Combined LAN and WAN system for mobile resource management

• US 20030169710A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, Rodric C., Nguyen, Kenny Man D., Nagda, Paresh L., Singh, Sandeep Manojkumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• 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 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging

Abstract

Presented is a method and apparatus for selectively using a local area network and a wide area network in a hybrid network system. A mobile unit receives information, for example positioning information from Global Positioning System satellites. Upon receiving information, the mobile unit associates the information with either a WAN category or a LAN category. Information in the WAN category are transmitted to a WAN computer via a wide area network and information in the LAN category is transmitted to a LAN computer via a local area network. A user may specify which network he wants to use. Alternatively, the mobile unit may be programmed with criteria by which it can categorize the received information. The WAN computer and the LAN computer may be coupled, allowing a user to access the LAN computer via the WAN or the WAN computer via the LAN.

Claims

1. A method of managing mobile resources, said method comprising:

associating an information with one of a first category and a second category;

transmitting an information associated with said first category to a first remote computer via a wide area network; and

transmitting an information associated with said second category to a second remote computer via a local area network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating is based on a specification received from a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating is based on a predetermined criterion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined criterion comprises time-sensitivity indicating the average rapidity with which a value of said information changes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first category contains time-sensitive information and said second category contains other information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises a current location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising deriving said current location using one of:

a combination of Global Positioning System and triangulation;

angle of arrival;

time difference of arrival;

ray tracing; and

pattern recognition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting is done wirelessly from a mobile source.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said information belonging to said second category.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing said information from storage after said transmitting to said second remote computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first remote computer stores said information of said first category and said second remote computer stores said information of said second category, further comprising receiving information from at least one of said first remote computer and said second remote computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first remote computer stores said information of said first category and said second remote computer stores said information of said second category, further comprising transmitting a query to at least one of said first remote computer and said second remote computer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first remote computer and said second remote computer exchange data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting a query to said first remote computer; and

receiving a response from said first remote computer, said response comprising data stored in said second remote computer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said wide area network is the Internet and said second remote computer is connected to the wide area network.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data from a sensor via an electrical connection.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said second remote computer transmits data via a third network.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting to said second remote computer occurs when a mobile unit enters a coverage area of said local area network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining if said mobile unit is in said coverage area by periodically sending a signal to a local area network and checking for a responsive signal.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting to one of said first remote computers and said second remote computer occurs at a regular time interval.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting occurs via a communication link secured by at least one of an identity verification method, Secured Socket Layer, Virtual Private Network, and encryption.

22. An apparatus for exchanging information, said apparatus comprising:

a processor associating an information with one of a first category and a second category;

a first communication link between said processor and a wide area network, said communication link transmitting information associated with said first category to a first remote computer; and

a second communication link between said processor and a local area network, wherein said wide area network transmits information associated with said second category to a second remote computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a connection to a user interface device receiving the identity of a category with which said information is associated.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein information associated with said first category comprises a value that is likely to change rapidly.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein information associated with said second category comprises a value that is likely to change slowly.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said information comprises a current location.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a receiver coupled to said processor, said receiver receiving current location data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said current location data comprises code sequences from Global Positioning System satellites.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one of said first and second communication links are wireless.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a local memory coupled to said processor, said local memory storing information associated with said second category.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a third communication link between said first remote computer and said second remote computer.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said apparatus is mobile.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said wide area network is the Internet and said first remote computer is connected to the Internet.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an electrical connection between said processor and a remote sensor.

35. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said local area network receives information each time said apparatus enters a new local area network coverage area.

36. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of said local area network and said wide area network receives information at a regular time interval.

37. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said local area network is connected to a third network.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first communication link and said second communication link are secured by at least one of an identity verification method, Secured Socket Layer, Virtual Private Network, and encryption.