Satellite aided location tracking with user interface

• US 8,058,987 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Battista, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau; Hoi
• Application Number:
  US11/741,236
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.23, 340/539.2, 340/539.15, 455/456.1, 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A satellite aided location tracking and data services with user interface. A graphical user interface is provided that enables users to monitor the status of movable assets. Detailed information in a position history enables the user to obtain status information (e.g., starts and stops) at each position report. This status information promotes visibility into the journey of each movable asset.

Claims

1. A location tracking method using a graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables definition of a perimeter associated with a destination location;

receiving, in a second user interface, second user input that specifies an arrival alert, said arrival alert being activated when it is determined that a movable asset achieves a stopped condition inside said perimeter;

receiving, via a communication satellite, a no-motion position report from said movable asset, said no-motion position report being transmitted by said movable asset when it is determined that said movable asset has achieved said stopped condition, wherein said stopped condition results from a determination that, after tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state in a tracking period, said movable asset remained in said non-moving state for greater than a defined percentage of said tracking period, wherein said tracking period begins at a detection of a first of said multiple transitions and ends after a period of time defined by a tracking period length parameter stored in said movable asset;

determining, based on a receipt of said no-motion position report, whether said stopped condition occurs inside said perimeter; and

sending a notification message to a user when it is determined that said stopped condition occurs inside said perimeter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user input defines a circular perimeter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user input defines a polygon shaped perimeter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is sent via email.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is sent via telephone.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a no-motion position report that is transmitted upon an expiration of said tracking period.

6. A location tracking method using a graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables an identification of a movable asset; and

displaying a position history of said movable asset, said position history including a plurality of positions of said movable asset, wherein each of said plurality of positions has an associated indication of whether said movable asset is moving or stopped,

wherein said moving indication represents a result of a determination that, after tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state during a first time period, said movable asset remained in said moving state for greater than a first defined percentage of said first time period, and said stopped indication represents a result of a determination that, after tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state in a second time period, said movable asset remained in said non-moving state for greater than a second defined percentage of said second time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said position history includes a listing of points on a map.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said map display also includes an outline of a perimeter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said position history includes a table listing, wherein rows of said table are associated with a numbering of points on said map.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said table has a status column that indicates whether said movable asset is moving or stopped.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said table has a column that indicates an occurrence of a sensor event.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said table has a column that indicates a time.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving second user input that enables an identification of a time period of said position history.

14. A location tracking method using a graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables an identification of a movable asset; and

displaying a position history of said movable asset, said position history including a listing of a plurality of positions from an origin location to a destination location, wherein at least a part of the intermediate positions in said listing includes a status of whether said movable asset has stopped, wherein said stopped status represents a result of a determination that, after tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state in a time period, said movable asset remained in said non-moving state for greater than a defined percentage of said time period, wherein said time period begins at a detection of a first of said multiple transitions and ends after a period of time defined by a tracking period length parameter stored in said movable asset.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said intermediate positions having a status of stopped has an associated time that said movable asset has stopped.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said intermediate positions having a status of stopped has an associated time that a report was sent by a mobile terminal on said movable asset.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least part of the intermediate positions in said listing includes a status of whether said movable asset is moving, wherein said moving status represents a result of a determination that, after tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state in a second time period, said movable asset remained in said moving state for greater than a defined percentage of said second time period.