TRACKING IMPLEMENTING GEOPOSITIONING AND LOCAL MODES

• US 20090009398A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Liren, Taylor, Kirk S., Steenstra, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A wireless device provides location data concerning an object by use of geolocation in order to provide distance tracking and local location techniques in order to provide local tracking. The geolocation and local location techniques may be implemented at the same time or individually, reconfigurable on demand, in both the tracking and tracked devices. The tracked wireless device includes a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network. A geolocation reading circuit provides GPS or similar location data and is capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object. A local locating device parses local location data, and an indication is provided of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and is further responsive to the local location data which is used to modify the geolocation data with the local location data.

Claims

7. A device for determining a location of an object, the device comprising:

a receiver receiving location data from an external device;

a decision circuit determining a condition requiring further location of the external device; and

a tracking circuit capable of providing augmentation of the received location data in the event of the determination of the condition requiring further location.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, further comprising a request circuit, responsive to the decision circuit, providing a request for a local location signal under predetermined conditions including the determination of the condition requiring said augmentation.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, further comprising a geolocation reading circuit capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

a geolocation circuit capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the wireless device; and

a relative location circuit responsive to the geolocation reading circuit and the geolocation circuit, and rendering a relative reading of the geolocation data concerning the object.

11. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

a geolocation circuit capable providing geolocation data concerning the wireless device; and

a relative location circuit responsive to the geolocation reading circuit and the geolocation circuit, and rendering a relative reading of the geolocation data concerning the object.

12. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 7, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

13. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 7.

14. A wireless device for providing location data, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a local locating device capable of providing local location data; and

a control circuit responsive to a predetermined event, to provide the local location data, the local location data enabling augmentation of geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing geolocation data.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the control circuit responds to an external signal as the predetermined event.

17. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the control circuit responds to a sensed condition signal as the predetermined event.

18. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing geolocation data concerning the object, wherein the control circuit responds to a sensed condition signal as the predetermined event.

19. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising a rate detection device, whereby detected rate activates the geolocation circuit.

20. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising:

an acceleration detection device; and

a control circuit, responsive to acceleration detected by the acceleration detection device to activate the geolocation circuit and the wireless communication circuit to provide geolocation data to the multiuser subscriber network.

21. The wireless device of claim 14, further comprising an event response circuit, the rate response circuit responsive to a predetermined condition to provide an indication of the predetermined event.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting at least a first event related to location;

providing, in response to detection of the first event, the geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation;

using the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location;

in the case of detection of the second event related to location, providing geolocation data concerning the wireless communication device.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising providing an audible or visible signal to a user concerning the detected geolocation of the wireless communication device in order to monitor the geolocation.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising providing an output signal through a wireless communication network to permit an external indication of geolocation of the wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising selectively activating data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event, thereby providing a first level of monitoring associated with a first status the wireless communication device, a second level of monitoring associated with the first event related to location and a third level of detection associated with detection of the second event related to location.

27. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 22, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

28. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 22.

29. A method of obtaining location data from a mobile object, the method comprising:

obtaining geolocation data by use of geolocation data obtained from the mobile object;

obtaining an indication of a reliability characteristic of the geolocation data;

determining a need for local location data, the need based in part on the reliability characteristic falling below predetermined criteria;

in the case of need for local location data, determining presence of a local beacon signal suitable for local location; and

transmitting a request for a local signal in the event of lack of presence of the local beacon signal and a need for the local location data.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising using the accuracy indication in the determination of the need for the local location data.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

using the accuracy indication in the determination of the need for the local location; and

establishing at least one geographical probability zone in accordance with the geolocation and the accuracy indication;

using the local location data to augment the geographical probability zone.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

obtaining an accuracy indication from the mobile object, indicating at least one indication of receipt location data;

establishing location parameters based on the accuracy indication;

augmenting the geolocation data with the localized location data, within geographical constraints established by the location parameters.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the indication of receipt location data includes one of:

obtaining the geolocation data from received transmissions from the mobile object;

or

obtaining the geolocation data from a wireless network, wherein the wireless network obtains corresponding geolocation data concerning the mobile object.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

detecting an alert signal, indicating the object passed a predetermined boundary; and

increasing monitoring of the object'"'"'s location data in response to the alert signal.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting a geofencing alert signal when the mobile device exceeds a predetermined geographic limit.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein, during location of the mobile object determining a wide area location by use of a terrestrial navigation receiver on the mobile object and reporting an ability to acquire a terrestrial navigation fix over a wireless network, and upon determining the wide area location, providing a local beacon mode permitting local tracking.

37. Apparatus for providing an indication of location data of a mobile object, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining geolocation data by use of geolocation data concerning the mobile object;

means for obtaining an indication of a reliability characteristic of the geolocation data;

means for determining a need for local location data; and

means for transmitting or obtaining a local signal, the local signal providing augmentation data for locating the mobile object.

1. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation reading circuit capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object;

a local locating device capable of parsing local location data; and

a control circuit responsive to the geolocation circuit, providing an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive the local location data to supplement the geolocation data with the local location data.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit responsive to the geolocation circuit reading circuit and the local locating device, capable of modifying the geolocation data with the local location data.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing a relative reading of the geolocation data concerning the object.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit capable of communicating through the multiuser subscriber network a request for a transmission of a local signal identifiable with the object.

5. A processor comprising circuitry for performing the method of claim 1, comprising said processor provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

6. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

51. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for providing the location data of the mobile object provides the user of the apparatus with a capability of determining the location when separated from the mobile object;

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for detecting an alert signal, indicating the object passed a predetermined boundary; and

means for increasing monitoring of the object'"'"'s location data in response to the alert signal.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for using the accuracy indication in the determination of the need for the local location; and

means for establishing at least one geographical probability zone in accordance with the geolocation and the accuracy indication;

means for using the local location data to augment the geographical probability zone.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for providing the location data of the mobile object provides an external device with data sufficient for determining the location of the object with the external device separated from the mobile object.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising means for providing an alert signal, indicating the object passed a predetermined boundary.

56. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for determining presence of a local beacon signal suitable for local location in the case of need for local location data; and

the means for transmitting or obtaining the local signal responding to a need for the local location data.

57. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising using the accuracy indication in the determination of the need for the local location data.

58. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for obtaining an accuracy indication, indicating at least one indication of location data;

means for establishing location parameters based on the accuracy indication; and

means for augmenting the geolocation data with the localized location data, within geographical constraints established by the location parameters.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the indication of receipt of location data includes one of:

means for obtaining the geolocation data from received transmissions from the mobile object;

or

means for obtaining the geolocation data from a wireless network, wherein the wireless network obtains corresponding geolocation data concerning the mobile object.

60. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising providing a geofencing alert signal when the mobile device exceeds a predetermined geographic limit.

61. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein, during location of the mobile object determining a wide area location by use of a terrestrial navigation receiver on the mobile object and reporting an ability to acquire a terrestrial navigation fix over a wireless network, and upon determining the wide area location, providing a local beacon mode permitting local tracking.

62. A machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 37.

55-1. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for determining a reliability characteristic of the geolocation data; and

the means for determining a need for local location data, establishing the need on a basis of a determination of the reliability characteristic falling below predetermined criteria;