Apparatus and method for a cellular freeway emergency telephone service

Abstract

A self-contained cellular emergency roadside call box is disclosed without the use of external telephone lines. The call box is solar powered with battery storage and comprises a controller coupled to a cellular transceiver. The controller is also coupled to a solar array and battery which is recharged through the controller. The call box communicates through a radio-telephone link established by the cellular transceiver to a cellular telecommunication system. The cellular telecommunication system includes a call site controller and mobile telephone switching terminal. Each call box comprises a plurality of status subcircuits for monitoring conditions such as battery condition and transmitter status. The call box communication and the status are processed by a micro processor which generates appropriate commands required by the cellular transceiver. Information can be transmitted bidirectionally between each of the call boxes and the communication applications processor. An interactive flow of information is exchanged with the call box and the functional condition is monitored. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/002,066, filed Jun. 25, 1990, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for emergency call box service comprising: a plurality of emergency call boxes, wherein each call box further comprises a controller, a cellular transceiver coupled to said controller, a battery coupled to said controller for providing power to said controller and transceiver, and means for generating power coupled to said controller for recharging said battery; and   a cellular telecommunications subsystem in radio-telecommunication with each of said plurality of emergency call boxes.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   said cellular transceiver being remotely .[.programmable.]. .Iadd.controllable .Iaddend.   said controller for .[.programming.]. .Iadd.controlling .Iaddend.operation of said cellular transceiver in response to information .[.receivied.]. .Iadd.received .Iaddend.from said cellular telecommunications subsystem wherein said controller further comprises means for receiving and processing information to initiate .[.operations in said controller.]. .Iadd.action at the call box.Iaddend.,   whereby said plurality of emergency call boxes can be installed which are capable of arbitrarily .[.programmable.]. .Iadd.controllable .Iaddend.interactive operations.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 further comprising interoffice local telephone exchanges coupled to said plurality of call boxes wherein communication between said cellular telecommunication subsystem and said plurality of call boxes is selectively coupled through said interoffice local telephone exchanges. 
     
     
       3. An emergency roadside call box comprising: a controller means for receiving remotely originated information;   a remotely .[.programmable.]. .Iadd.controllable .Iaddend.cellular transceiver coupled to and controlled by said controller, operation of said cellular transceiver being initiated at least in part by said remotely originated information received by said controller .Iadd.to produce action at the call box.Iaddend.;   a battery for powering said controller coupled to said controller and transceiver; and   means coupled to said controller for recharging said battery.   
     
     
       4. The call box of claim 3 further comprising a subcircuit for monitoring a user request for emergency transmission. 
     
     
       5. The call box of claim 3 comprising a subcircuit for monitoring presence of a communication transmitted to and from said call box. 
     
     
       6. The call box of claim 3 further comprising means for selectively communicating a plurality of parameters of said call box to an off-site recipient. 
     
     
       7. The call box of claim 3 wherein said controller comprises means of conserving power from said battery when an emergency communication is not desired. 
     
     
       8. A method in an emergency roadside call box, said call box being battery powered and coupled through a radio-telecommunication link to a cellular telecommunication system and communication applications processor, said method comprising the steps of: reading a plurality of call box status parameters at a plurality of call boxes;   sending information from said communication applications processor or cellular telecommunication system to selectively .[.perform a remedial routine.]. .Iadd.initiate action at the call box location .Iaddend.in response to said step of reading said plurality of status parameters dependent upon the condition of each corresponding parameter in order to render said call box operational;   selectively receiving said information at said plurality of call boxes .Iadd.and initiating said action in response thereto.Iaddend.;   selectively entering an emergency call routine wherein a cellular telecommunications transceiver within said call box is powered up and bidirectional voice communication is established through said cellular telecommunication system to said communication applications processor,   whereby remotely powered emergency call boxes in radiotelecommunication with said communication applications processor are operationally maintained.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of selectively reporting said plurality of status parameters from each said call box through said cellular telecommunication system to said communication applications processor. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus in combination with a cellular radio-telephone for generating information compatible with said cellular radiotelephone in an emergency call box comprising: first means for determining a plurality of status conditions relating to said emergency call box;   second means for controlling power usage of said .[.emerency.]. .Iadd.emergency .Iaddend.call box to .[.minimized.]. .Iadd.minimize .Iaddend.power usage; and   third means for processing said status conditions determined by said first means and responsive to at least said second means, said third means for selectively bidirectionally communicating cellular radiotelephone compatible signals, said third means being coupled to said first and second means and to said cellular radiotelephone, said third means being remotely .[.programmable.]. .Iadd.controllable .Iaddend.to selectively process said status conditions and to selectively communicate said cellular radiotelephone compatible signals and .[.selectively communicate said cellular radiotelephone compatible signals and.]. selectively .[.operate said apparatus.]. .Iadd.perform actions at the call box .Iaddend.in response thereto.