Method and apparatus for acquiring a remote position

• US 6,636,175 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Paul Grady, Schultz, Deborah L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US09/952,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 342/357.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A method and apparatus for acquiring a remote position. The present invention allows a user to locate a remote paging device located on a person or piece of property to determine its physical position. A user contacts a position service provider, identifies a device or devices to be located and provides a password. A message is then generated to locate the remote device over a communications network. In one embodiment, a paging communications network is used. Another embodiment uses a Bluetooth communications network to contact the remote device. The position of the remote device is determined by a GPS transceiver and is sent to the position service provider. The position of the remote device is then displayed on a map for the user. The remote device can also be used to send a distress signal which will provide the position of the sender and automatically be forwarded to emergency services.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring a remote position comprising:

providing a remote paging device that includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a Bluetooth communication module for communicating over a Bluetooth communications network, and a paging communication module for communicating over a paging communications network;

initiating a query, wherein an initiating source accesses a web page of a position service provider, said query including identifying information for identifying said remote paging device and conveying a request for the position of said remote paging device;

sending said query from said position service provider to said remote paging device using said paging communications network, said paging communication module operable to receive said query using said paging communications network;

determining a position at said remote paging device using said GPS receiver upon receiving said query; and

sending a response from said remote paging device to said initiating source, said paging communications module operable to send said response using said paging communications network, said response including said determined position.

2. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 1, wherein said identifying information includes a password.

3. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 1, wherein said sending of said response further comprises sending a second paging message from said remote paging device to said position service provider using said paging communications system, said second paging message including said determined position.

4. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 3, wherein said sending of said response further comprises sending said determined position to said initiating source.

5. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 4, wherein said sending of said determined position further comprises displaying said determined position on said web page of said position service provider.

6. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating a distress call;

determining the position of said remote paging device;

sending an emergency message which includes said determined position;

forwarding said emergency message; and

contacting emergency services.

7. A method for acquiring a remote position comprising:

providing a remote paging device that includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a paging communication module for communicating over a paging communications network, and a Bluetooth communication module for communicating over a Bluetooth communications network;

initiating a query, wherein an initiating source accesses a web page of a position service provider, said query including identifying information for identifying said remote paging device and conveying a request for the position of said remote paging device;

sending said query from said position service provider to said remote paging device using said Bluetooth communications network, said Bluetooth communications module operable to receive said query using said Bluetooth communications network;

determining a position at said remote paging device using said GPS receiver;

sending a response from said remote paging device to said initiating source, said Bluetooth communication module operable to send said response using said Bluetooth communications network, said response including said determined position; and

displaying said determined position on said web page of said position service provider.

8. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 7, wherein said identifying information includes a password.

9. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 7, wherein said sending of said response further comprises sending a second message from said remote paging device to said position service provider using said Bluetooth communications system, said second message including said determined position.

10. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 9, wherein said sending of said response further comprises sending said determined position to said initiating source.

11. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating a distress call;

determining the position of said remote paging device;

sending an emergency message which includes said determined position;

forwarding said emergency message; and

contacting emergency services.

12. The method for acquiring a remote position as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

sending a first paging message to said remote paging device using said paging communications network when communication can not be completed using said Bluetooth communications network; and

sending a response from said remote paging device to said initiating source using said paging communications network when communication can not be completed using said Bluetooth communications network, said response including said determined position.