Method and apparatus for automatically tracking location of a wireless communication device

• US 6,952,574 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Julio A., Swope, Charles B., Tealdi, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/376,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/428, 455/414.1, 455/457, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A wireless communication system (100) employs a method (700) and apparatus for automatically tracking locations of wireless communication devices (102, 104, 106) in a geographic area, such as an ad hoc area of an emergency scene, that is divided into two or more zones (108, 110, 112). A wireless communication device (102) or a host device (122), determines a location of the wireless device (102). The wireless device'"'"'s location is then associated with one of the zones (108, 110, 112). An indication (410) of a zone change is presented to a user of the wireless device and/or the host device (102, 122), as applicable, in the event that the wireless device'"'"'s location reflects a transition of the device from one zone to another. Alternatively, each wireless device (102, 104, 106) might be associated with a corresponding group, such as a fire department, and the zone change indication might include an identifier (412) of the wireless device'"'"'s group.

Claims

1. A method for automatically tracking location of a wireless communication device in an ad hoc area that is divided into a plurality of zones, the method comprising:

determining a location of the wireless communication device;

associating the location with a zone of the plurality of zones; and

presenting, based on the location, an indication of a zone change in the event that the wireless communication device has transitioned from a first zone to a second zone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the indication of the zone change to the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the indication of the zone change to a host device,

wherein presenting the indication of a zone change comprises presenting the indication of the zone change to a user of the host device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the indication of a zone change comprises presenting the indication of the zone change to a user of the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the indication of the zone change to a user or the wireless communication device comprises at least one of annunciating an identifier of the zone to the user and visually displaying the identifier of the zone to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an indication of a zone change comprises presenting the indication of the zone change to a user of a host device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein presenting an indication of a zone change to a user of a host device comprises visually displaying an identity of at least one of the wireless communication devices and a user of the wireless communication device in a windowed format.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising visually displaying an identifier associated with a group containing the wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein presenting an indication of a zone change to a user of a host device comprises audibly providing an identity of at least one of the wireless communication devices and a user of the wireless communication device and audibly relating at least one of the wireless communication devices and the user of the wireless communication device to the zone to indicate the zone change.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a location comprises determining a location based on at least one of global positioning system (GPS), triangulation, and inertial guidance.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to determining a location of the wireless communication device, receiving an input from a user of the wireless communication device to initiate automatic location tracking of the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving an input from the user of the wireless communication device to enable automatic location tracking comprises receiving, at a host device, a data message requesting initiation of automatic location tracking.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving an input from the user of the wireless communication device to initiate automatic location tracking comprises receiving, at the wireless communication device, a change in position of at least one of a knob, a switch, a keypress, and an audible command.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the location with a zone of the plurality of zones comprises:

generating three-dimensional, geographic models respectively representing the plurality of zones;

determining which three-dimensional, geographic model includes the location to produce a selected model; and

associating the location with the zone represented by the selected model.

15. A method for automatically tracking locations of groups of wireless communication devices in an adhoc area that is divided into a plurality of zones, the method comprising:

determining a location of a wireless communication device;

associating the location with a zone of the plurality of zones;

associating the wireless communication device with a group; and

presenting an indication of a zone change in the event that the location of the wireless communication device has transitioned from a first zone to a second zone, wherein the indication includes an identifier for the group.

16. A wireless communication device comprising:

a processor;

a display device; and

memory operably coupled to the processor and the display device, the memory storing operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine a location of the wireless communication device in an ad hoc area that is divided into a plurality of zones;

associate the location with a zone of the plurality of zones; and

present on the display device an indication of a zone change in the event that the location of the wireless communication device has transitioned from a first zone to a second zone.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the display device is at least one of a speaker and a graphic user interface.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 16, further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, operably coupled to the processor, for receiving GPS signals from a plurality of orbiting satellites; and

wherein the operating instructions further cause the processor to determine the location of the wireless communication device based at least in part on the GPS signals.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, further comprising:

an inertial guidance unit, operably coupled to the processor, for determining relative three-dimensional movement of the wireless communication device; and

wherein the operating instructions further cause the processor to determine the location of the wireless communication device based at least in part on the relative three-dimensional movement of the wireless communication device.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, further comprising:

an RF triangulation technology, operably coupled to the processor, for determining absolute three-dimensional movement of the wireless communication device; and

wherein the operating instructions further cause the processor to determine the location of the wireless communication device based at least in part on the absolute three-dimensional movement of the wireless communication device.

21. A wireless communication device tracking system comprising:

a host processing device including a processor and memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing operating instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine a location of a wireless communication device in an ad hoc area that is divided into a plurality of zones;

associate the location with a zone of the plurality of zones; and

determine, based on the location, whether the wireless communication device has transitioned between two zones;

a display device, responsive to the host processing device, for presenting an indication of a zone change in the event that the wireless communication device has transitioned between two zones; and

a transceiver, operably coupled to the host processing device, for transmitting information relating to the zone change to the wireless communication device.

22. The wireless communication device tracking system of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication device being tracked belongs to a group of wireless communication devices and wherein the indication of the zone change includes an identifier for the group.

23. Tho wireless communication device tracking system of claim 21, wherein the information relating to the zone change includes an identifier of the zone associated with the location of the wireless communication device.

24. The wireless communication device tracking system of claim 21, wherein the display device is at least one of a speaker and a graphic user interface.

25. The wireless communication device tracking system of claim 21, wherein the transceiver is further operable to receive a message from the wireless communication device, the message indicating the location of the wireless communication device.