SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT DISCRETE WIRELESS TERMINALS

• US 20100285814A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prima Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Prima Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Price, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention is broadly directed to systems and methods for gathering information about wireless transceiver devices in a defined boundary region. To this end, the disclosure is more particularly directed to gathering movement information (e.g., via detection and location) about two-way end-user wireless terminals within three-dimensional boundaries of defined local space (“DLS”) to allow for selective control of the terminals and other subsystems, as desired. Additionally, the data collected can be used to improve accuracy and precision regarding the prediction of behavior characteristics and tendencies of populations based on a sampling of observed terminals.

Claims

1. A non-intrusive information gathering method, comprising:

a. providing a network architecture that includes a plurality of synchronized receivers and at least one processor in communication with said receivers;

b. mathematically characterizing a defined local space (DLS) which includes said receivers arranged in a selected volumetric array;

c. periodically broadcasting a series of request signals from a base station of a wireless service provider system, wherein each request signal is intended for a particular two-way wireless terminal;

d. intercepting, through said receivers, each automatic return signal that is transmitted to the base station by an associated two-way wireless terminal within the DLS; and

e. processing each intercepted automatic return signal to extract terminal specific information therefrom and to physically locate the return signal'"'"'s associated wireless terminal within the DLS.

2. A non-intrusive information gathering method according to claim 1 wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular said two-way wireless terminal.

3. A non-intrusive information gathering method according to claim 1 wherein each said wireless terminal is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and other similar two-way wireless terminal devices.

4. An information gathering method, comprising:

a. receiving, over a selected time interval and within a pre-defined local space (DLS), return signals transmitted from a plurality of two-way wireless terminals within the DLS;

b. processing each received return signal to ascertain physical location information about the signal'"'"'s associated two-way wireless terminal within the DLS.

5. A method for monitoring movement of two-way wireless terminals with in a defined local space (DLS), comprising:

a. providing a network architecture that includes a plurality of synchronized receivers and at least one processor in communication with said receivers;

b. mathematically characterizing a defined DLS which includes said receivers arranged in a selected volumetric array;

c. during a first time interval;

i. intercepting, through said receivers, a first sampling of signals transmitted by an associated first set of two-way wireless terminals within the DLS, each received signal being associated with a particular two-way wireless terminal within the DLS during said first time interval;

ii. logging initial location information for the first set of wireless terminals within the DLS based on said first sampling of signals;

d. during a second time interval;

i. intercepting, through said DLS receivers, at least one subsequent sampling of signals transmitted by an associated set of two-way wireless terminals within the DLS, each received signal being associated with a particular two-way wireless terminal within the DLS during said subsequent time interval;

ii. logging subsequent location information for the detected set of wireless terminals within the DLS based on said subsequent sampling of signals; and

e. comparing said initial location information to said subsequent location information to ascertain tracking movement of wireless terminals within the DLS.

6. An information gathering method according to claim 5 wherein each request signal is a service request or ping signal transmitted by a base station in an RF signaling channel.

7. An information gathering method according to claim 6 wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular said two-way wireless terminal.

8. An information gathering method according to claim 5 wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular said two-way wireless terminal.

9. An information gathering method according to claim 5 whereby no personal information is obtained concerning any of the wireless terminals within the DLS.

10. An information gathering method according to claim 5 wherein each said wireless terminal is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and other similar two-way wireless terminal devices.

11. An information gathering system, comprising:

a. a mathematically characterized DLS architecture, including;

i. an array of receivers which are synchronized together to identify a volume within the defined local space (DLS);

ii. at least one processor in communication with said array of receivers;

b. a plurality of two-way wireless terminals, there being at least some of said wireless terminals physically located within said DLS; and

c. a base station associated with a wireless service provider system, said base station operative to broadcast an associated request signal to each of said wireless terminals, whereupon each wireless terminal within said DLS is operative to transmit an associated return signal that is received and processed by said DLS architecture to ascertain physical location information associated with each wireless terminal within the DLS.

12. An information gathering system according to claim 11 wherein each request signal is a service request or ping signal transmitted by said base station in an RF signaling channel.

13. An information gathering system according to claim 11 wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular said two-way wireless terminal.

14. An information gathering system according to claim 11 whereby no personal information is obtained concerning any of the wireless terminals within the DLS.

15. An information gathering system according to claim 11 wherein each said wireless terminal is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and other similar two-way wireless terminal devices.

16. A system for monitoring movement of two-way wireless terminals with a defined local space (DLS), comprising:

a. a mathematically characterized DLS architecture, including;

i. an array of receivers which are synchronized together to identify a volume within the defined local space (DLS);

ii. at least one processor in communication with said array of receivers;

b. a plurality of two-way wireless terminals; and

c. a base station associated with a wireless service provider system, said base station adapted to periodically broadcast a series of request signals, each intended for a particular one of said wireless terminals, whereupon said DLS architecture is operative;

i. during a first time interval to;

1. intercept a first sampling of return signals transmitted by an associated first set of wireless terminals that are physically within said DLS during the first time interval; and

2. log initial location information for the first set of wireless terminals within the DLS based on said first sampling of return signals;

ii. during subsequent time intervals to;

1. intercept at least one subsequent sampling of return signals transmitted by an associated set of wireless terminals that are physically located within the DLS during the subsequent time intervals; and

2. log initial location information for the set of wireless terminals within the DLS based on said sampling of return signals; and

iii. to compare said initial location information to said subsequent location information to ascertain tracking movement of wireless terminals within the DLS.

17. A system method according to claim 16 wherein each request signal is a service request or ping signal transmitted by a base station in an RF signaling channel, and wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular one of said two-way wireless terminals.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein no personal information is obtained concerning any of the wireless terminals within the DLS.

19. A system according to claim 16 wherein each said wireless terminal is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and other similar two-way wireless terminal devices.

20. A system according to claim 16 wherein said processor is operative to time stamp and determine intra-DLS physical location of all wireless terminals within the DLS during the initial and all subsequent time intervals, respectively.

21. A system for monitoring movement of two-way wireless terminals with a defined local space (DLS), comprising:

a. means for receiving, during a first time interval, an associated first set of signals transmitted by each of plurality of two-way wireless terminals that are physically located with the DLS during said first time interval;

b. means for receiving, during subsequent time intervals, associated subsequent set of signals transmitted by each of plurality of two-way wireless terminals that are physically located with the DLS during said subsequent time intervals; and

c. means for ascertaining tracking movement of wireless terminals within the DLS based on sampling said first and subsequent signals.