TWO-STAGE LOCATION SYSTEM

• US 20080129597A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPS International Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GPS International Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ruperto, Netzer Arias, Nebolon, Joseph, Galli, Dante
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,317 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for two-stage location. In one implementation, there is provided a method for receiving a first location of a first radio, the first radio providing the first location of the first radio; using the received first location to determine when to transmit an activation command from a portable locator to a second radio, the second radio coupled to the first radio; and receiving at the portable locator a beacon transmitted to enable the portable locator to precisely locate the second radio and the coupled first radio.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first location of a first radio, the first radio providing the first location of the first radio;

using the received first location to determine when to transmit an activation command from a portable locator to a second radio, the second radio coupled to the first radio, the activation command varying at least one of a power and a frequency of a beacon transmitted by the second radio; and

receiving at the portable locator the beacon transmitted to enable the portable locator to precisely locate the second radio and the coupled first radio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first location further comprises:

receiving the received first location as a location determined from a global positioning system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first location further comprises:

receiving the first location from a wireless device including a global positioning system (GPS) engine, the first location determined with information provided by an assisted GPS server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the beacon further comprises:

receiving an address of the second radio, the address comprising one or more of the following;

a media access control address and an electronic serial number (ESN).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implementing a dormant state to conserve power at the second radio.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a command from the portable locator to the second radio, the command activating a sound to facilitate location of the second radio.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending, from the portable locator, a second location of the second radio, when the second radio is precisely located by the portable locator.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

mapping, at a computer, the first location and the second location, and tracking the first and second locations to determine when at least one of the first location and the second location are not within a predefined region.

4. The method of claim I further comprising:

transmitting the beacon as a signal in an ISM (Industry, Scientific, and Medical) band.

8. The method of claim I, further comprising:

using a directional antenna at the portable locator to facilitate location of the second radio.

11. A system comprising:

a first radio for providing a first location;

a second radio for sending a beacon when activated by an activation command, the second radio coupled to the first radio, such that the first location corresponds to the first and second radios, the activation command varying at least one of a power and a frequency of a beacon transmitted by the second radio; and

a portable locator for sending the activation command to the second radio, and for receiving the beacon, the beacon transmitted by the second radio to enable the portable locator to locate the first and second radios.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first location further comprises a location determined based on a global positioning system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first location further comprises location information determined based on information provided by an assisted global positioning system (GPS) server.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the beacon further comprises an address of the second radio, the address comprising one or more of the following:

a media access control address and an electronic serial number (ESN).

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a speaker to generate a sound in response to a command from the portable locator.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a directional antenna at the portable locator to facilitate location of the second radio.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer for mapping the first location and the second location, and for tracking the first and second locations to determine when at least one of the first location and the second location are not within a predefined region.

18. A two-stage radio comprising:

a first radio for providing a first location; and

a second radio for sending a beacon when activated by an activation command from a portable locator, the activation command varying at least one of a power and a frequency of the beacon transmitted by the second radio, the second radio coupled to the first radio, such that the first location corresponds to the first and second radios, the beacon transmitted by the second radio to enable the portable locator to locate the first and second radios.

19. The two-stage radio of claim 18, wherein the beacon further comprises an address of the second radio, the address comprising one or more of the following:

a media access control address and an electronic serial number (ESN).

20. The two-stage radio of claim 18, further comprising:

a speaker to generate a sound in response to a command from the portable locator.

21. A portable locator comprising:

a directional antenna;

a transmitter for sending an activation command from a portable locator to a second radio and a coupled first radio, the activation command varving at least one of a power and a frequency of a beacon transmitted by the second radio; and

a receiver for detecting through the direction antenna the beacon transmitted to enable the portable locator to precisely locate the second radio and the coupled first radio.