MOBILITY TRACKING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20080026769A1
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Braam, Carl A.
• Application Number:
  US11/460,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20080026769A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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

A method for a user to monitor the location of a subject is disclosed. The method includes defining a timetable of allowable location vectors for the subject via a central control computer, specifying a phone number associated with the user, and transferring the timetable of allowable location vectors to a control module of a cellular telephone. The method continues with monitoring the current location via a global positioning device within the cellular telephone, comparing a combination of current location and time to the timetable of allowable location vectors; and determining if the combination of current location and time satisfy the timetable of allowable location vectors. In response to determining that the combination of current location and time violate the timetable of allowable location vectors, contacting the central control computer; and establishing a communication link, via the central control computer, between the cellular telephone and the specified phone number.

Claims

1. A method for a user to monitor the location of a subject, the method comprising:

defining a timetable of allowable location vectors for the subject via a central control computer;

specifying a phone number associated with the user;

transferring the timetable of allowable location vectors to a control module of a cellular telephone, the control module comprising a global positioning device;

monitoring the current location of the cellular telephone via the global positioning device;

comparing a combination of current location and time of the cellular telephone to the timetable of allowable location vectors; and

determining if the combination of current location and time satisfy the timetable of allowable location vectors;

wherein the comparing and the determining are performed by the control module without user involvement;

wherein the transferring the timetable of allowable location vectors is performed automatically on a periodic basis; and

wherein in response to determining that the combination of current location and time violate the timetable of allowable location vectors;

contacting the central control computer; and

establishing a communication link, via the central control computer, between the cellular telephone and the specified phone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in response to the contacting the central control computer, logging the combination of location and time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a history of the combination of location and time information of the cellular telephone in the control module; and

transferring to the central computer the history for logging.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in response to failing to establish a communication link between the cellular telephone and the specified phone number, establishing a communication link, via the central control computer, between the cellular telephone and at least one of a set of alternate phone numbers in an order specified by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the defining the timetable of allowable location vectors comprises building the timetable of allowable location vectors via global positioning system mapping software.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the central control computer with the control module to determine the current location of the cellular telephone at any given time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in response to failing to contact the central control computer in response to determining that the combination of current location and time violate the timetable of allowable location vectors, establishing a direct communication link between the cellular telephone and the specified phone number.

20. A program storage device readable by a machine, the device embodying a program or instructions executable by the machine to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A mobility alert system to allow a user to monitor the location of a subject, the system comprising:

a central control computer configured to define a timetable of allowable location vectors for the subject; and

a cellular telephone configured to be carried by the subject, the cellular telephone comprising a control module, the control module comprising a global positioning device;

wherein the control module is configured to store the timetable of allowable location vectors;

wherein the control module is configured to monitor and compare a combination of current location and time of the cellular telephone to the timetable of allowable location vectors;

wherein in response to determining that the combination of location and time violate the timetable of allowable location vectors, the control module is configured to contact the central control computer; and

wherein in response to contact by the control module to the central control computer, the central control computer is configured to establish a communication link between the cellular telephone and a specified phone number associated with the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the control module is configured to continuously track location of the cellular telephone in the absence of a connection with the central control computer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the central control computer is configured to transfer the timetable of allowable location vectors to the control module.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the central control computer is configured to automatically transfer the timetable of allowable location vectors to the control module on a periodic basis.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the control module is configured to store a history of the combination of location and time information of the cellular telephone.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the control module is configured to transfer the history of the combination of location and time information to the central control computer for logging.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a clip disposed on the back of the cellular telephone, the clip comprising a switch, the switch configured to ensure that the phone remains with the subject;

wherein the switch is configured to initiate contact with the specified user phone number in response to the clip and cellular phone being removed from the subject.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the cellular telephone is configured to periodically require the subject to enter a code, thereby ensuring that the subject is in possession of the cellular telephone.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the central control computer is configured determine the subject location by connecting with the control module.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein:

in response to a failure to establish a communication link between the cellular telephone and the specified phone number, the central control computer is configured to establish a communication link between the cellular telephone and at least one of a set of alternate phone numbers in an order specified by the user.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein:

in response to a failure to contact the central control computer in response to determining that the combination of location and time violate the timetable of allowable location vectors, the control module is configured to establish a direct communication link with the specified phone number associated with the user.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein:

in response to a failure establish a direct communication link with the specified phone number associated with the user, the control module is configured to establish a direct communication link with the cellular telephone and at least one of a set of alternate phone numbers in an order specified by the user.