LOCATION MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20070254626A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: AHLGREN, Erik Anders
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and device are provided for receiving a wireless location tracking activation signal. Location monitoring in initiated based on the received wireless location tracking activation. A geographic location is periodically determined and transmitted to a remote device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless location tracking activation signal;

initiating location monitoring based on the received wireless location tracking activation signal;

periodically determining a geographic location; and

transmitting the geographic location to a remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless location tracking activation signal is transmitted using a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes:

receiving the wireless location tracking activation signal via a passive wireless receiver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the initiating the location monitoring includes:

using power from the wireless location tracking activation signal to transmit a signal from the passive wireless receiver to location monitoring logic for initiating the location monitoring.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically determining a geographic location includes:

receiving global positioning satellite signals; and

calculating the geographic location based on the received global positioning satellite signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically determining a geographic location includes:

receiving cellular radiotelephone location signals; and

calculating the geographic location based on the received cellular radiotelephone location signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the geographic location to a remote device includes:

including the geographic location in cellular radiotelephone registration signals; and

periodically transmitting the cellular radiotelephone registration signals to an antenna associated with a cellular service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the geographic location to a remote device includes:

establishing a wireless connection with a wireless access point via a wireless network; and

periodically transmitting the geographic location to the wireless access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless network is a IEEE 802.11 wireless network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the geographic location in a memory; and

transmitting the geographic location to the remote device from the memory.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a wireless location tracking deactivation signal; and

using power from the wireless location tracking deactivation signal to terminate the location monitoring.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a passive wireless receiver to;

receive a first activation signal from another mobile device, and

transmit a second activation signal using power from the first activation signal;

a geographic location device to;

receive the second activation signal,

receive location monitoring signals from remote location monitoring devices in response to receiving the second activation signal,

calculate geographic location information based on the received location monitoring signals, and

transmit a geographic location information signal including the geographic location information; and

a wireless transceiver to;

receive the geographic location information signal,

establish a wireless connection with a remote device in response to receiving the geographic location information signal, and

transmit the geographic location information to the remote device via the wireless connection.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the passive wireless transceiver receives the first activation signal via a near field communication (NFC) protocol.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein when transmitting the second activation signal, the passive wireless receiver is configured to:

transmit the second activation signal via a bus.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile telephone.

16. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein when establishing a wireless connection, the wireless transceiver is configured to:

establish a cellular radiotelephone wireless connection with the other mobile device.

17. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein when establishing a wireless connection, the wireless transceiver is configured to:

establish a wireless data connection with the other mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the wireless data connection is an IEEE 802.11 wireless data connection.

19. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the geographic location device consumes no power prior to receiving the second activation signal.

20. A network device comprising:

means for receiving a first location tracking activation signal using a near field communication (NFC) protocol;

means for transmitting a second location tracking activation signal in response to receiving the first location tracking activation signal, the second location tracking activation signal causing location monitoring logic within the network device to power up;

means for determining a geographic location of the network device upon power up of the location monitoring logic; and

means for transmitting the determined geographic location to a remote device.

21. The network device of claim 20, wherein power for transmitting the second location tracking activation signal is drawn from the first location tracking activation signal.