Method and system for retrieving and broadcasting updated informational data based on location

• US 7,656,312 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jackson, Steven Van, Fellenstein, Craig William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/849,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.24
• US Class Current: 340/995.24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A tracking method and system. The method comprises receiving by a tracking apparatus, data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments. The tracking apparatus is moved within a specified proximity of a first location. The tracking apparatus senses the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves a first informational data segment associated with the first location based on a first tracking data segment. The tracking apparatus requests an updated informational data segment associated with the first informational data segment, the first tracking data segment, and the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves the updated informational data segment. The tracking apparatus broadcasts a specified portion of the updated informational data segment. The specified portion is dependent on a specified condition of the tracking apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a tracking apparatus, data, said data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments, said informational data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each informational data segment of said informational data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said tracking apparatus comprising a memory device;

storing, said data within said memory device;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, a first location of said locations, wherein said tracking apparatus is located within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

first retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said first location, said first retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first informational data segment;

requesting, by said tracking apparatus, an updated informational data segment, said updated informational data segment associated with said first informational data segment, said first tracking data segment, and said first location;

second retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, said updated informational data segment; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said updated informational data segment, said specified portion of said updated informational data segment dependent on a specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first informational data segment, said specified portion of said first informational data segment dependent on said specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said tracking apparatus further comprises a digital compass, wherein said tracking apparatus is pivoted towards a second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second informational data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second informational data segment.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said specified condition comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location, a distance that said tracking apparatus is from said first location, and a speed of said moving.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified condition comprises a specified amount of time that said tracking apparatus is located within said specified proximity of said first location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device is comprises a non-volatile random access memory (RAM) device, and wherein said method further comprises:

storing, said updated informational data segment within said memory device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first informational data segment and said updated informational data segment each comprise video data describing said first location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified portion of said updated informational data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said updated informational data segment.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said requesting and said second retrieving are each performed using a wireless network.

13. A tracking apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising data and instructions that when executed by the processor implement a tracking method, said method comprising;

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, data, said data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments, said informational data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each informational data segment of said informational data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said tracking apparatus comprising a memory device;

storing, said data within said memory unit;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, a first location of said locations, wherein said tracking apparatus is located within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

first retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said first location, said first retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first informational data segment;

requesting, by said tracking apparatus, an updated informational data segment, said updated informational data segment associated with said first informational data segment, said first tracking data segment, and said first location;

second retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, said updated informational data segment; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said updated informational data segment, said specified portion of said updated informational data segment dependent on a specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first informational data segment, said specified portion of said first informational data segment dependent on said specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said tracking apparatus further comprises a digital compass, wherein said tracking apparatus is pivoted towards a second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second informational data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second informational data segment.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said specified condition comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location, a distance that said tracking apparatus is from said first location, and a speed of said moving.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said specified condition comprises a specified amount of time that said tracking apparatus is located within said specified proximity of said first location.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said memory device is comprises a non-volatile random access memory (RAM) device, and wherein said method further comprises:

storing, said updated informational data segment within said memory device.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first informational data segment and said updated informational data segment each comprise video data describing said first location.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said specified portion of said updated informational data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said updated informational data segment.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said requesting and said second retrieving are each performed using a wireless network.

25. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm adapted to implement a tracking method within a tracking apparatus comprising a memory unit, said method comprising:

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, data, said data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments, said informational data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each informational data segment of said informational data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said tracking apparatus comprising a memory device;

storing, said data within said memory unit;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, a first location of said locations, wherein said tracking apparatus is located within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, said first location of said locations;

first retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said first location, said first retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first informational data segment;

requesting, by said tracking apparatus, an updated informational data segment, said updated informational data segment associated with said first informational data segment, said first tracking data segment, and said first location;

second retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, said updated informational data segment; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said updated informational data segment, said specified portion of said updated informational data segment dependent on a specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first informational data segment, said specified portion of said first informational data segment dependent on said specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein said tracking apparatus further comprises a digital compass, wherein said tracking apparatus is pivoted towards a second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second informational data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second informational data segment.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein said specified condition comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location, a distance that said tracking apparatus is from said first location, and a speed of said moving.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said specified condition comprises a specified amount of time that said tracking apparatus is located within said specified proximity of said first location.

33. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said memory device is comprises a non-volatile random access memory (RAM) device, and wherein said method further comprises:

storing, said updated informational data segment within said memory device.

34. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said first informational data segment and said updated informational data segment each comprise video data describing said first location.

35. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said specified portion of said updated informational data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said updated informational data segment.

36. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said requesting and said second retrieving are each performed using a wireless network.

37. A process for integrating computing infrastructure, comprising integrating computer-readable code into a tracking apparatus, wherein the code in combination with the tracking apparatus is capable of performing a tracking method, said method comprising:

receiving, by said tracking apparatus, data, said data comprising informational data segments and associated tracking data segments, said informational data segments and said associated tracking data segments associated with a plurality of locations, each informational data segment of said informational data segments and each associated tracking data segment of said tracking data segments associated with a different location from said plurality of locations, each said location at a different geographical area, said tracking apparatus comprising a memory device;

storing, said data within a memory unit within said tracking apparatus;

sensing, by said tracking apparatus, a first location of said locations, wherein said tracking apparatus is located within a specified proximity of said first location of said locations;

first retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a first informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said first location, said first retrieving based on a first tracking data segment of said associated tracking data segments associated with said first informational data segment;

requesting, by said tracking apparatus, an updated informational data segment, said updated informational data segment associated with said first informational data segment, said first tracking data segment, and said first location;

second retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, said updated informational data segment; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said updated informational data segment, said specified portion of said updated informational data segment dependent on a specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises:

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said first informational data segment, said specified portion of said first informational data segment dependent on said specified condition of said tracking apparatus.

39. The process of claim 37, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, wherein said first associated tracking data segment comprises a first GPS data segment associated with said specified condition, wherein said sensing comprises retrieving a GPS location for said first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said first GPS data segment with said specified condition.

40. The process of claim 39, wherein said tracking apparatus further comprises a digital compass, wherein said tracking apparatus is pivoted towards a second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said tracking apparatus, a second informational data segment of said informational data segments associated with said second location, said retrieving said second informational data segment based on orientation data supplied by said digital compass and said GPS location; and

broadcasting, by said tracking apparatus, a specified portion of said second informational data segment.

41. The process of claim 39, wherein said specified condition comprises a condition selected from the group consisting of a direction of said tracking apparatus with respect to said first location, a distance that said tracking apparatus is from said first location, and a speed of said moving.

42. The process of claim 37, wherein said tracking apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein said first location comprises a first structure, wherein said first structure comprises a first RFID tag, wherein said first tracking data segment comprises information related to said RFID tag, and wherein said method further comprises:

matching, by said tracking apparatus, said information with said first RFID tag.

43. The process of claim 42, wherein said information comprises a serial number for said first RFID tag.

44. The process of claim 37, wherein said specified condition comprises a specified amount of time that said tracking apparatus is located within said specified proximity of said first location.

45. The process of claim 37, wherein said memory device is comprises a non-volatile random access memory (RAM) device, and wherein said method further comprises:

storing, said updated informational data segment within said memory device.

46. The process of claim 37, wherein said first informational data segment and said updated informational data segment each comprise video data describing said first location.

47. The process of claim 37, wherein said specified portion of said updated informational data segment does not comprise an entire portion of said updated informational data segment.

48. The process of claim 37, wherein said requesting and said second retrieving are each performed using a wireless network.