Method and system of remote position reporting device

• US 7,650,233 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Fong, Avery
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behncke; Christine M
• Application Number:
  US11/182,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/213, 719/331, 709/230, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber

Abstract

A remote position monitoring system, method, and computer-program product using a global position satellite receiver and information from at least two global position satellites to determine a position of a mobile object with the global position satellite receiver and report via Internet the position of the mobile object to a recipient in search of the mobile object. A remote position reporting device of the monitoring system can be part of or attached to any mobile object such as a child, a skier, a car, and expensive items. The remote position reporting device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, monitoring software and an Internet access module. The monitoring software (e.g., a dynamic link library) supports multiple data formats and multiple protocols to communicated the position information. The GPS receiver provides the monitoring software with position information at prescribed times, and the monitoring software records the position information. The monitoring software communicates the position information at prescribed times to a desired party through the Internet access module.

Claims

1. A handheld device incorporating a position reporting device, the position reporting device comprising:

a memory configured to store an address of a non-server monitoring device;

a receiver configured to receive location signals from at least two known locations;

a position calculator configured to determine position information of the handheld device from the received location signals;

a format and protocol device configured to determine whether a specified combination of data format and application layer protocol is a valid combination;

a data format processor configured to format the position information into the specified format;

a protocol processor configured to process the formatted position information according to the specified application layer protocol, when the specified combination is valid; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit directly to the monitoring device, using the specified application layer protocol and using the address stored in the memory, (1) the formatted position information of the handheld device, and (2) identification information identifying the handheld device, wherein the address stored in the memory is the address of the non-server monitoring device on which the position information is received and displayed.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, further comprising:

an event logger configured to log the position information.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the receiver and the position calculator comprise a global positioning satellite receiver configured to obtain signals from global positioning satellites and to determine the position information.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the position and identification information to the monitoring device over a wide area network.

5. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit to the monitoring device using electronic mail.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a plurality of addresses to which the position information is to be sent.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the determined position information using one of an SMTP and an FTP protocol.

8. A system for monitoring a location of a handheld device, comprising:

a non-server monitoring device configured to receive position information and an identification number of the handheld device over a wireless network; and

the handheld device incorporating a position reporting device, the position reporting device comprising;

a memory configured to store an address of the monitoring device;

a receiver configured to receive location signals from at least two known locations;

a position calculator configured to determine the position information of the handheld device from the received location signals;

a format and protocol device configured to determine whether a specified combination of data format and application layer protocol is a valid combination;

a data format processor configured to format the position information into the specified format;

a protocol processor configured to process the formatted position information according to the specified application layer protocol, when the specified combination is valid; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit directly to the monitoring device, using the specified application layer protocol and using the address stored in the memory, (1) the formatted position information of the handheld device, and (2) an identification number identifying the handheld device, wherein the address stored in the memory is the address of the non-server monitoring device on which the position information is received and displayed.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an event logger configured to log the position information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiver and the position calculator comprise a global positioning satellite receiver configured to obtain signals from global positioning satellites and to determine the position information.

11. A method of transmitting information from a handheld device, comprising:

storing an address of a non-server monitoring device;

receiving location signals from at least two known locations;

determining position information of the handheld device from the received location signals;

determining whether a specified combination of data format and application layer protocol is a valid combination;

formatting the position information into the specified format;

processing the formatted position information according to the specified application layer protocol, when the specified combination is valid; and

wirelessly transmitting directly to the monitoring device, using the specified application layer protocol and using the address stored in the storing step, (1) the formatted position information of the handheld device, and (2) identification information identifying the handheld device, wherein the stored address is the address of the non-server monitoring device on which the position information is received and displayed.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

logging the position information using an event logger.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving step comprises obtaining signals from global positioning satellites, and the determining step comprises determining the position information based on the obtained signals.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

mapping the determined position information on a display of the monitoring device so as to indicate a location, speed, and direction of the handheld device.