Telecommunications locating system

• US 6,122,521 A
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: Triune Star Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Dian, Boehne, George W., Wheatland, Susan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/700,224
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/38.3, 455/90, 455/343, 455/422, 455/427, 455/456, 455/457, 455/550, 455/574, 455/575, 455/566, 342/352, 342/357, 342/409, 342/451, 342/457, 340/988, 340/989, 340/993, 348/10, 348/14, 348/15, 348/20, 348/552, 348/553
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A telecommunications system for locating persons and things which includes a remote unit and a base unit wherein the remote unit includes a receiver for receiving navigational signals and a video means for generating signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit. The remote unit then transmits to a base station signals representing the position of the remote unit and a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit for display at a base station at an external location.

Claims

1. A telecommunications locating system for persons and things comprising

(1) a remote unit adapted to be carried on a person or thing, said remote unit comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving navigational signals from satellites in orbit about the earth and being adapted to generate position information signals indicative of the position of the remote unit;

(b) a video means in the form of a miniature infra-red camera for generating signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit;

(c) a telecommunications receiver for receiving signals from an external location adapted to activate at least one of the receivers for receiving navigational signals and the video means;

(d) microprocessor means to control and receive navigational signals from the receiver for receiving navigational signals and for controlling and receiving signals representing a visual image of the areas in the vicinity of the remote unit from the video means;

(e) a telecommunications transmitting means to transmit to an external location the position information signals indicative of the position of the remote unit and the signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit; and

(2) a base unit, said base unit comprising;

(f) receiving means for receiving the position information signals indicative of the position of the remote unit and the signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit;

(g) telecommunications transmitting means to transmit to the telecommunications receiver for receiving signals from an external location to activate at least one of the receivers for receiving navigational signals and the video means; and

(h) means for displaying the position of the remote unit and the visual image.

2. A system is defined in claim 1 wherein said receiver for receiving navigational signals is a global positioning satellite receiver.

3. A system is defined in claim 1 wherein the video means generates analog signals, and the video means includes means to convert the analog signals to digital signals for transmitting to an external location.

4. A system is defined in claim 1 wherein the telecommunications transmitting means includes a cellular phone means and modem means operatively connected therewith whereby the position information signals and the signals representing a visual image are transmitted through the modem and over the cellular phone means.

5. A system is defined in claim 1 wherein the telecommunications transmitting means is a wireless radio transmitter.

6. A system is defined in claim 1 wherein the remote unit contains a push button to activate the microprocessor means to control and activate the receiver for receiving navigational signals and the video means for receiving video signals representing a visual image.

7. A remote unit for use in a telecommunications locating system for persons and things comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving navigational signals from satellites in orbit about the earth and being adapted to generate position information signals indicative of the position of the remote unit;

(b) a video means in the form of a miniature infra-red camera for generating signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit;

(c) a telecommunications receiver for receiving signals from an external location adapted to activate at least one of the receivers for receiving navigational signals and the video means;

(d) microprocessor means to control and receive navigational signals from the receiver for receiving navigational signals and for controlling and receiving signals representing a visual image of the areas in the vicinity of the remote unit from the video means; and

(e) a telecommunications transmitting means to transmit to an external location the position information signals indicative of the position of the remote unit and the signals representing a visual image of the area in the vicinity of the remote unit.

8. A unit is defined in claim 7 wherein the remote unit has been miniaturized to about the size of a wrist watch.

9. A system is defined in claim 7 wherein said receiver for receiving navigational signals is a global positioning satellite receiver.