Remote global positioning device and method

• US 6,347,281 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chris Lawcock, Litzsinger R. Mark
• Inventors: Lawcock, Chris, Litzsinger, R. Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/520,383
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/207, 701/214, 701/215, 340/500, 340/539, 340/513.4, 340/693.1, 340/825.3, 340/825.49, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/351.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.12, 342/357.16, 379/38, 379/39
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A remote global positioning device which is configured to calculate its position and transmit information indicating its position along an existing radio network to a remote destination. The remote global positioning device includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive information from at least one satellite, a radio modem for transmitting information along the radio network to a remote destination, and a micro-controller in operable communication with the global positioning receiver and radio modem. The remote global positioning device is configured to calculate its position using information received from at least one satellite and is configured to transmit information indicating its position along the radio network to a remote destination using the radio modem. A method of locating a remote global positioning device is also provided, and the method includes having the remote global positioning device calculate its position and transmit information indicating its position along a radio network to a remote destination.

Claims

1. A remote global positioning device for use in close proximity to a user comprising:

a global positioning receiver configured to receive information from at least one satellite;

a radio modem for transmitting information along a terrestrial radio network directly to a local Internet service provider generally remote from said global positioning receiver; and

a micro-controller in operable communication with said global positioning receiver and said radio modem, wherein said remote global positioning device is configured to calculate its position using information received from said at least one satellite and is configured to transmit information indicating its position along the terrestrial radio network to the local Internet service provider remote from using the radio modem for subsequent relay to a base station through the Internet.

2. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, wherein said global positioning receiver is configured to triangulate the position of the remote global positioning device using three satellites.

3. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to use the radio modem to transmit information relating to a time at which position was calculated, the position which was calculated, and information which distinguishes the remote global positioning device from another remote global positioning device.

4. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor connected to said micro-controller, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to use the radio modem to transmit information relating to a temperature reading achieved by the temperature sensor.

5. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to use said radio modem to receive instructions from a remote location along a radio network.

6. The remote global positioning device of claim 5, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to switch into a power down mode wherein the global positioning receiver is generally inactive and the remote global positioning device cannot use the global positioning receiver to calculate its position.

7. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, wherein said radio modem is configured to transmit the information along the terrestrial radio network to the local service provider for subsequent relay to the base station through the Internet in an all digital format.

8. The remote global positioning device of claim 1, further comprising an audio device, wherein the micro-controller is operably connected to said audio device, wherein audio communication is operable between the remote global positioning device and the base station.

9. A remote global positioning device for use in close proximity to a user comprising:

a global positioning receiver configured to receive information from at least one satellite;

a radio modem for transmitting information along a terrestrial radio network to a remote destination;

a micro-controller in operable communication with said global positioning receiver and said radio modem, wherein said remote global positioning device is configured to calculate its position using information received from said at least one satellite and is configured to transmit information indicating its position along the terrestrial radio network to the remote destination using the radio modem;

a base station connected to the Internet, wherein said radio modem is configured to transmit the information to a local service provider for subsequent relay to the base station through the Internet, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to use the radio modem to transmit information relating to a time at which position was calculated, the position which was calculated, and information which distinguishes the remote global positioning device from another remote global positioning device, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to use said radio modem to receive instructions from a remote location along the terrestrial radio network, wherein the remote global positioning device is configured to switch into a power down mode wherein the global positioning receiver is generally inactive and the remote global positioning device cannot use the global positioning receiver to calculate its position.

10. A method of locating a remote global positioning device for use in close proximity to a user which includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive information from at least one satellite, a radio modem for transmitting information along a terrestrial radio network directly to a local Internet service provider generally remote from said global positioning receiver;

and a micro-controller in operable communication with said global positioning receiver and said radio modem, said method comprising;

calculating the general position of the remote global positioning device using information received from the at least one satellite; and

using the radio modem to transmit information indicating the position of the remote global positioning device along the terrestrial radio network to the local Internet service provider remote from using the radio modem for subsequent relay to a base station through the Internet.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising using said global positioning receiver to triangulate the position of the remote global positioning device using three satellites.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the radio modem to transmit information relating to a time at which position was calculated, the position which was calculated, and information which distinguishes the remote global positioning device from another remote global positioning device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a temperature sensor connected to said micro-controller, and using the radio modem to transmit information along the radio network relating to a temperature reading achieved by the temperature sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the radio modem to transmit information to the local service provided for subsequent relay to the base station through the Internet in an all digital format.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing an audio device, wherein the micro-controller is operably connected to said audio device, wherein audio communication is operable between the remote global positioning device and the base station.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the radio modem to receive instructions from a remote location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising switching the remote global positioning device into a power down mode wherein the global positioning receiver is generally inactive and the remote global positioning device cannot use the global positioning receiver to calculate its position.