REMOTELY ACTIVATABLE LOCATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080194227A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Buehler, Christopher Daniel, NALLEY, James Elwood
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device. The method comprises of receiving, at the locator device, a message over a cellular network; and responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a call over the cellular network to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device

Claims

1. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, a message over a control channel of a cellular network; and

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a call over a voice channel of the cellular network to a predetermined number to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

playing a prerecorded audible message providing information about the entity that is missing in response to determining that the call has been answered.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising remotely updating the locator device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a status of the locator device to an operation center over the control channel of the cellular network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating, by the locator device, a multiparty call between the party answering the call and a party that transmitted the message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a confirmation message to a party that transmitted the message confirming that the call has been placed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is placed to a public safety answering point.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing a prerecorded audible message providing contact information to a party that transmitted the message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a status indicating that a power source of the locator device is low, transmitting a remote notification to a party that the power source is low.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a predetermined data stream providing information about the entity that is missing in response to determining that the call has been answered.

11. A locator device comprising:

an electronic module for receiving, at the locator device, a message over a control channel of a cellular network; and

for automatically initiating a call over a voice channel of the cellular network to a predetermined number in response to receiving the message to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

12. The locator device of claim 11, further comprising:

memory for storing a prerecorded audible message; and

a processor for playing the prerecorded audible message in response to determining that the call has been answered.

13. The locator device of claim 11, further comprising memory for storing identifying information of a subscriber associated with the locator device.

14. The locator device of claim 11, further comprising a processor for initiating a multiparty call between the party answering the call and a party transmitting the activation command.

15. The locator device of claim 11 disguised as an accessory item.

16. The locator device of claim 11, further comprising a global positioning system component.

17. The locator device of claim 11, further comprising a processor for returning the device to lower power inactive mode.

18. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, a message over a cellular network; and

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a e911 call over the cellular network to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

19. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, an encrypted message over a cellular network; and

responsive to authenticating the message, automatically initiating a call over the cellular network to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

20. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, a message over a cellular network; and

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a call over the cellular network and playing a prerecorded audible message to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

21. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, a message over a control channel of a cellular network; and

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a call over a data channel of the cellular network to a predetermined number to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.