Large area position/proximity correction device with alarms using (D)GPS technology

• US 7,786,876 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Research Institute, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Robert Ernest Troxler
• Inventors: Troxler, Robert Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/196,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20060027185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/686.1, 340/988, 340/989, 342/357.07, 342/357.12, 342/457, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• 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 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

A collar to be worn on an object or a large or small animal has been designed incorporating (D)GPS technology. The operation of the device includes programming the three dimensional boundary into the memory of the device and simply installing the collar on the animal. As the animal approaches the preprogrammed boundary, a first alarm sounds when the subject is within an arbitrary user defined distance, and a second more drastic alarm such as a shock correction is applied when the subject approaches a second position closer to the boundary. Means to easily program the device are also included in the system. The device has the capability to call or transmit important information such as location, speed, identity, and medical parameters, etc. to a station automatically or when polled. All necessary analog and digital circuitry, microprocessor, programming, communications hardware are integrated into the collar. The device also has applications in land, air and sea navigation, farming, construction, tracking stolen vehicles, and keeping track of children. This device could also be embedded in a specialized lawnmower that would know where your yard ended and your neighbor'"'"'s began, and traverse around all obstacles in the yard. Important Military applications would include warning and directing soldiers of front line boundaries, minefield mapping and 3-D direction around MOA'"'"'s for aircraft.

Claims

1. A movable boundary detection device comprising:

(a) a receiver operable to receive a positioning signal including actual position coordinates of the movable boundary detection device in a first space;

(b) a memory module including a memory to store predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary between a second space and the first space;

(c) a processor module operable to compare the actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(d) an indicator operable to indicate when the actual position coordinates are a predetermined distance from the boundary between the first space and the second space.

2. The movable boundary detection device of claim 1 wherein the received actual position coordinates and the predefined position coordinates are associated with the same positioning coordinate system.

3. The movable boundary detection device of claim 1 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

4. The movable boundary detection device of claim 1 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

5. The movable boundary detection device of claim 1 wherein the movable boundary detection device is configured to communicate a notification via a mobile communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable boundary detection device is within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

6. A mobile boundary detection device comprising:

(a) a positioning signal receiver operable to receive at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device;

(b) a memory module operable to store predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary;

(c) a processor module operable to compare the indicated position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device to the predefined position coordinates and configured to determine event triggering based on the comparison of the indicated actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(d) a mobile communications module configured to communicate information indicating the event triggering via a mobile communications system based on the event triggering determination.

7. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the positioning signal receiver is operable to receive a satellite positioning system signal.

8. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the positioning signal receiver is operable to receive a signal indicating three-dimensional position coordinates.

9. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the processor module is operable to determine whether the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

10. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 9 wherein the mobile communications device is configured to communicate a notification via the mobile communications system in response to a determination that the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

11. The movable boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the mobile communications module is configured to communicate a notification via a mobile communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable boundary detection device is within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

12. The movable boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

13. The movable boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

14. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the mobile communications device is configured to communicate the information indicating the event triggering to one of a base station and a mobile device associated with the mobile communications system.

15. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 14 comprising a mobile communications receiver configured to receive signals from the one of the base station and the mobile device for correcting the indicated position coordinates.

16. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 15 wherein the processor module is configured to generate corrected position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device based on the indicated actual positioned coordinates and the signal from the one of the base station and the mobile device for correcting the indicated position coordinates.

17. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the mobile communications system is based on a system selected from the group consisting of a global system for mobile communication (GSM) system, a personal communications service (PCS) system, an advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based system, a time division multiple access (TDMA)-based system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA)-based system, a BLUETOOTH™

system, an Internet-based system, an SMS system, a wireless system, a cellular system, and a paging system.

18. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 comprising a mobile communications receiver configured to receive a signal requesting positioning information, and wherein the mobile communications device is configured to communicate the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device in response to receiving the signal requesting positioning information.

19. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the mobile boundary detection device comprises a mobile electronic device.

20. The mobile boundary detection device of claim 6 wherein the mobile boundary detection device comprises one of a mobile phone and a computerized device.

21. A boundary detection system comprising:

(a) a boundary detection device comprising;

(i) a positioning signal receiver operable to receive at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of a moveable device; and

(ii) a transmitter configured to automatically communicate the actual position coordinates of the moveable device; and

(b) one of a base station and a mobile device comprising;

(i) a receiver configured to receive the actual position coordinates of the moveable device communicated from the boundary detection device;

(ii) a memory module operable to store predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary; and

(iii) a processor module configured to compare the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device to the predefined position coordinates, configured to determine event triggering based on the comparison of the indicated actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates, and configured to communicate information indicating the event triggering via a communications system based on the event triggering determination.

22. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the positioning signal receiver is operable to receive a satellite positioning system signal.

23. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the positioning signal receiver is operable to receive a signal indicating three-dimensional position coordinates.

24. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the processor module is operable to determine whether the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

25. The movable boundary detection device of claim 21 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

26. The boundary detection system of claim 25 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device comprises a communications transmitter configured to communicate a notification via the communications system in response to a determination that the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

27. The boundary detection system of claim 26 wherein the communications transmitter is configured to communicate the notification to one of the boundary detection device and a predetermined component of the communications system.

28. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device comprises a communications transmitter configured to communicate the information indicating the event triggering to the boundary detection device.

29. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device includes a positioning module configured to determine positioning coordinate correction for the moveable device.

30. The boundary detection system of claim 29 wherein the processor module is configured to generate corrected actual position coordinates of the moveable device based on the indicated actual position coordinates and the positioning coordinate correction.

31. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device includes a positioning module configured to determine positioning coordinate correction for the moveable device, and wherein the processor module of the one of the base station and the mobile device is configured to apply the positioning coordinate correction to the received actual position coordinates for correcting the received position coordinates.

32. The movable boundary detection device of claim 21 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device comprises a communications module configured to communicate a notification via a communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable device is within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

33. The movable boundary detection device of claim 21 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

34. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the communications system is based on a system selected from the group consisting of a global system for mobile communication (GSM) system, a personal communications service (PCS) system, an advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based system, a time division multiple access (TDMA)-based system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA)-based system, a BLUETOOTH™

system, an Internet-based system, an SMS system, a wireless system, a cellular system, and a paging system.

35. The boundary detection system of claim 21 wherein the one of the base station and the mobile device is configured to communicate a signal to the boundary detection device for requesting positioning information, and wherein the transmitter of the communications device is configured to communicate the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device in response to receiving the signal requesting positioning information.

36. A method for boundary detection, the method comprising:

at a moveable boundary detection device;

(a) receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device;

(b) storing predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary;

(c) comparing the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device to the predefined position coordinates;

(d) determining event triggering based on the comparison of the indicated actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(e) communicating information indicating the event triggering via a communications system based on the event triggering determination.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein receiving the at least one signal includes receiving a satellite positioning system signal.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein receiving the at least one signal includes receiving a signal indicating three-dimensional position coordinates.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein determining event triggering includes determining whether the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein communicating information indicating the event triggering includes communicating a notification via the communications system in response to a determination that the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

41. The movable boundary detection device of claim 36 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

42. The method of claim 36 wherein communicating information indicating the event triggering includes communicating the information indicating the event triggering to one of a base station and a mobile device associated with the communications system.

43. The method of claim 42 comprising receiving signals from the one of the base station and the mobile device for correcting the indicated actual position coordinates.

44. The method of claim 42 comprising correcting position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device based on the indicated actual position coordinates and the received signal from the one of the base station and the mobile device for correcting the indicated actual position coordinates.

45. The method of claim 36 wherein the mobile communications system is based on a system selected from the group consisting of a global system for mobile communication (GSM) system, a personal communications service (PCS) system, an advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based system, a time division multiple access (TDMA)-based system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA)-based system a BLUETOOTH™

system, an Internet-based system, an SMS system, a wireless system, a cellular system, and a paging system.

46. The method of claim 36 comprising communicating a notification via a communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable boundary detection device are within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

47. The method of claim 36 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

48. The method of claim 36 comprising:

(a) receiving a signal requesting positioning information; and

(b) communicating the indicated position coordinates of the moveable boundary detection device in response to receiving the signal requesting positioning information.

49. A method for boundary detection, the method comprising:

(a) at a boundary detection device;

(i) receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of a moveable device; and

(ii) automatically communicating the actual position coordinates of the moveable device; and

(b) at one of a base station and a mobile device;

(i) receiving the actual position coordinates of the moveable device communicated from the boundary detection device;

(ii) storing predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary;

(iii) comparing the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device to the predefined position coordinates;

(iv) determining event triggering based on the comparison of the indicated actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(v) communicating information indicating the event triggering via a communications system and based on the event triggering determination.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates comprises receiving a satellite positioning system signal.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates comprises receiving a signal indicating three-dimensional position coordinates.

52. The method of claim 49 comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, determining whether the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

53. The method of claim 52 comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, communicating a notification via the communications system in response to a determination that the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device is a predetermined distance from the boundary defined by the predefined position coordinates.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein communicating a notification via the communications system includes communicating the notification to one of the boundary detection device and a predetermined component of the communications system.

55. The method of claim 49 wherein communicating information indicating the event triggering includes communicating the information indicating the event triggering to the boundary detection device.

56. The movable boundary detection device of claim 49 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

57. The method of claim 49 comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, determining positioning coordinate correction for the moveable device, and comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, communicating the positioning coordinate correction to the boundary detection device.

58. The method of claim 57 comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, determining the positioning coordinate correction, and generating corrected actual position coordinates of the moveable device based on the indicated actual positioned coordinates and the positioning coordinate correction.

59. The boundary detection system of claim 49 comprising determining, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, positioning coordinate correction for the moveable device, and comprising applying, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, the positioning coordinate correction to the received actual position coordinates for correcting the received position coordinates.

60. The method of claim 49 comprising communicating a notification via a mobile communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable device are within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

61. The method of claim 49 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

62. The method of claim 49 comprising, at the one of the base station and the mobile device, communicating a signal to the boundary detection device for requesting actual positioning information, and comprising, at the communications device, communicating the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device in response to receiving the signal requesting positioning information.

63. A method for boundary detection, the method comprising:

(a) at a boundary detection device;

(i) receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of a moveable device; and

(ii) automatically communicating the actual position coordinates of the moveable device; and

(b) at one of a base station and a mobile device;

(i) receiving the actual position coordinates of the moveable device communicated from the boundary detection device;

(ii) storing predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary; and

(iii) comparing the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device to the predefined position coordinates for boundary detection with respect to the moveable device.

64. The method of claim 63 comprising communicating a notification via a communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable device are within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.

66. The movable boundary detection device of claim 63 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

67. A method for boundary detection, the method comprising:

(a) at a boundary detection device;

(i) receiving at least one signal indicating actual position coordinates of a moveable device; and

(ii) automatically communicating the actual position coordinates of the moveable device; and

(b) at a mobile device;

(i) receiving the actual position coordinates of the moveable device communicated from the boundary detection device;

(ii) storing predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary; and

(iii) comparing the indicated actual position coordinates of the moveable device to the predefined position coordinates for boundary detection with respect to the moveable device.

68. The method of claim 67 comprising communicating a notification via a communications system in response to a determination that the actual position coordinates of the movable device is within a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates or outside a predefined area or location defined by the predefined position coordinates.

69. The movable boundary detection device of claim 67 wherein the predefined position coordinates are defined by parametric equations.

70. The method of claim 67 wherein the predefined position coordinates define one or more of multiple boundaries, multiple areas, multiple locations, and geometrical unions, intersection and compliments thereof.