Method and apparatus for licensing and controlling access, use, and viability of product utilizing geographic position
First Claim
1. A method of controlling access to one of at least a system and a commodity according to at least time and position, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing access permission parameters, said access permission parameters including one or more positions and one or more times at which access is to be permitted;
receiving one of an access request signal and a time interval trigger signal;
determining access parameters when said one of said signals is received, said access parameters including at least a current position and a current time;
comparing said access parameters to said access permission parameters; and
permitting access to said one of at least a system and a commodity when said access parameters satisfy said access permission parameters, wherein said current position is determined by receiving a signal from a positioning system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling use of software and hardware, and for controlling access to and usability of commodities, by use of position (or location) dependent signals emanating from GPS, DPGS, GLONASS, and other sources, in conjunction with time and ephemeris data, wherein the receipt of position (or location) data is verified by reference to independent time and satellite ephemeris data, and where when position (or location) is established within preloaded boundaries, the system is rendered useful. A module which includes software and/or hardware modules (implemented as chip sets in combination with mechanical actuators), and a position (or location) determining system such as a global positioning receiver, built into each device and/or shipping container used to transport devices and/or commodities for control.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of controlling access to one of at least a system and a commodity according to at least time and position, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing access permission parameters, said access permission parameters including one or more positions and one or more times at which access is to be permitted;
receiving one of an access request signal and a time interval trigger signal;
determining access parameters when said one of said signals is received, said access parameters including at least a current position and a current time;
comparing said access parameters to said access permission parameters; and
permitting access to said one of at least a system and a commodity when said access parameters satisfy said access permission parameters, wherein said current position is determined by receiving a signal from a positioning system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for controlling access to one of at least a system and a commodity according to at least time and position, said apparatus comprising:
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a memory adapted to store access permission parameters, said access permission parameters including at least one position and at least one time at which access is to be permitted;
a signal receiver adapted to receive one of an access request signal and a time interval trigger signal;
a position signal receiver adapted to receive at least a position signal indicative of a current position; and
a processor adapted to;
determine access parameters when said signal receiver receives said one of access request and time interval trigger, said access parameters including at least said current position and a current time;
compare said access parameters to said access permission parameters; and
permit access to said one of at least a system and a commodity when said access parameters satisfy said access permission parameters. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An access control system, said system comprising:
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one or more transportable devices, each of said one or more transportable devices including;
an access device adapted to provide access to one of at least a controlled system and a commodity; and
a signal receiver adapted to receive an access signal for said one of at least a controlled system and a commodity, whereby said access device provides access to said one of at least a controlled system and a commodity when said signal receiver receives said access signal; and
at least one transmitter adapted to transmit a corresponding access signal for said one of at least a controlled system and a commodity of each respective transportable device to one or more predetermined positions at corresponding one or more predetermined times.
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22. A set of computer program instructions for controlling access to one of at least a system and a commodity according to at least time and position, comprising:
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an instruction for storing access permission parameters, said access permission parameters including at least one position and at least one time at which access is to be permitted;
an instruction for receiving one of an access request and a time interval trigger;
an instruction for determining access parameters when said one of access request and time interval trigger is received, said access parameters including at least a current position and a current time;
an instruction for comparing said access parameters to said access permission parameters; and
an instruction for permitting access to said one of at least a system and a commodity when said access parameters satisfy said access permission parameters, wherein said current position is determined by receiving a signal from a positioning system.
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Specification