Method and apparatus for transmitting subject status information over a wireless communications network

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for communicating subject status information between a subject and a central monitoring station utilizing a wireless communications network that includes a voice channel and a control channel wherein the voice channel conveys data signals and the control channel conveys control signals that manage access to and use of the voice channel, the method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator;

b) encoding the subject status data message at the communicator to create an encoded subject status data message for transmission over the control channel as control signals;

c) transmitting the encoded subject status data message over the control channel as control signals to a mobile switching center (MSC), bypassing the voice channel;

d) decoding the encoded subject status data message at the MSC to retrieve the subject status data message;

e) transmitting the subject status data message over a switched telephone network to a central monitoring station (CMS); and

f) transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator includes the step of transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator over a paging network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator includes the step of transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator over a satellite network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a command message from the CMS to the communicator includes the steps of:

a) transmitting a command message from the CMS to the MSC over the switched telephone network;

b) encoding the command message at the MSC to create an encoded command message for transmission over the control channel as control signals;

c) transmitting the encoded command message from the MSC to the communicator over the control channel as control signals, bypassing the voice channel; and

d) decoding the encoded command message at the communicator to retrieve the command message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator includes transmitting data identifying the subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator includes transmitting data identifying a present location of the subject.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator includes transmitting status information regarding operation of the radio collar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator includes transmitting information regarding a criminal conviction of the subject.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a subject status data message from a radio collar coupled to the subject to a communicator includes transmitting supervisory information regarding authorities responsible for supervising the subject.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encoding the subject status data message at the communicator to create an encoded subject status data message for transmission over the control channel as control signals includes manipulating a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) control channel frame to create a manipulated GSM control channel frame that includes at least a portion of the subject status data message for transmission over a GSM control channel as the control channel frame.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the encoded subject status data message over the control channel as control signals to a MSC, bypassing the voice channel, includes the step of transmitting the manipulated GSM control channel frame that includes at least a portion of the subject status data message over a GSM logical control channel to the MSC.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of encoding the subject status data message at the communicator to create an encoded subject status data message for transmission over the control channel as control signals includes manipulating an autonomous registration reverse control channel message at the communicator to create a manipulated autonomous registration reverse control channel message that includes at least a portion of the subject status data message for transmission over the control channel as control signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the encoded su