METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING DATA VIA A CELLULAR MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SYSTEM

摘要

A system for communicating data via a cel- lular network control channel of a cellular mobile radiotelephone system (CMR). A data message sys- tem 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 MSC receives data messages via the cellular net- work control channel from reporting devices op- erating within coverage areas of the array of cells and forwards the data messages via the first com- munications link to the data collection system. In response, the data collection system stores the data messages and processes the selected data. A pag- ing acknowledgment system is also provided for communicating both (1) paging messages and (2) acknowledgment messages to confirm reception of the paging messages. The paging acknowledgment system includes at least one communications system, remote communications devices, and at least one MSC of a CMR system. In response to a paging message from a paging party, the communications system transmits data messages correspondingto the paging message via a communications link. The data message contains the type of data that is normally supplied with a conventional paging message and an acknowledgment code that uniquely identifies said data message. A remote communications device responds to a data message con- taining its particular address by transmitting an acknowledgment message containing the acknowledgment code to the MSC via a cellular network control channel of the CMR system. The MSC forwards the acknowledgme nt message to the communications system via a first communications link. The communications system confirms reception of the dat a message by comparing the acknowledgment code of the acknowledgment message to the acknowledgment codes associated with the pagin g messages.