Method and apparatus for a wireless tether system

• US 7,944,359 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gordon D. Fong, Sullivan C. Bart, Tony Perez
• Inventors: Sullivan, C. Bart, Perez, Tony, Fong, Gordon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/454,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 455/421, 455/134, 455/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Users are located to determine if the user is within, or has departed from, at least one bounded area established about a geographic location. The bounded area may be defined by setting one or more distance boundaries from the geographic location. A base station may monitor the location of a mobile device in proximity of the user. If the mobile device departs from a bounded area, a message containing information configured to be understandable and convey meaning to the user and/or a third-party is sent to the mobile device and/or the third-party. For example, the message may be configured to communicate to the user and/or third-party information pertaining to the departure from the bounded area, location information, navigation directions, instructions, etc. The message sent may include text and/or other symbols.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a wireless tether, the method comprising:

determining within a geographic region having at least one boundary, a geographic position of a first wireless tether apparatus used to wireless tether a being or machine to the geographic region; and

when the first wireless tether apparatus exceeds the at least one boundary, providing an alert to the being, or the machine, or another party in proximity thereof, wherein the alert is configured to provide instruction meaningful to the being, or the machine, or the other party, on how to respond to the at least one boundary being exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless tether apparatus comprises a portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the boundary is defined by at least one of a geographic boundary, a distance from a geographic location, a distance from at least one base position, a distance from at least a second wireless tether apparatus, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises information configured to be understandable to the being intellect or to the machine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the instruction comprises information conveyed using images, symbols, sound, vibration, light, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises information communicated to the user or the machine from a third-party independent of the being or machine.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising after a predetermined time has elapsed after exceeding the at least one geographic region, providing further instruction to the being, or the machine, or other party.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining after a predetermined time has elapsed if the instruction has been followed by the being, or the machine, or the other party, or a third party.

9. A method of providing at least one wireless boundary within a geographic region, the method comprising:

determining a position of a wireless device within a geographic region; and

when the wireless device has exceeded at least one boundary associated with the geographic region, and after a predetermined time has elapsed after the wireless device exceeded the at least one boundary, providing an instructional alert to a being or machine in proximity of and movable with the wireless device, wherein the instructional alert is configured to instruct the being, the machine, or another party in proximity of the wireless device how to respond to exceeding the at least one boundary.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructional alert comprises intellectually meaningful instructions configured to inform the being or the machine that the wireless device has exceeded the at least one boundary, and to instruct the being or machine on movement within the geographic region or movement to another geographic location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the intellectually meaningful information comprises instructions conveyed using at least one of symbols, sound, vibration, light, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructional alert comprises information received from a transmitter operated by a party monitoring the position of the being or machine.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructional alert comprises information outputted from an output device in proximity of the being, the machine, or to the other party.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the location comprises a movable second wireless device configured to form a wireless tether with the first wireless device to establish the at least one boundary.

15. A computer-readable medium storing a set of code modules which when executed by a processor of a computer system cause the processor to operate a wireless tether, the computer-readable medium comprising:

code for determining within a geographic region having at least one boundary, a geographic position of a first wireless tether apparatus used to wireless tether a being or machine to the geographic region; and

when the first wireless tether apparatus exceeds the at least one boundary, code for providing an alert to the being, or the machine, or another party in proximity thereof, wherein the alert is configured to provide instruction meaningful to the being, or the machine, or the other party, on how to respond to the at least one boundary being exceeded.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first wireless tether apparatus comprises a portable device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the boundary is defined by at least one of a geographic boundary, a distance from a geographic location, a distance from at least one base position, a distance from at least a second wireless tether apparatus, or combinations thereof.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code for transmitting an emergency wireless signal over at least one wireless communication channel when the first wireless tether apparatus remains outside the at least one boundary for a predetermined time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising after a predetermined time has elapsed after exceeding the at least one boundary, code for providing further instruction to the being, or the machine, or the other party.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code for determining after a predetermined time has elapsed if the instruction has been followed by the being, or the machine, or the other party, or a third party.