System for determining and tracking changes in location
First Claim
1. A handheld locator device for guiding an operator from a Return location to a Home location, the locator device comprising:
- a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;
input means for prompting the GPS receiver to determine the location of the locator device at the Home and Return locations without resort to a remote database, based on input from the operator at the Home and Return locations;
memory for storing a plurality of locations determined by the GPS receiver, including the Home location, and for automatically storing one or more intermediate locations;
a display device; and
a processor for retrieving stored locations, including the Home location and the one or more intermediate locations, from memory and for causing the display device to display a graphical representation of the relative positions of the retrieved stored locations, the graphical representation including a curve plotting at least some of the stored locations, including the Home location, such that a path traveled by the locator device is visually displayed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld locator device is prompted to determine and store a first, Home location, and to determine a Return location, and to visually display the relative positions of the Home and Return locations. An input device, for example having one or more push button keys, is pressed by the operator and causes a GPS determined the Home and Return locations. Intermediate locations are also determined, automatically and at predetermined intervals. A curve showing the relative positions of the Home and Return locations is displayed, along with a constantly updated arrow corresponding to the most recent intermediate location. An elevation arrow showing the relative elevations between the Home and Return is also displayed.
157 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A handheld locator device for guiding an operator from a Return location to a Home location, the locator device comprising:
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a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver;
input means for prompting the GPS receiver to determine the location of the locator device at the Home and Return locations without resort to a remote database, based on input from the operator at the Home and Return locations;
memory for storing a plurality of locations determined by the GPS receiver, including the Home location, and for automatically storing one or more intermediate locations;
a display device; and
a processor for retrieving stored locations, including the Home location and the one or more intermediate locations, from memory and for causing the display device to display a graphical representation of the relative positions of the retrieved stored locations, the graphical representation including a curve plotting at least some of the stored locations, including the Home location, such that a path traveled by the locator device is visually displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for guiding an operator from a Return location to a Home location, the method comprising:
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determining the Home location using Global Positioning System (GPS) based on an input prompt from the operator;
storing the home location;
determining the Return location using GPS based on an input prompt from the operator;
determining one or more intermediate locations at predetermined intervals after determining the Home location; and
visually displaying the relative positions of the Home, Return and intermediate locations using a graphical representation including a curve plotting at least some of the stored locations, including the Home location, such that a path traveled by the locator device is indicated, wherein determining the Home, Return and intermediate locations is conducted without resort to a remote database. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification