DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASCERTAINING THE GEOGRAPHIC POSITION OF A PERSON

• US 20080030323A1
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Navigon AG (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Katzer, Jochen
• Application Number:
  US11/780,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

The present invention relates to a configuration and a method for localizing the geographic position of a person. The localization configuration comprises a transmission unit (5, 6, 7) connectable to the person, as well as a reception unit (1) for displaying the location of the person.

The present invention is distinguished in that the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) comprises a GPS receiver and is connectable via wireless communication to the reception unit (1). The present invention allows both high precision in localization and also position ascertainment over great distances. The method and the cost-effectively producible device may also be used by lay people easily.

Claims

1. A configuration for localization of the geographic position of at least one person, the configuration comprising a battery-powered transmission unit (5, 6, 7) connectable to the person, as well as a reception unit (1) for displaying the geographic position of the person,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) comprises a satellite locating receiver and is connectable via wireless communication to the reception unit (1).

2. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the wireless communication between transmission unit (5, 6, 7) and reception unit (1) is implemented as a data exchange via SMS or as a GPRS data exchange for storing the geographic position on a server.

3. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

transmission unit (5, 6, 7) and/or reception unit (1) contains a standardized GSM or CDMA module.

4. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) contains a standardized GPS module.

5. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is additionally set up for locating via the particular GSM radio cell.

6. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) has a housing which is to be opened not at all or only using special tools.

7. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is set up to place an emergency call in case of opening of the housing.

8. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) has a permanently integrated user identification.

9. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) and/or the reception unit (1) has an induction apparatus for contactless charging of a battery of the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) or reception unit (1).

10. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) may be visibly identified clearly using the name of the person to be localized.

11. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is set up for wireless communication exclusively with the assigned reception unit (1).

12. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is set up for wireless communication exclusively with the assigned reception unit (1) and with one further reception unit (1).

13. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) and/or the reception unit (1) is a mobile telephone.

14. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is removably connected to a fastener (9) for connecting the transmission unit (5, 6, 7), particularly to clothing of the person to be localized.

15. The localization configuration according to claim 14,

characterized in that

the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) is set up to place an emergency call in case of removal from the fastener (9).

16. The localization configuration according to claim 1,

characterized by

a transponder unit directly connectable to the body of the person to be localized, the transponder unit being able to be connected via wireless communication to the transmission unit (5, 6, 7), and the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) being set up to place an emergency call in case of interruption of the communication between transponder unit and transmission unit (5, 6, 7).

17. The localization configuration according to claim 16,

characterized in that

the transponder unit may be introduced into the body of the person and/or is unremovably connectable to the body of the person.

18. A method for ascertaining the geographic position of at least one person using a transmission unit (5, 6, 7) connectable to the person, and using a reception unit (1) for displaying the geographic position of the person, the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) comprising a satellite locating receiver, the method having the following method steps:

a) command input for localizing the person on the reception unit (1);

b) wireless transmission of the localization command to the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) of the person;

c) wireless transmission of the current geographic position of the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) by the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) to the reception unit (1); and

d) display of the geographic position of the person on the reception unit (1).

19. The method according to claim 18,

characterized in that

the wireless communication between transmission unit (5, 6, 7) and reception unit (1) in the method steps b) and/or c) is implemented as a data exchange via SMS or as a GPRS data exchange for storing the geographic position on a server.

20. The method according to claim 18,

characterized in that

the ascertainment of the current geographic position of the transmission unit (5, 6, 7) additionally and/or alternatively occurs using localizing via the particular GSM radio cell.

21. The method according to claim 18,

characterized in that

in case of impermissible manipulations on the transmission unit (5, 6, 7), an emergency call is placed by the transmission unit (5, 6, 7).