Method and system of configuring a boundary and tracking an object thereby

• US 6,353,390 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Beri, Raymond J. Werner
• Inventors: Beri, Jeffrey, Werner, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/477,831
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/825.49, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/505, 379/37, 379/38, 455/405-408, 700/115, 700/213, 700/225, 700/226
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network

Abstract

A location monitoring system for tracking an object relative to a virtual boundary via telecommunication infrastructure for use in an electronic-commerce environment. In one embodiment the system includes a wireless communications network and the telecommunications infrastructure to dynamically configure the virtual boundary, by controlled, subscription-based access to the location monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service, comprising:

providing a wireless communications network;

providing a base station;

assigning a user identification to each user having access to the communications network;

associating a tracked object with the user identification;

communicating a first set of information between the tracked object and the base station; and

providing the user with access to a second set of information;

wherein the second set of information is related to the first set of information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a public communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a private communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user inquiry at the base station and, in response to the user inquiry, enabling the user to select or receive data from the second set of information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

assessing a fee from the user based at least in part on the data selected by the user from the second set of information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

collecting a subscription fee from the user.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

collecting a transaction fee from the user.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

collecting a membership fee from the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of base stations networked with the communications network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving boundary information from the user to create a virtual boundary.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises location information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the location information at preprogrammed intervals to the base station.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the location information on a real-time basis to the base station.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inputting to the base station, data selected from the group consisting of topographical information, date and time information, and meteorological information.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface between the base station and the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a world-wide-web graphical user interface at the base station.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracked object is included within an accessory.

18. A method of providing a service for tracking an object relative to a boundary, the object having an identification, the method comprising:

establishing a virtual boundary that is reconfigurable;

comparing the location of the tracked object relative to the virtual boundary; and

taking one or more predetermined actions based, at least in part, on a result of comparing the location of the tracked object to the virtual boundary;

further comprising determining the location of the tracked object.

19. A method of providing a service for tracking an object relative to a boundary, the object having an identification, the method comprising:

establishing a virtual boundary that is reconfigurable;

comparing the location of the tracked object relative to the virtual boundary; and

taking one or more predetermined actions based, at least in part, on a result of comparing the location of the tracked object to the virtual boundary;

wherein the reconfigurable boundary defines a three-dimensional space.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a user inquiry over a communication network and, in response to the user inquiry, enabling a user to select configuration and location data.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

charging a fee to the user based, at least in part, on the service provided to the user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising collecting the fee.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

collecting a subscription fee from the user.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

collecting a transaction fee from the user.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

collecting a membership fee from the user.

26. A method of providing a service for tracking an object having a location, relative to a boundary, the object having an identification, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a boundary that is subscriber-reconfigurable via a remote command system;

(b) comparing the location of the tracked object relative to the boundary and outputting a location tracking signal to the remote command system;

(c) receiving a subscriber inquiry from the remote command system and, in response to the subscriber inquiry, enabling the subscriber to update the boundary configuration; and

(e) collecting a fee from the subscriber based at least in part on the data selected or received by the subscriber.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the fee for collection to a financial authorization network.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the tracked object is included within an accessory.

29. A location monitoring system for tracking an object relative to a boundary, comprising:

a base station adapted to wirelessly communicate with one or more tracked objects, adapted to receive boundary coordinates and contingency action definitions from one or more users, adapted to compare a location of the tracked object to the boundary coordinates, and further adapted to take one or more contingency actions based, at least in part, on the location of the tracked object relative to the boundary coordinates;

wherein the location monitoring system is further adapted to bill one or more users for services rendered.

30. A method of providing a service for tracking an object relative to a boundary, the object having an identification, the method comprising:

establishing a virtual boundary that is reconfigurable;

comparing the location of the tracked object relative to the virtual boundary; and

taking one or more predetermined actions based, at least in part, on a result of comparing the location of the tracked object to the virtual boundary;

wherein the tracked object is included within an accessory.

31. A method of providing a service, comprising:

providing a wireless communications network;

providing a base station adapted to wirelessly communicate with one or more tracked objects;

associating a tracked object with a user;

providing user defined time and/or boundary parameters against which the object is tracked; and

selecting the time and boundary parameters from a schedule of conditional logical combinations of time and/or boundary parameters.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

taking a contingency action based, at least in part, on time and/or location of the tracked object.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

activating a proximity alert conditioned on a location of the tracked object.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

establishing a plurality of circumscribed regions against which a location of the tracked object is compared, and activating a selected proximity alert based in part on the location of the tracked object relative to a set of boundary coordinates defined by the circumscribed regions.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

selecting the proximity alert from a schedule of proximity alerts.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the tracked object is an accessory selected from the group consisting of fashion accessories, clothing, bags, and sporting equipment.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein a wireless device associated with the user is integrated into an accessory.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the tracked object is integrated into an accessory selected from the group consisting of fashion accessories, clothing, bags, and sporting equipment.