Systems and methods wherein a base device facilitates a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event

• US 20020115444A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Yu, Philip S., Greene, David P.
• Application Number:
  US09/784,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/01 Counting means indicating the number of shots fired
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided wherein a base device facilitates a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event. A location of the base device is determined, and the base device receives information from an event device. For example, a device in a police automobile may receive information from a police handgun via a wireless communication. Information is then stored to enable a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event, comprising:

determining a location of a base device, the base device being in wireless communication with an event device associated with the occurrence of the event;

receiving information from the event device; and

storing information to enable the determination of the location associated with the occurrence of the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device is a mobile device, and said determination of the location of the base device is performed via at least one of:

(i) a global positioning system device, and (ii) a wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device is associated with a predetermined location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a plurality of base devices receive information from the event device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device receives information from a plurality of event devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving is performed via a Bluetooth device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information received from the event device comprises at least one of:

(i) an event device identifier, (ii) an event identifier, (iii) an operator identifier, (iv) an indication of an event time, (v) an indication of a location, (vi) proximity information, and (vii) direction information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information to the event device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information transmitted to the event device comprises authorization information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing supplemental information in association with the occurrence of the event.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the supplemental information comprises at least one of:

(i) audio information, and (ii) image information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the supplemental information comprises at least one of:

(i) orientation information, (ii) directional information, (iii) velocity information, (iv) acceleration information, and (v) altitude information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein encrypted information is exchanged between the base device and the event device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the event device comprises a weapon and the event comprises a discharge of the weapon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the base device is associated with an automobile.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the event device comprises a transaction device and the event comprises a transaction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transaction device comprises at least one of:

(i) a portable computer, (ii) a personal digital assistant, (iii) a wireless telephone, (iv) a payment device, (v) an entertainment device, (vi) a game device, and (vii) a gambling device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the event device comprises a competition device and the event comprises a competition event.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the event device comprises a medical device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the event device comprises a security device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of (i) a base device identifier, (ii) an event device identifier, (iii) an event identifier, (iv) an operator identifier, (v) an indication of an event time, (vi) an indication of a location, (vii) proximity information, and (viii) direction information.

22. A computer-implemented method of monitoring a discharge of a weapon, comprising:

receiving global positioning system information indicating a location of an automobile associated with the weapon;

receiving information from the weapon via a Bluetooth communication, the received information indicating that the weapon has been discharged; and

storing time information and location information associated with the discharge of the weapon.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said storage device further stores an event occurrence database.

23. A method of facilitating a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event, comprising:

determining at an event device that the event has occurred; and

transmitting information to a base device, the information enabling the determination of the location associated with the occurrence of the event.

24. A base device, comprising:

a processor;

a wireless communication device adapted to communicate with an event device associated with an occurrence of an event; and

a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

determine a location of the base device;

receive information from the event device; and

store information to enable a determination of a location associated with the occurrence of the event.

26. An event device, comprising:

a processor;

a wireless communication device adapted to communicate with a base device; and

a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

determine that an event has occurred; and

transmit information to the base device, the information enabling a determination of a location associated with the occurrence of the event.

27. A system, comprising:

a base device, comprising;

a base device processor,

a wireless communication device adapted to communicate with an event device associated with an occurrence of an event, and

a storage device in communication with said base device processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said base device processor to;

determine a location of the base device,

receive information from the event device, and

store information to enable a determination of a location associated with the occurrence of the event; and

an event device, comprising;

an event device processor,

a wireless communication device adapted to communicate with said base device, and

a storage device in communication with said event device processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said event processor to;

determine that the event has occurred, and

transmit information to the base device, the information enabling the determination of the location associated with the occurrence of the event.

28. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of facilitating a determination of a location associated with an occurrence of an event, said method comprising:

determining a location of a base device, the base device being in wireless communication with an event device associated with the occurrence of the event;

receiving information from the event device; and

storing information to enable the determination of the location associated with the occurrence of the event.