Identification device, system and method

• US 10,015,258 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Locating Systems LLC (Fred DuFresne)
• Original Assignee: Global Locating Systems LLC (Fred DuFresne)
• Inventors: Wildon, Michael Peter, Paterson, Alexander Robert Dalziel
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akki, Munear
• Application Number:
  US15/242,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20170034279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913, 34053922, 34053932, 3405721, 340 81, 455419
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/018 Involving non-radio wave signals or measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

An identification system includes an identification device and a communication device. The identification device is attached to an article and including a sensor. The identification device is configured to operate in a plurality of modes and configured to switch between modes of the plurality of modes based on one or more conditions of a surrounding environment sensed by the sensor. The identification device is configured to send data to a server. The communication device of a user of the identification system is configured to receive data including location data of the identification device from the server using short message service protocols or messages through a signaling channel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an identification device that performs actions including collecting information representing one or more of a location of the identification device, and wherein the identification device collects the information in response to one or more of a request by a computing system, a pre-determined period of time, or an event, wherein a housing of the identification device is convex-shaped to provide a light pathway to a display;

the computing system that performs actions including receiving one or more portions of the collected information communicated by the identification device, wherein the received one or more portions of the collected information is employed to determine the location of the identification device, and wherein the computing system communicates a message to the identification device to activate a notification; and

a mobile device that performs actions including receiving the location of the identification device communicated by the computing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the collection of information representing the location, further comprises one or more triangulation methods, including:

received signal strength indication (RSSI);

global positioning system (GPS);

assisted GPS;

time difference of arrival (TOA);

or angle of arrival (AoA).

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the communication with the computing device is provided over one or more networks, including Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax); and

wherein the mobile device includes one or more of a personal computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, a smartphone, a smart watch.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing system is remotely located from one or more of a location of the mobile device or the location of the identification device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification device performs actions, comprising changing a mode of operation of the identification device to another mode of operation based on one or more of collected information or communication from the computing system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

the mobile device communicating, to the computing system, identification information regarding an article that corresponds to the identification device;

or

the identification device, communicating, to the computing system, the identification information regarding the article that corresponds to the identification device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification device further comprises one or more sensors that collect information, including:

a global positioning sensor (GPS);

a temperature sensor;

a light sensor;

a pressure sensor;

a proximity sensor;

or a motion sensor.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification device performs further actions in response to one or more signals, including one or more of:

locking the identification device to stop its communication with the computer system;

limiting functionality of the identification device to conserve energy;

or

operating a mechanical lock.

8. A mobile device, comprising:

an identification device that performs actions including;

collecting information representing one or more of a location of the identification device, and wherein the identification device collects the information in response to one or more of a request by a computing system, a pre-determined period of time, or an event,

communicating one or more portions of the collected information to a computing system, wherein the computing system performs actions including employing the one or more portions of the collected information to determine the location of the identification device, and wherein the computing system communicates a message to the identification device to activate a notification; and

enabling another mobile device to receive the location of the identification device communicated to by the computing system, wherein a housing of the identification device is convex-shaped to provide a light pathway to a display.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the collection of information representing the location, further comprises one or more triangulation methods, including:

received signal strength indication (RSSI);

global positioning system (GPS);

assisted GPS;

time difference of arrival (TOA);

or angle of arrival (AoA).

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the communication with the computing device is provided over one or more networks, including Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax);

and

wherein the mobile device includes one or more of a personal computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, a smartphone, a smart watch.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the computing system is remotely located from one or more of a location of the mobile device or the location of the identification device.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the identification device performs actions, comprising changing a mode of operation of the identification device to another mode of operation based on one or more of collected information or communication from the computing system.

13. The mobile device of claim 8, further comprising one or more of:

the mobile device communicating, to the computing system, identification information regarding an article that corresponds to the identification device;

or

the identification device, communicating, to the computing system, the identification information regarding the article that corresponds to the identification device.

14. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the identification device further comprises one or more sensors that collect information, including:

a global positioning sensor (GPS);

a temperature sensor;

a light sensor;

a pressure sensor;

a proximity sensor;

or a motion sensor.

26. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the identification device performs further actions in response to one or more signals, including one or more of:

locking the identification device to stop its communication with the computer system;

limiting functionality of the identification device to conserve energy;

or

operating a mechanical lock.

15. A method that performs actions, comprising:

employing an identification device to collect information representing one or more of a location of the identification device, and wherein the identification device collects the information in response to one or more of a request by a computing system, a pre-determined period of time, or an event, wherein a housing of the identification device is convex-shaped to provide a light pathway to a display;

employing a computing system to receive one or more portions of the collected information communicated by the identification device, wherein the received one or more portions of the collected information is employed to determine the location of the identification device, and wherein the computing system communicates a message to the identification device to activate a notification; and

enabling a mobile device to receive the location of the identification device communicated by the computing system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the collection of information representing the location, further comprises one or more triangulation methods, including:

received signal strength indication (RSSI);

global positioning system (GPS);

assisted GPS;

time difference of arrival (TOA);

or angle of arrival (AoA).

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication with the computing device is provided over one or more networks, including Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax);

and

wherein the mobile device includes one or more of a personal computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, a smartphone, a smart watch.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the computing system is remotely located from one or more of a location of the mobile device or the location of the identification device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the identification device performs actions, comprising changing a mode of operation of the identification device to another mode of operation based on one or more of collected information or communication from the computing system.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing further actions in response to one or more signals, including one or more of:

locking the identification device to stop its communication with the computer system;

limiting functionality of the identification device to conserve energy;

or

operating a mechanical lock.

20. A non-transitory processor readable storage media that includes instructions, wherein the execution of the instructions by one or more processors, causes actions, comprising:

employing an identification device to collect information representing one or more of a location of the identification device, and wherein the identification device collects the information in response to one or more of a request by a computing system, a pre-determined period of time, or an event, wherein a housing of the identification device is convex-shaped to provide a light pathway to a display;

employing a computing system to receive one or more portions of the collected information communicated by the identification device, wherein the received one or more portions of the collected information is employed to determine the location of the identification device, and wherein the computing system communicates a message to the identification device to activate a notification; and

enabling a mobile device to receive the location of the identification device communicated by the computing system.

21. The media of claim 20, wherein the collection of information representing the location, further comprises one or more triangulation methods, including:

received signal strength indication (RSSI);

global positioning system (GPS);

assisted GPS;

time difference of arrival (TOA);

or angle of arrival (AoA).

22. The media of claim 20, wherein the communication with the computing device is provided over one or more networks, including Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax);

and

wherein the mobile device includes one or more of a personal computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, a smartphone, a smart watch.

23. The media of claim 20, wherein the computing system is remotely located from one or more of a location of the mobile device or the location of the identification device.

24. The media of claim 20, wherein the identification device performs actions, comprising changing a mode of operation of the identification device to another mode of operation based on one or more of collected information or communication from the computing system.

28. The media of claim 20, further comprising performing further actions in response to one or more signals, including one or more of:

locking the identification device to stop its communication with the computer system;

limiting functionality of the identification device to conserve energy;

or

operating a mechanical lock.