Mobile unit tracking system
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a communication link with a node of a satellite communication system comprised of a plurality of nodes having movement relative to said mobile unit;
generating at said mobile unit, original location data, said original location data describing an original location of said mobile unit;
sending said original location data from said mobile unit to said one node;
first determining by said communication system, a geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides based on said original location;
second determining by said communication system, parameters for said communication link based on restrictions imposed by said geo-political jurisdiction, said parameters including frequency allocation, billing rates and taxes;
calculating by said communication system, a radius determined in part by said mobile unit'"'"'s proximity to a border of said geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides based on said original location of said mobile unit;
receiving at said mobile unit, a data message describing said radius;
defining by said mobile unit, an area around said original location of said mobile unit using said radius;
third determining, by said mobile unit, when said mobile unit is outside of said area by comparing said original location to a current location of said mobile unit; and
transmitting to said satellite communication system, from said mobile unit when said mobile unit is outside of said area, a current location data message describing said current location of said mobile unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network keeps track of the locations of mobile units which utilize the network. On powering up, the mobile units determine their current locations using signals broadcast, for example, by overhead satellites. They then send data communication messages to the network describing their locations. The network saves the locations and returns data messages that describe borders which surround the mobile units'"'"' locations. The mobile units repetitively determine their current locations on a regular schedule. When their current locations are outside of their prescribed borders, they send other location data messages to the network to update the location data being maintained by the network and to receive a definition of a new border.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of tracking a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communication link with a node of a satellite communication system comprised of a plurality of nodes having movement relative to said mobile unit; generating at said mobile unit, original location data, said original location data describing an original location of said mobile unit; sending said original location data from said mobile unit to said one node; first determining by said communication system, a geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides based on said original location; second determining by said communication system, parameters for said communication link based on restrictions imposed by said geo-political jurisdiction, said parameters including frequency allocation, billing rates and taxes; calculating by said communication system, a radius determined in part by said mobile unit'"'"'s proximity to a border of said geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides based on said original location of said mobile unit; receiving at said mobile unit, a data message describing said radius; defining by said mobile unit, an area around said original location of said mobile unit using said radius; third determining, by said mobile unit, when said mobile unit is outside of said area by comparing said original location to a current location of said mobile unit; and transmitting to said satellite communication system, from said mobile unit when said mobile unit is outside of said area, a current location data message describing said current location of said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17)
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10. A method of managing communications between a mobile unit that operates within various geo-political jurisdictions and nodes of a satellite communication network, said method allowing for parameters of a communication link to conform with diverse rules and procedures imposed by said various geo-political jurisdictions, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating, at said mobile unit, original location data by using an artificial satellite positioning system, said original location data describing an original location of said mobile unit; sending, from said mobile unit to a satellite, a data message describing said original location, said satellite being a node of said communication network; and communicating by said mobile unit with said communication network over said communication link, said parameters for said communication link based on restrictions imposed by a geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides, said parameters including frequency allocation, billing rates and taxes. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A mobile unit for use in a communication system which manages data describing a location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit comprising:
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a location generator for generating original location data describing an original location of said mobile unit when said mobile unit initiates a communication service; a memory for storing said original location data; a transceiver for sending said original location data to said communication system; and a processor coupled to said location generator, said memory, and said transceiver, said processor being configured to obtain said original location data from said location generator, cause said memory to save said original location data, cause said transceiver to transmit said original location data to said communication system and to obtain border data received at said transceiver from said communication system, said border data determined by said communication system and including a distance to a boundary of a geo-political jurisdiction in which said mobile unit resides; said processor causing said location generator to generate current location data and determine when a current location of said mobile unit is outside of a circular area determined by said distance and said original location; said processor causing said transceiver to transmit a current location data message which includes said current location to said communication system when said current location is outside said area, said communication system determining parameters for said communication service including frequency allocation, billing rate and tax. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 18, 19)
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Specification