GB2308277A - Tracking inventory of radio communication devices - Google Patents

Tracking inventory of radio communication devices Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2308277A
GB2308277A GB9525783A GB9525783A GB2308277A GB 2308277 A GB2308277 A GB 2308277A GB 9525783 A GB9525783 A GB 9525783A GB 9525783 A GB9525783 A GB 9525783A GB 2308277 A GB2308277 A GB 2308277A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
radio communication
communication device
inventory
message
tracking
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9525783A
Other versions
GB9525783D0 (en
GB2308277B (en
Inventor
Graham Drostan Millar
David Nigel Freeman
Damon Apollo Miller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motorola Solutions UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Motorola Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Ltd filed Critical Motorola Ltd
Priority to GB9525783A priority Critical patent/GB2308277B/en
Publication of GB9525783D0 publication Critical patent/GB9525783D0/en
Publication of GB2308277A publication Critical patent/GB2308277A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2308277B publication Critical patent/GB2308277B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/22—Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
    • H04W8/24—Transfer of terminal data
    • H04W8/245—Transfer of terminal data from a network towards a terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
    • H04W4/14—Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/02—Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
    • H04W8/08—Mobility data transfer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/02—Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
    • H04W8/08—Mobility data transfer
    • H04W8/10—Mobility data transfer between location register and external networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/26—Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
    • H04W8/265—Network addressing or numbering for mobility support for initial activation of new user

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Description

METHOD OF TRACKING INVENTORY OF RADIO COMMUNICATION DEVICE Field of the Invention Generally, the present invention involves radio communication devices and more specifically tracking the inventory of radio communication devices.
Background of the Invention Presently, radio communication device manufactures, such as Motorola, manufacture millions of devices that are then sold to various distributors. In turn, the distributors sell the products to an end user along with service for the device.
The length of time that a distributor has a device in inventory fluctuates according to the demand of the devices by end users as well as the rate at which the manufacturer is supplying devices to the distributor. Often, it is very difficult for a manufacturer to determine the size of an inventory of its distributors. The size of the distributors' inventory affects the manufacturers' demand planning and inventory control methods for its manufacturing processes. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a tool by which a manufacturer may easily determine the size of the inventories of its distributors.
Summary of the Invention The present invention discloses a method of tracking an inventory of radio communication device. The method includes the steps of transmitting a message from a radio communication device upon power-up for a first time in a communication system and receiving said message at a first fixed-site receiver, thereby indicating said radio communication device is active and no longer in said inventory. Said message may include an identification of the type of radio communication device, including a mobile equipment identity number (IMEI) containing a serial number, a type approval code, and a final assembly code. The method of tracking may also include the step of reducing the amount of the inventory by the number of messages received.
Brief description of the drawings.
Figure 1 is an illustration in block diagram form of a radio communication system that may implement a method of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an illustration in process flow form of a method of tracking inventory of radio communication device in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a description of a method of tracking inventory of radio communication device. Specifically, the radio communication device are programmed in a way such that when they are first powered up and are receiving service from a communication network, the radio communication device transmits a message to the communication system indicating the type of radio communication device. Upon reception of this message, the radio communication system then reports a reduction in the number of radio communication devices in the inventory for that particular type of radio communication device. This system allows a manufacturer to be automatically updated from the operators of the various communication systems each time a new radio communication device is put into service.The manufacturers may now easily calculate their distributors' inventories and allow a more efficient planning of anticipated demand of the products, thereby avoiding a large build up or shortage of particular radio communication devices.
Figure 1 is an illustration in block diagram form of a radio communication system 100. This radio communication system 100 includes a fixed site transceiver 101 for sending and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals to and from a plurality of radio communication devices that are located within the geographic area serviced by the fixed site transceiver 101. In the preferred embodiment, the radio communication system 100 is a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) radio communication system for providing digital radio cellular service to end users.
Radio communication device 103 is one such radio communication device served by the fixed site transceiver 101.
This radio communication device 103 sends RF signals to and from a fixed site transceiver, such as fixed site transceiver 101.
This transmission and reception of RF signals provides data and/or voice communications from the radio communication unit to other users. Additionally, the radio communication device 103 accepts an information card 105 which contains subscriber identification and radio communication service information for the radio communication device 103. In the preferred embodiment, the radio communication device 103 is a portable GSM cellular phone modified in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment the subscriber information card 105 is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in accordance with the GSM specification.
Figure 2 is an illustration in flow chart form of a method for tracking inventory of radio communication devices in accordance with the present invention. The process 200 begins at the start box 201. At function box 203, the radio communication device is powered up. At decision block 205, the process 200 determines if a communication network is providing service to the radio communication device. If there is no service, then the process returns to start block 201. If there is service, then the radio communication device transmits a message to the communication system 100 of FIG.
1 indicating the type of radio communication device. In the preferred embodiment the message transmitted is an SMS (Short Message Service) message. This SMS message contains three fields of information. Specifically, namely, an IMEI, (International Mobile Equipment Identifier), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification), phone model and software revision information. The IMEI as defined in the GSM System for Mobile Communication book written by Michel Mouly and Marie-Bernadette Pautet, copyright 1992 published by the authors. The IMEI contains the Type Approval Code (TAC), the Final Assembly Code (FAC) and a serial number. The IMSI, also defined in the GSM System for Mobile Communication book, contains a mobile country code, a mobile network code and a mobile subscriber identification number. The IMSI is used to identify uniquely each radio communication device.
Alternatively, a message similar to that previously described may be transmitted over the radio communication device upon power up by dialing a local free phone number to the manufacturer. Upon connection with the manufacturer, the message information may be downloaded via a datastream to a manufacturer's computer.
Once the message is transmitted and received at the fixed site receiver 101, the process reduces the number of radio communication devices in inventory at function box 209. For example, had Motorola sold 10 million phones in the month of January 1995 then the initial number of communication devices in distributors' inventory would equal 10 million units.
Upon reception of each message by a radio communication system of a indicating service provided to a new communication device, that number, 10 million, can be reduced by one. Thus, providing the manufacturer with an accurate number of phones that are remaining in the distributors' inventory. The process 200 ends at stop box 211.

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:
1. A method of tracking an inventory of radio communication device comprising the steps of: transmitting a message from a radio communication device upon power-up for a first time in a communication system; and receiving said message at a first fixed-site receiver, thereby indicating said radio communication device is active and no longer in said inventory.
2. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 wherein said message includes an identification of the type of radio communication device.
3. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 wherein said message is a mobile equipment identity number (IMEI) containing a serial number, a type approval code, and a final assembly code.
4. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of reducing the amount of the inventory by the number of messages received.
5. A method and apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
5. A method and apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A method of tracking an inventory of radio communication device comprising the steps of: transmitting a message from a radio communication device upon a predetermined power-up cycle in a communication system; and receiving said message at a first fixed-site receiver, thereby indicating said radio communication device is active and no longer in said inventory.
2. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 wherein said message includes an identification of the type of radio communication device.
3. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 wherein said message is a mobile equipment identity number (IMEI) containing a serial number, a type approval code, and a final assembly code.
4. The method of tracking in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of reducing the amount of the inventory by the number of messages received.
GB9525783A 1995-12-16 1995-12-16 Method of tracking inventory of radio communication devices Expired - Fee Related GB2308277B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9525783A GB2308277B (en) 1995-12-16 1995-12-16 Method of tracking inventory of radio communication devices

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9525783A GB2308277B (en) 1995-12-16 1995-12-16 Method of tracking inventory of radio communication devices

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9525783D0 GB9525783D0 (en) 1996-02-14
GB2308277A true GB2308277A (en) 1997-06-18
GB2308277B GB2308277B (en) 2000-06-07

Family

ID=10785567

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9525783A Expired - Fee Related GB2308277B (en) 1995-12-16 1995-12-16 Method of tracking inventory of radio communication devices

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2308277B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1229757A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2002-08-07 Sagem S.A. Procedure of initialisation of a mobile radiotelephone
FR2829346A1 (en) * 2001-09-03 2003-03-07 Sagem Theft security short message service mobile telephone identification having subscriber number stored during manufacture and when first setting service applied message central server sent.
DE10204112A1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2003-08-14 Materna Gmbh Information & Com Short messaging system using public telecommunications network, adds commercial-, hardware- and software information to each message sent
WO2005020603A1 (en) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-03 Wenwei Zhou System for identifying mobile terminal device automatically and system for value added service access
CN100366111C (en) * 2004-09-29 2008-01-30 杭州波导软件有限公司 Mobile communication terminal with collecting identity data function

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0367361A2 (en) * 1988-10-31 1990-05-09 Gte Telecommunication Services Incorporated Customer activation system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0367361A2 (en) * 1988-10-31 1990-05-09 Gte Telecommunication Services Incorporated Customer activation system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1229757A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2002-08-07 Sagem S.A. Procedure of initialisation of a mobile radiotelephone
FR2820583A1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2002-08-09 Sagem METHOD FOR INITIALIZING A MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE
FR2829346A1 (en) * 2001-09-03 2003-03-07 Sagem Theft security short message service mobile telephone identification having subscriber number stored during manufacture and when first setting service applied message central server sent.
DE10204112A1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2003-08-14 Materna Gmbh Information & Com Short messaging system using public telecommunications network, adds commercial-, hardware- and software information to each message sent
DE10204112B4 (en) * 2002-02-01 2004-11-18 Materna Gmbh Information & Communications Process for receiving and forwarding short messages in a public fixed telecommunications network
WO2005020603A1 (en) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-03 Wenwei Zhou System for identifying mobile terminal device automatically and system for value added service access
US7715824B2 (en) 2003-08-26 2010-05-11 Hangzhou Easycomm Technolog Co., Ltd. System for identifying mobile terminal device automatically and value added service access
CN100366111C (en) * 2004-09-29 2008-01-30 杭州波导软件有限公司 Mobile communication terminal with collecting identity data function

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9525783D0 (en) 1996-02-14
GB2308277B (en) 2000-06-07

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20011216