Methods, systems and computer program products for automated location and monitoring of mobile device

• US 7,372,365 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleTracking Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RadarFind Corporation (TeleTracking Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jackson, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/108,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article

Abstract

Systems are provided for providing location information associated with a mobile device. The systems include a location circuit and an identification circuit. The location circuit is integrated with an existing power outlet and is configured to transmit a request for presence information associated with the mobile device. The identification circuit is associated with the mobile device, configured to receive the request for presence information and transmit the presence information to the location circuit responsive to the request. Related methods and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for providing location information associated with a mobile device comprising:

a plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices; and

a plurality of location circuits integrated with respective existing power outlets, the plurality of location circuits being configured to synchronously transmit a request for presence information to the plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices and provide the requested presence information, without acknowledging receipt of the requested presence information from the plurality of identification circuits, to determine relative proximity of the mobile devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are configured to broadcast the presence information responsive to the request for presence information, wherein the plurality of location circuits are further configured to receive the broadcast presence information over an encoded frequency-shift-key link responsive to the transmitted request and wherein the plurality of location circuits are further configured to store the received requested presence information.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a server configured to transmit a request for the stored presence information to the plurality of location circuits over an existing power line.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of location circuits are further configured to receive the transmitted request from the server and transmit the stored presence information to the server responsive the received transmitted request for the stored presence information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of location circuits are further configured to transmit a name of the location circuit, a temperature around the plurality of location circuits and a current time.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the power line comprises first, second and third phases, wherein the system further comprises first, second and third power line modems electrically coupled to the first, second and third phases of the power line, respectively, and associated with the server and wherein the first, second and third modems are configured to transmit the request for the stored presence information to the plurality of location circuits on each of the respective phases of the power line.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a software module configured receive signal strength information associated with the plurality of identification circuits and determine a relevant identification circuit from among the plurality of identification circuits based on strengths of signals received from the plurality of identification circuits.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of location circuits are further configured to repeatedly transmit the request for presence information so as to allow receipt at the plurality of location circuits when the plurality of location circuits are awake.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are further configured to wake up from a sleep mode so as to allow the plurality of identification circuits to receive the request.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are further configured to listen for the request for presence information and return to the sleep mode if the request is not received within a predetermined period of time.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are further configured to return to the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are further configured to return to the sleep mode after expiration of a timer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are provided on a thin printed circuit board (PCB) that is configured to break if removed from the corresponding mobile device and wherein the plurality of identification circuits are configured to transmit an alert signal responsive to breaking of the PCB.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein only ones of the plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices within a predetermined proximity of ones of the plurality of location circuits receive the request for presence information.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identification circuits are configured to broadcast the presence information without receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of location circuits.

14. A method for providing location information associated with a mobile device comprising:

associating a plurality of identification circuits with corresponding mobile devices;

synchronously transmitting a request for presence information to the plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices from a plurality of location circuits integrated with respective existing power outlets; and

providing the requested presence information, without acknowledging receipt of the requested presence information from the plurality of identification circuits, to determine relative proximity of the mobile devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

broadcasting the presence information from the plurality of identification circuits responsive to the request for presence information;

receiving the broadcasted presence information at the plurality of location circuits over an encoded frequency-shift-key link responsive to the transmitted request; and

storing the received requested presence information at the plurality of location circuits.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting a request for the stored presence information from a server to the plurality of location circuits over an existing power line.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted request from the server at the plurality of location circuits; and

transmitting the stored presence information to the server responsive the received transmitted request for the stored presence information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the stored presence information further comprises transmitting a name of the plurality of location circuits, a temperature around the plurality of location circuits and a current time.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving signal strength information associated with the plurality of identification circuits; and

determining a relevant identification circuit from among the plurality of identification circuits based on strengths of signals received from the plurality of identification circuits.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting further comprises repeatedly transmitting the request for presence information so as to allow receipt at the plurality of identification circuits when the plurality of identification circuits are awake.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising waking the plurality of identification circuits up from a sleep mode so as to allow the plurality of identification circuits to receive the request.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

listening at the plurality of identification circuits for the request for presence information; and

returning the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode if the request is not received within a predetermined period of time.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising returning the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising returning the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode after expiration of a timer.

41. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the request for presence information at only ones of the plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices within a predetermined proximity of ones of the plurality of location circuits.

42. The method of claim 14, further comprising broadcasting the presence information from the plurality of identification circuits without receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of location circuits.

25. A computer program product providing location information associated with a mobile device, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable medium comprising;

computer readable program code configured to synchronously transmit a request for presence information to a plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices from a plurality of location circuits integrated with respective existing power outlets; and

computer readable program code configured to provide the requested presence information, without acknowledging receipt of the requested presence information from the plurality of identification circuits, to determine relative proximity of the mobile devices.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to broadcast the presence information from the plurality of identification circuits responsive to the request for presence information;

computer readable program code configured to receive the broadcasted presence information at the plurality of location circuits over an encoded frequency-shift-key link responsive to the transmitted request; and

computer readable program code configured to store the received requested presence information at the plurality of location circuits.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising computer readable program code configured to transmit a request for the stored presence information from a server to the plurality of location circuits over an existing power line.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive the transmitted request from the server at the plurality of location circuits; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit the stored presence information to the server responsive the received transmitted request for the stored presence information.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the computer readable program code configured to transmit the stored presence information further comprises computer readable program code configured to transmit a name of the location circuit, a temperature around the location circuit and a current time.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive signal strength information associated with the plurality of identification circuits; and

computer readable program code configured to determine a relevant identification circuit from among the plurality of identification circuits based on strengths of signals received from the plurality of identification circuits.

31. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the computer readable program code configured to transmit further comprises repeatedly transmitting the request for presence information so as to allow receipt at the plurality of identification circuits when the identification circuit is awake.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising computer readable program code configured to wake the plurality of identification circuits up from a sleep mode so as to allow the plurality of identification circuits to receive the request.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to listen at the plurality of identification circuits for the request for presence information; and

computer readable program code configured to return the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode if the request is not received within a predetermined period of time.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising computer readable program code configured to return the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, further comprising computer readable program code configured to return the plurality of identification circuits to the sleep mode after expiration of a timer.

43. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising computer readable program code configured to receive the request for presence information at only ones of the plurality of identification circuits associated with corresponding mobile devices within a predetermined proximity of ones of the plurality of location circuits.

44. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising computer readable program code configured to broadcast the presence information from the plurality of identification circuits without receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of location circuits.

36. A method for providing location information associated with a mobile device, comprising:

transmitting, from a server, a request for presence information associated with a plurality of mobile devices to a plurality of location circuits, the request being transmitted on each of three phases of a power line simultaneously; and

receiving the requested presence information at the server responsive to the transmitted request, the requested presence information being received from ones of the plurality of location circuits on each of the three phases of the power line.

37. A system for providing location information associated with a mobile device, comprising:

first, second and third power line modems configured to;

transmit a request for presence information associated with a plurality of mobile devices to a plurality of location circuits, the request being transmitted from the first, second and third power line modems on each of first, second and third phases of a power line, respectively, simultaneously; and

receive the requested presence information at the first, second and third power line modems responsive to the transmitted request, the requested presence information being received from ones of the plurality of location circuits on each of the first, second and third phases of the power line.

38. A computer program product for providing location information associated with a mobile device, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable medium comprising;

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from a server, a request for presence information associated with a plurality of mobile devices a plurality of location circuits, the request being transmitted on each of three phases of a power line simultaneously; and

computer readable program code configured to receive the requested presence information at the server responsive to the transmitted request, the requested presence information being received from ones of the plurality of location circuits on each of the three phases of the power line.