Method and system for locating and tracking a mobile device

• US 20020164993A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comverse Network Systems, Inc. (Verint Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comverse Network Systems, Inc. (Verint Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Elliot, Nicolas F.
• Application Number:
  US09/734,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present invention is a system in which a location of a mobile device can be monitored to ensure that the mobile device is traveling on a predetermined path and has not traveled outside of a predetermined geographical region. If the mobile device deviates from the predetermined path, a monitoring device can alert the mobile device and relay a new optimal path to reach the desired destination. If the mobile device approaches or travels outside of a specified geographical region, both the mobile device and a third party can be alerted.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a mobile device comprising:

automatically transmitting a signal from the mobile device to a monitoring device at predetermined time intervals;

determining a location based on each transmitted signal received by the monitoring device;

comparing each location of the mobile device to a stored path plan; and

automatically transmitting an alert signal from the monitoring device to the mobile device if one of the locations does not match the path plan.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alert signal includes a voice message.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the voice message includes a new optimal path to reach a desired destination.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising automatically storing the locations of the mobile device at the predetermined time intervals.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user of the mobile device initiates the transmission of the signal from the mobile device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stored locations can be retrieved by a user of the mobile device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

comparing each cartographic location with a user-specific location boundary; and

transmitting an alert signal to a third-party receiver if one of the cartographic locations is outside the user-specific location boundary.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device automatically contacts the mobile device at a predetermined time to determine a location of the mobile device.

8. A method of monitoring a location of an individual equipped with a mobile device, comprising:

automatically transmitting a signal corresponding to a geographical location from the mobile device to a monitoring device; and

comparing the geographic location to a user-specific location boundary.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising alerting a third-party receiver if the geographic location does not match the user-specific location boundary.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

matching a voice pattern transmitted from the mobile device to the monitoring device with a stored individual-specific voice pattern

alerting a third-party receiver if the transmitted voice pattern does not match the stored individual-specific voice.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising prompting a user of the mobile device to speak a phrase including at least one word.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising comparing at least one word with the stored individual-specific voice pattern, wherein the stored individual-specific voice pattern is the phrase including the at least one word.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising automatically calling, at a predetermined time, the mobile device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

matching an identifier embedded in the transmitted signal with a stored individual-specific identifier; and

alerting a third-party receiver if the transmitted identifier does not match the stored individual-specific identifier.

16. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising sending an alert signal to the mobile device if the geographic location of the mobile device is within a predetermined geographical boundary.

17. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising sending an alert signal to the mobile device if the geographic location of the mobile device is outside of a predetermined geographical boundary.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the alert signal includes an electronic mail message.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the alert signal includes a voice message.

20. A system for monitoring a mobile device comprising:

means for automatically transmitting a signal from the mobile device to a monitoring device at predetermined time intervals;

means for determining a location based on each transmitted signal received by the monitoring device;

means for comparing each location of the mobile device to a stored path plan; and

means for automatically transmitting an alert signal from the monitoring device to the mobile device if one of the locations does not match the path plan.

21. A system for monitoring a location of an individual equipped with a mobile device, comprising:

means for automatically transmitting a signal corresponding to a geographical location from the mobile device to a monitoring device; and

means for comparing the geographic location to a user-specific location boundary.