Method and system for controlling an electronic device

• US 7,263,441 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Workman, Dennis, Janky, Gregory T., Bergstrom, Ami
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/921,609
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/213, 701/208, 701/209, 701/21, 340/989, 340/992, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/457, 455/456.1, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for controlling an electronic device. In one embodiment, a controller is coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of the electronic device and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, causes the position determining component to determine the geographic location of the electronic device. The geographic location is compared with a pre-defined zone and, in response to the comparing, a command is generated for controlling the electronic device.

Claims

1. A position tracking system comprising:

a position tracking service provider; and

an electronic device coupled with an initiating device, said initiating device comprising;

a controller;

a position determining component coupled with said controller; and

a motion detecting component coupled with said controller wherein said motion detecting component generates an interrupt signal to said controller in response to detecting movement of said electronic device.

2. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said controller causes said position determining component to determine said geographic location in response to receiving said interrupt signal.

3. The position tracking system of claim 2, wherein said controller causes said position determining component to determine said geographic location in response to receiving said interrupt signal.

4. The position tracking system of claim 3, wherein said controller generates a command for controlling said electronic device in response to said comparing.

5. The position tracking system of claim 4, wherein said controller uses a current time parameter to determine said command.

6. The position tracking system of claim 2, wherein said position determining component uses a position determining system to determine said geographic location.

7. The position tracking system of claim 6, wherein said position determining system is a satellite-based position determining system.

8. The position tracking system of claim 6, wherein said position determining system is a terrestrial-based position determining system.

9. The position tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications component coupled with said controller.

10. The position tracking system of claim 9, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a message conveying said geographic location to said position tracking service provider when said geographic location is determined within a pre-determined time parameter.

11. The position tracking system of claim 10, wherein said controller automatically causes said position determining component to transition to an idle operating state for a pre-determined time period after transmitting said message.

12. The position tracking system of claim 9, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a second message to said position tracking service provider when said geographic location cannot be determined within said pre-determined time period.

13. The position tracking system of claim 9, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a second message to said position tracking service provider when said geographic location cannot be determined within said pre-determined time period.

14. The position tracking system of claim 9, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a third message to said position tracking service provider when said initiating device has not detected movement of said position reporting device within a pre-determined time parameter.

15. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said initiating device is disposed within said electronic device.

16. The position tracking system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is selected from the group comprising a cellular telephone, a portable computer, and an automotive electrical system.

17. An initiating component for an electronic device comprising:

a controller;

a motion detecting component coupled with said controller for generating a signal when movement of said electronic device is detected;

a position determining component coupled with said controller and for determining a geographic location of said electronic device wherein said controller automatically causes said position determining component to determine said geographic location in response to said signal.

18. The initiating component of claim 17, wherein said controller compares said geographic location with a pre-defined zone and generates a command for controlling said electronic device in response to said comparing.

19. The initiating component of claim 18, wherein said controller further uses a current time parameter to determine said command.

20. The initiating component of claim 18 further comprising a wireless communications component coupled with said controller.

21. The initiating component of claim 20, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a message when said geographic location is determined within a pre-determined time parameter.

22. The initiating component of claim 21, wherein said controller causes said motion detecting component to transition to an idle operating state for a pre-determined time period after transmitting said message.

23. The initiating component of claim 20, wherein said controller causes said wireless communications component to transmit a second message when said position determining component cannot determine said geographic location within said pre-determined time parameter.

24. The initiating component of claim 20, wherein said controller automatically causes said wireless communications component to transmit a third message when said motion detecting component does not detect movement of said motion monitoring device within a pre-determined time parameter.

25. The initiating component of claim 19, wherein said motion detecting component is selected from the group comprising an acceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, a vibration sensor, a rotation sensor, a gyroscope, and a motion sensor.

26. The initiating component of claim 17, wherein said electronic device is selected from the group comprising a cellular telephone, a portable computer, and an automotive electrical system.