System for communicating messages via a forward overhead control channel for a programmable logic control device

A method for communicating a programming command to a programmable logic controller (PLC) by sending multiple pages via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radio telephone system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) monitoring the cellular network control channel for a target page having a specific identifier assigned to a selected cellular communications device coupled to the PLC;
• (b) responsive to receiving the target page, monitoring the cellular network control channel at the cellular communications device for a predetermined time period for a schedule command page having a schedule command identifying a slot in a look-up table maintained by the PLC, the slot operative as a storage location in the look-up table for storing the programming command for the PLC;
• and
• (c) responsive to receiving the schedule command page during the predetermined time period, forwarding the slot identity from the cellular communications device to the PLC to initiate the programming command maintained at the slot and sending an acknowledgement signal via the cellular network control channel to acknowledge receipt of the schedule command page.

A method for communicating a reprogramming command to a programmable logic controller (PLC) by sending multiple pages via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radio telephone system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) monitoring the cellular network control channel for a target page having a specific identifier assigned to a communications device coupled to the PLC;
• (b) responsive to receiving the target page, monitoring for a predetermined time period the cellular network control channel for a schedule command page having a schedule command identifying a memory location containing programming data for the PLC;
• (c) responsive to receiving the schedule command page during the predetermined time period, monitoring the cellular network control channel for a page carrying new programming data;
• and
• (d) responsive to receiving the page carrying programming data, forwarding the memory location identity and the new programming data to the PLC, and sending an acknowledgment signal via the cellular network control channel to acknowledge receipt of the schedule command and data.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to implement a method comprising the steps of:

• monitoring a cellular network control channel for pages within a first time period, each of the pages having a specific identifier assigned to the selected communications device;
• responsive to receiving a predetermined number of pages having the specific identifier within the first time period, monitoring for a second time period the cellular network control channel for at least one page having a predetermined characteristic designating the page as carrying data;
• responsive to receiving the at least one page having a predetermined characteristic during the second time period, collecting the data carried by the page;
• responsive to the predetermined characteristic specifying that a pair of pages carry data, monitoring for the second page having a predetermined characteristic and carrying data during another second time period;
• and
• responsive to receiving the second page having the predetermined characteristic, collecting the data carried by the second page and sending an acknowledgment signal via the cellular network control channel to acknowledge receipt of the data carried by the first and the second pages.

A communications device, operable for receiving multiple pages via a cellular network control channel and communicating a reprogramming command to a PLC coupled to the communications device, the communications device operable to:

• (a) monitor the cellular network control channel for a target page having a specific identifier assigned to the communications device coupled to the PLC;
• (b) responsive to receiving the target page, monitoring for a predetermined time period the cellular network control channel for a schedule command page having a schedule command identifying a memory location containing programming data for the PLC;
• (c) responsive to receiving the schedule command page during the predetermined time period, monitoring the cellular network control channel for a page carrying new programming data;
• and
• (d) responsive to receiving the page carrying programming data, forwarding the memory location identity and the new programming data to the PLC, and sending an acknowledgment signal via the cellular network control channel to acknowledge receipt of the schedule command and data.

A method for communicating with a controller device by sending multiple pages via a cellular network control channel of a cellular mobile radio telephone system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) monitoring the cellular network control channel for at least one target page within a first time period, the target page having a specific identifier assigned to a cellular communications device coupled to the controller device;
• (b) responsive to receiving the at least one target page having the specific identifier within the first time period, monitoring for a second time period the cellular network control channel for at least one data page having a predetermined characteristic designating the data page as carrying data;
• and
• (c) responsive to receiving the at least one data page having the predetermined characteristic during the second time period, collecting the data carried by the page and sending an acknowledgement signal via the cellular network control channel to acknowledge receipt of the data.