System and method for monitoring the location of individuals via the world wide web using a wireless communications network

• US 6,716,101 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, Harper, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/604,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/426.1, 455/457, 455/455.1, 455/455.3, 455/455.6, 455/458, 455/440, 455/521, 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/988, 340/994, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A system is described for monitoring the geographical location of a subscriber'"'"'s mobile cellular telephone, and for providing the location information to an authorized user through the world wide web. The geographical location of the subscriber'"'"'s mobile cellular telephone is tracked using registration signals transmitted over the control channel by the cellular telephone. This information is supplied to a geographical location coordinator system, which determines the geographical coordinates for the cellular telephone. A database stores the geographical location information along with a subscriber'"'"'s telephone number and account code. The database is updated to track the movement of the cellular telephone user across a geographical area.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the geographical location of individuals within a geographical region from a remote location, comprising:

a) at least one wireless communications device having a transmitter for transmitting control signals in response to receiving paging signals, wherein each wireless communications device is uniquely associated with an individual being monitored, and wherein the paging signal is operable to preclude the wireless communications device from alerting the individual of the paging signal and yet respond with controls signals;

b) a plurality of receivers located across a geographical regions for detecting controls signals transmitted by the wireless communications devices;

c) a location processor for determining location information corresponding to at least one wireless communications device according to signal strength information provided in the control signals, detected by the plurality of receivers; and

d) an Internet server for providing location information determined in the location processor pertaining to at least one wireless communications device to authorized users through the Internet;

wherein the location processor includes a geographical location database that;

1) maintains location information for each wireless communication device sorted by authorized user access code and an authorized user can simultaneously receive location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same user access code; and

2) maintains names of items-of-interest associated with addresses at which the wireless communication devices are located.

2. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, further comprising a mapping graphical user interface for providing location information pertaining to the at least one wireless communications device on a mapped display.

3. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 2, further comprising a directory assistance information retrieval directory for providing a name of an item of interest in an immediate vicinity of the location of a wireless communications device.

4. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the location information is provided on an Internet website accessed by an authorized user on a personal computer.

5. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the location information is provided to an authorized user as a text message on an interactive pager.

6. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the location information is provided as a mapped display, a text message, or an audio message to an authorized user on a mobile cellular telephone.

7. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communications device is a mobile cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, or an interactive pager.

8. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receivers are cell towers.

9. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the geographical location database maintains a speed of movement by which the wireless communications devices are moved.

10. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication device is installed within an automobile to continuously transmit location information.

11. The system for monitoring geographical locations according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless communication device is a cellular telephone that continuously transmits location information at all times.

12. A monitoring system for providing the geographical location of certain individuals within a geographical region to authorized users at a remote location, comprising:

a) a plurality of wireless communications devices for transmitting control signals in response to receiving paging signals, wherein each wireless communications device is associated with an individual to be monitored, and wherein the paging signals are operable to preclude the wireless communications devices from alerting the individual of the paging signal and yet respond with controls signals;

b) a plurality of receivers located across a geographical regions for detecting controls signals transmitted by the wireless communications devices;

c) a location processor for determining location information corresponding to at least one wireless communications device according to signal strength information provided in the control signals, detected by the plurality of receivers; and

d) an Internet-accessible database for storing location information and associating a user access code with each wireless communications device, wherein authorized users receive location information pertaining to each wireless communications device associated with the respective user access code;

wherein the location processor includes a geographical location database that;

1) maintains location information for each wireless communication device sorted by authorized user access code and an authorized user can simultaneously receive location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same user access code; and

2) maintains names of items-of-interest associated with addresses at which the wireless communication devices are located.

13. The monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein an authorized user is a parent, and the wireless communications devices associated with the parent'"'"'s access code are the parent'"'"'s children.

14. The monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein an authorized user is a dispatcher, and the wireless communications devices associated with the dispatcher'"'"'s access code are the dispatcher'"'"'s employees.

15. The monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the database stores information for each wireless communications device pertaining to whether the user of the wireless communications device is available to perform a delivery.

16. The monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein authorized users receive location information through a website over the Internet.

17. A method for monitoring a geographical location of individuals within a geographical region from a remote location, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving control signals from wireless communication devices associated with individuals to be monitored in response to paging signals, wherein the control signals are transmitted over a wireless network, and wherein the paging signal is operable to preclude the wireless communications devices from alerting the individuals of the paging signal and yet respond with controls signals;

b) processing the control signals in a location processor to determine geocoded coordinates representing locations of individuals to be monitored, the processing including evaluating a signal strength information provided in the control signals;

c) providing the locations of individuals to be monitored to an Internet server according to respective geocoded coordinates; and

d) providing authorized users access to the Internet server through a website to monitor the geographical locations of individuals;

wherein the location processor includes a geographical location database that;

1) maintains location information for each wireless communication device sorted by authorized user access code and an authorized user can simultaneously receive location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same user access code; and

2) maintains names of items-of-interest associated with addresses at which the wireless communication devices are located.

18. The method of monitoring individuals according to claim 17, wherein the location processor processes the control signals to determine geographical location information by comparing signal strength of the control signals received at a plurality of cell towers by triangulation.

19. The method of monitoring individuals according to claim 17, wherein the location processor processes the control signals to determine geographical location information by determining a closest cell tower and identifying a geographical area associated with the closest cell tower stored in a geographical locations database.

20. The method of monitoring individuals according to claim 17, wherein the location process processes the control signals to determine geographical location information by decoding GPS location information in the control signals.

21. The method of monitoring individuals according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication devices are carried by the individuals to be monitored.

22. The method of monitoring individuals according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communication devices are installed in automobiles driven by the individuals to be monitored.