Anytime/anywhere child locator system
First Claim
1. A communications system that enables a first party to track the current and historical locations of a device carried by a second party, said device comprising:
- a portable device to be carried by said second party, said device transmitting a first data signal having geographical coordinate data and device information data in response to one of a plurality of input signals;
a central control system having at least one wireless receiver/transmitter for receiving said first data signal from said portable device;
first means for periodically generating one of said plurality of input signals to enable said central control system to receive a plurality of first data signals over time, which plurality enables said central control system to store history data relating to any geographical movement of said second party;
second means for enabling said first party to interrogate said central control system to determine the present geographic coordinates of said second party, and to review said history data relating to the prior geographical movements of said second party, said second means including an internet web server, whereby a person having authorized access to said web server may obtain current geographical coordinates and history data of said second party.
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0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system that tracks the current and historical locations of a GPS locator device carried by a person provides widely available access to data referencing these locations, so that a parent can easily and frequently monitor the location of a child. Monitoring of a child'"'"'s location may be conducted via a Web site, which provides graphical maps of location data, or via calling into a call center. The present invention also provides a means for a parent to trigger the automatic transmission of the device'"'"'s location, via a Web site or call placed to a call center agent or a VRU. The present invention also provides a process of auto-notification of a device'"'"'s movement that exceeds a pre-specified threshold. The present invention also includes a capability to function as a proximity alert device.
847 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A communications system that enables a first party to track the current and historical locations of a device carried by a second party, said device comprising:
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a portable device to be carried by said second party, said device transmitting a first data signal having geographical coordinate data and device information data in response to one of a plurality of input signals;
a central control system having at least one wireless receiver/transmitter for receiving said first data signal from said portable device;
first means for periodically generating one of said plurality of input signals to enable said central control system to receive a plurality of first data signals over time, which plurality enables said central control system to store history data relating to any geographical movement of said second party;
second means for enabling said first party to interrogate said central control system to determine the present geographic coordinates of said second party, and to review said history data relating to the prior geographical movements of said second party, said second means including an internet web server, whereby a person having authorized access to said web server may obtain current geographical coordinates and history data of said second party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 32)
whereby said portable device may function as a proximity alerting device.
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19. A method of providing information to a first party on a location of a second party, said method using a communications system for tracking current and historical locations, said method comprising steps of:
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receiving broadcast signal transmissions from a geographical locator system with a portable device carried by said second party;
converting said signal transmissions into location data;
periodically transmitting said location data and an identifying code via said communications system from said portable device to a central control system in response to one of a plurality of portable device input signals;
storing said location data and said identifying codes in a data base to enable subsequent queries on said location data to determine any geographical movements of said second party;
providing a user interface to enable access to said location data by said first party;
providing a communications link between said central control system and a web server;
storing graphical displays of maps of geographic locations surrounding each of said receiver/transmitters in said web server; and
downloading a graphical display of a map of an area surrounding a current location, and the geographical coordinates of the current location in response to a query by said first party. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
creating a profile for said second person, said profile including predefined procedures;
performing predefined procedures specified in a customer profile upon receipt of said emergency code by said central control system, said procedures including an automatic notification of said first party.
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27. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of authenticating an access authorization for verifying a first party'"'"'s request for location data.
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28. The method according to claim 19, further comprising steps of:
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defining one or more selection areas on a web page downloaded by said web server, each of said selection areas linked to said central control system, generating a third one of said plurality of control signals in response to a first party'"'"'s selection of a first of said selection links in said web page.
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29. A method of providing information to a first party on a location of a second party, said method using a communications system for tracking current and historical locations, said method comprising steps of:
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receiving broadcast signal transmissions from a geographical locator system with a portable device carried by said second party;
converting said signal transmissions into location data;
periodically transmitting said location data and an identifying code via said communications system from said portable device to a central control system in response to one of a plurality of portable device input signals;
storing said location data and said identifying codes in a data base to enable subsequent queries on said location data to determine any geographical movements of said second party; and
providing a user interface to enable access to said location data by said first party;
linking an operator call center with said central control center to enable servicing of telephone inquiries from first parties, said servicing further comprising steps of;
accessing location data stored in said data base in said central control system;
providing said accessed location data to said first parties; and
triggering an automatic transmission of said device'"'"'s location if a request for automatic update is made by said first party. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
notifying a predefined authority in response to an emergency. -
31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said servicing step further comprises the step of notifying a predefined person when location data transmitted by said device indicates a location beyond a pre-specified threshold of movement.
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33. A communications system that enables a first party to track the current and historical locations of a device carried by a second party, said device comprising:
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a portable device to be carried by said second party, said device transmitting a first data signal having geographical coordinate data and device information data in response to one of a plurality of input signals;
a central control system having at least one wireless receiver/transmitter for receiving said first data signal from said portable device;
first means for periodically generating one of said plurality of input signals to enable said central control system to receive a plurality of first data signals over time, which plurality enables said central control system to store history data relating to any geographical movements of said second party;
second means for enabling said first party to interrogate said central control system to determine the present geographical coordinates of said second party, and to review said history data relating to the prior geographical movements of said second party, said second means includes a manned call center which provides services in response to a telephone call from a said first party, said call center further including a database of a plurality of first data signals over time, and a report generator means for accessing said database and providing said call center and said first party with said devices current and historical locations.
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34. A communications system that enables a first party to track the current and historical locations of a device carried by a second party, said device comprising:
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a portable device to be carried by said second party, said device transmitting a first data signal having geographical coordinate data and device information data in response to one of a plurality of input signals;
a central control system having at least one wireless receiver/transmitter for receiving said first data signal from said portable device;
first means for periodically generating one of said plurality of input signals to enable said central control system to receive a plurality of first data signals over time, which plurality enables said central control system to store history data relating to any geographical movement of said second party;
second means for enabling said first party to interrogate said central control system to determine the present geographic coordinates of said second party, and to review said history data relating to the prior geographical movements of said second party, said second means further comprises a voice telephone connection, via a web server and internet telephony, between said first party and a call center agent who can provide said present geographic coordinates of said device and said second party, and said history data related to prior geographic movements of said second party.
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35. A communications system that enables a first party to track the current and historical locations of a device carried by a second party, said device comprising:
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a portable device to be carried by said second party, said device transmitting a first data signal having geographical coordinate data and device information data in response to one of a plurality of input signals;
a central control system having at least one wireless receiver/transmitter for receiving said first data signal from said portable device;
first means for periodically generating one of said plurality of input signals to enable said central control system to receive a plurality of first data signals over time, which plurality enables said central control system to store history data relating to any geographical movement of said second party;
second means for enabling said first party to interrogate said central control system to determine the present geographic coordinates of said second party, and to review said history data relating to the prior geographical movements of said second party, said second means further comprises a voice response unit processing system which generates automated audible data relating to said present geographic coordinates of said device and said second party, and said history data related to prior geographic movements of said second party.
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Specification