Portable locator methods and systems

• US 20060238610A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Wolfgang Teesdale
• Original Assignee: Peter Wolfgang Teesdale
• Inventors: Teesdale, Peter Wolfgang
• Application Number:
  US11/367,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/09 for tracking people
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

A method of tracking a person or object within a desired area is provided. The method includes associating a locator device to the person or object; setting a regarded map representative of the desired area in a portable monitoring device; calibrating the portable monitoring device to the locator device; and displaying a location of the person or object on the portable monitoring device with respect to the regarded map.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a person or object within a desired area, comprising:

associating a locator device to the person or object;

setting a regarded map representative of the desired area in a portable monitoring device;

calibrating said portable monitoring device to said locator device; and

displaying a location of the person or object on said portable monitoring device with respect to said regarded map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said portable monitoring device is a device selected from the group consisting a beeper, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a portable Global Positioning System Receiver and any combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting said regarded map comprises downloading said regarded map from a database or other preset medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting said regarded map comprises teaching said portable monitoring device the desired area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein teaching said portable monitoring device the desired area comprises placing said portable monitoring device in a learn mode and moving said portable monitoring device to a plurality of locations defining a boundary of the desired area.

6. A method of tracking people within a desired area, comprising:

loading a regarded map on a first portable console unit;

associating a first locator device to said first portable console unit;

associating said first locator device to a first person;

associating said first portable console unit to a second person; and

displaying a location of said first person on said first portable console unit with respect to said regarded map.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

associating another locator device to said first portable console unit;

associating said another locator device to a third person; and

displaying a location of said another person on said first portable console unit with respect to said regarded map

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said first portable console unit further comprises a second locator device and said first locator device further comprises a second portable console unit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

loading said regarded map on said second portable console unit;

associating said second locator device to said second portable console unit; and

displaying a location of said second person on said second portable console unit with respect to said regarded map.

10. A locator system comprising:

a portable console unit having a display device;

a locator device to be carried by a person to be tracked; and

a regarded map or area displayed on said display unit, said regarded map including a location of said locator device with respect to said regarded map.

11. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said portable console unit is selected from the group consisting of a beeper, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a portable Global Positioning System Receiver and any combinations thereof.

12. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said locator device is an active locator device, a passive locator device, or any combination thereof.

13. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said locator device is embedded in a carrier device carried by the person.

14. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said regarded map is stored in memory resident on said portable console unit.

15. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said regarded map comprises a user set limit, said portable console unit activating an alarm when said locator device moves outside of said user set limit.

16. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said regarded map comprises a user set point of interest.

17. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said portable console unit receives signals having said location.

18. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said portable console unit further comprises a display window, said display window identifying the person with which said locator device associated.

19. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said portable console unit further comprises a recall button, said recall button being configured to selectively activate an alarm on said locator device.

20. The locator system of claim 10, wherein said locator device further comprises a panic button, said panic button being configured to selectively activate an alarm on said portable console unit.