A communication, from the service provider to a radio communication device, passes through the telemetry gateway. The telemetry gateway determines the communication protocol of the radio communication device and converts the communication from a common protocol to the radio communication device's protocol. The telemetry gateway also determines and sends the converted communication over the appropriate communication path for receipt by the radio communication device. The telemetry gateway is also operable for providing registration information and receiving a communication from a radio communication device. The telemetry gateway can convert the received communication to a common protocol and transmit the converted communication to the service provider.

Abstract: A customer central location (CCL) communicates with multiple remote wireless devices employing mutually incompatible data formats or short message service (SMS) protocols. A communication, from the CCL to a remote device or from a remote device to the CCL, passes through a short message arbitrator (SMA), which determines the identifying characteristic(s) of the device receiving the communication. From the identifying characteristic(s), the short message arbitrator determines the expected data format and the transmission path to the device. The SMA converts the communication into the expected data format and transmits the communication over the appropriate transmission path.

Abstract: Communicating commands and/or data to a remote controller, such as a programmable logic controller, coupled to a cellular communications device. Each cellular communications device can monitor the cellular network control channel for a pair of target pages within a first time period. In the event that a cellular communications device receives target pages having a matching specific identifier, the device will monitor the cellular network control channel over a second time period for at least one command page or data page. The cellular communications device can respond to the reception of one or more command or data pages by forwarding instructions or information to the controller via a communications link. In addition, the cellular communications device can acknowledge receipt of the data or command pages by issuing an acknowledgment signal.

Abstract: A service provider uses a telemetry gateway to communicate with radio communication devices using various incompatible short message service (SMS) protocols. A communication, from the service provider to a radio communication device, passes through the telemetry gateway. The telemetry gateway determines the communication protocol of the radio communication device and converts the communication from a common protocol to the radio communication device's protocol. The telemetry gateway also determines and sends the converted communication over the appropriate communication path for receipt by the radio communication device. The telemetry gateway is also operable for providing registration information and receiving a communication from a radio communication device. The telemetry gateway can convert the received communication to a common protocol and transmit the converted communication to the service provider.

Abstract: A customer central location (CCL) communicates with multiple remote wireless devices employing mutually incompatible data formats or short message service (SMS) protocols. A communication, from the CCL to a remote device or from a remote device to the CCL, passes through a short message arbitrator (SMA), which determines the identifying characteristic(s) of the device receiving the communication. From the identifying characteristic(s), the short message arbitrator determines the expected data format and the transmission path to the device. The SMA converts the communication into the expected data format and transmits the communication over the appropriate transmission path.

Abstract: A wireless communications device that can support the communication of a data message via a selected one of multiple wireless data transport (WDT) technologies. A wireless communications device can support CDPD, control channel data transport technologies, such as the “CELLEMETRY” data communications service, and voice-channel modem operations by combining these WDT technologies within a single radio device. In the radio-to-base system direction, the appropriate WDT technology can be chosen based upon the data volume for the communication application. A control channel data transport technology can be used for very low volume; CDPD can be used for medium volume; and voice-channel modem operation can be used for large volume. The appropriate WDT technology can be automatically selected for use with the present data application to achieve an effective communication of the data content via the cellular system while also accomplishing a least cost distribution of the data content.

Abstract: Communicating commands and/or data to a remote controller, such as a programmable logic controller, coupled to a cellular communications device by sending multiple pages via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system. Each cellular communications device operating within the coverage area of the cellular mobile radiotelephone system can monitor the cellular network control charnel for a pair of target pages within a first time period. Each target page includes a specific identifier assigned to one or more of the cellular communications devices. In the event that a cellular communications device receives target pages having a matching specific identifier, the device will monitor the cellular network control channel over a second time period for at least one command page or data page carrying instructions or information for use by the remote controller.

Abstract: Communicating commands and/or data to a remote controller, such as a programmable logic controller, coupled to a cellular communications device. Each cellular communications device can monitor the cellular network control channel for a pair of target pages within a first time period. In the event that a cellular communications device receives target pages having a matching specific identifier, the device will monitor the cellular network control channel over a second time period for at least one command page or data page. The cellular communications device can respond to the reception of one or more command or data pages by forwarding instructions or information to the controller via a communications link. In addition, the cellular communications device can acknowledge receipt of the data or command pages by issuing an acknowledgment signal.

Abstract: Expanding the data carrying capacity of a forward control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) system. By utilizing data fields that would otherwise be unused in a conventional data message system, an operation identifier can be transmitted to a data reporting device. The forward control channel carries control messages which are capable of causing cellular devices to perform certain communications functions. An Order Code data field within the control message defines the functionality of the message. By utilizing the Order Code data fields to invoke the message waiting functionality of the control message, and replacing the message waiting data with an operation identifier, the data carrying capacity of the forward control channel is increased. An external device connected to the data reporting device can be caused to perform an operation defined by the operation identifier. The operation identifier can define an operation specified from a list of available operations.

Abstract: Identifying and registering the location of a mobile data reporting device operating within the coverage areas of a cellular mobile radiotelephone (CMR) system. The mobile data reporting device travels freely between CMR systems and is operative to communicate selected data collected from data sources to a data collection system via control channels of the CMR system. The location registration system enables the data collection system to transmit a data message to the mobile data reporting device via the control channels of the particular CMR system within the coverage areas of which the mobile data reporting device resides. Each CMR system transmits a beacon page that distinguishes the CMR system from adjacent CMR systems. When the mobile data reporting device receives a beacon page that is different from a previously received beacon page, the mobile data reporting device generates a beacon-responsive signal.

Abstract: A system for communicating data via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system (CMR). A data message system for communicating data collected from remote data sources includes sets of reporting devices, at least one mobile switching center (MSC) of a CMR system, and a data collection system connected to said MSC via a first communications link. Each recording device monitors a remote data source to obtain selected data and thereafter transmits a data message containing the selected data. The data collection system stores the data messages and processes the selected data. The data message system is equipped to process data messages of varying lengths, through the use of an expandable data message structure. A paging acknowledgment system is also provided for communicating both (1) paging messages and (2) acknowledgment messages to confirm reception of the paging messages.

Abstract: A system for communicating data via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system. The system includes a mobile switching center operable for receiving a registration signal from a registering cellular communications device. The registration signal includes identification information associated with the registering cellular communications device and a predefined data field containing data. The mobile switching center detects the presence of the identification information in the registration signal. In response to the identification information, the mobile switching center determines whether the registering cellular communications device is a member of a predetermined class of cellular sources, such as a class known as "roamer" units.

Abstract: A system for communicating multiple page messages or pages via a forward overhead control channel (FOCC) of a cellular network control channel to a cellular-compatible receiving device and combining the data obtained from each received page to form an aggregate message comprising a data sequence. A cellular communications device operating in a normal state responds to a page received via the FOCC by comparing the received page to one or more masks maintained in its memory. If the received page contains a predetermined characteristic and matches a corresponding mask maintained by the receiving device, then it responds by transitioning from a normal state to a receive device identifier state. In the receive device identifier state, the cellular communications device monitors the FOCC for a page having a special identifier assigned to that device. Each received page is compared to a mask corresponding to the special identifier and maintained in memory of the selected device.