Geoboundaries using rectangular fencing and coupling of GPS/LBS systems

• US 8,145,424 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy S., Northway, Tedrick N., Ramanathan, Sri, TERRY, Matthew A., TREVATHAN, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US12/187,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/200, 701/202, 701/208, 701/213, 707/724, 707/919, 707/920, 455/456.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method for establishing a geographic boundary and monitoring an object within the boundary is provided. At least one first entity provides a second entity a request to form the geographic boundary and monitor the object within the boundary. The request may include parameters including at least a first set of coordinates of a geographic location associated with the geographic boundary to be formed. The method includes determining if the parameters provided include additional sets of coordinates for additional geographic locations associated with the geographic boundary to be formed. A footprint of the geographic boundary is selected dependent on whether the parameters provided include additional sets of coordinates. A rectangular footprint may be selected if the parameters include additional sets of coordinates and the coordinates form an isosceles triangle. The method includes forming the geographic boundary having the selected footprint. The object may be monitored within the geographic boundary.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a geographic boundary for monitoring an object within the geographic boundary, comprising:

in response to a request to form a geographic boundary for monitoring a presence of an object within the geographic boundary, determining via a central processing unit whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including a first set of geographic location coordinates and;

a radius;

or

a second set of geographic location coordinates and a third set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the radius and does not include the second and the third set of coordinates, forming a circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as a center;

if determined that the request includes the second set of coordinates and the third set of coordinates, determining via the central processing unit if the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle;

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle, determining via the central processing unit fourth and fifth sets of coordinates from the formed isosceles triangle and forming a rectangular geographic boundary from the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates, wherein the second and the third sets of coordinates form a hypotenuse of the formed isosceles triangle; and

if determined that the first, the second and the third set of coordinates do not form an isosceles triangle, determining a rectangular exception and forming a rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as the center; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates further comprises:

determining a slope of the hypotenuse; and

mirroring the formed isosceles triangle across a line parallel to the hypotenuse and passing through a point defined by the first set of coordinates to define the fourth set of coordinates as reflected from the second set of coordinates and the fifth set of coordinates as reflected from the third set of coordinates.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if the request specifies beginning and ending altitudes where the geographic boundary is to begin and end; and

if the request specifies the beginning and the ending altitudes, forming the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary as having a footprint of the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular boundary extending from the beginning altitude to the ending altitude; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary and between the beginning and the ending altitudes.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including the first set of geographic location coordinates and four additional sets of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the first set of geographic location coordinates and the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates, determining if the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle;

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle, forming the rectangular geographic boundary from the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates; and

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates do not define a rectangle, determining the rectangular exception and forming the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as the center.

5. A method for providing a service for establishing a geographic boundary for monitoring an object within the geographic boundary, comprising:

providing a computer system that;

in response to a request to form a geographic boundary for monitoring a presence of an object within the geographic boundary, determines whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including a first set of geographic location coordinates and;

a radius;

or

a second set of geographic location coordinates and a third set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the radius and does not include the second and the third set of coordinates, forms a circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the second set of coordinates and the third set of coordinates, determines if the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle;

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle, determines fourth and fifth sets of coordinates from the formed isosceles triangle and forms a rectangular geographic boundary from the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates, wherein the second and the third sets of coordinates form a hypotenuse of the formed isosceles triangle; and

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates do not form an isosceles triangle, determines a rectangular exception and forms a rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as a center; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the computer system determines the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates by:

determining a slope of the hypotenuse; and

mirroring the formed isosceles triangle across a line parallel to the hypotenuse and passing through a point defined by the first set of coordinates to define the fourth set of coordinates as reflected from the second set of coordinates and the fifth set of coordinates as reflected from the third set of coordinates.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the computer system further:

determines if the request specifies beginning and ending altitudes where the geographic boundary is to begin and end; and

if determined that the request specifies the beginning and the ending altitudes, forms the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary as having a footprint of the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular boundary extending from the beginning altitude to the ending altitude; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary and between the beginning and the ending altitudes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer system further:

determines whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including the first set of geographic location coordinates and four additional sets of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the first set of geographic location coordinates and the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates, determines if the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle;

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle, forms the rectangular geographic boundary from the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates; and

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates do not define a rectangle, determines the rectangular exception and forms the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as the center.

9. A computer readable storage device having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to:

in response to a request to form a geographic boundary for monitoring a presence of an object within the geographic boundary, determine whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including a first set of geographic location coordinates and;

a radius;

or

a second set of geographic location coordinates and a third set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the radius and does not include the second and the third set of coordinates, form a circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the second set of coordinates and the third set of coordinates, determine if the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle;

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle, determine fourth and fifth sets of coordinates from the formed isosceles triangle and form a rectangular geographic boundary from the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates, wherein the second and the third sets of coordinates form a hypotenuse of the formed isosceles triangle; and

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates do not form an isosceles triangle, determine a rectangular exception and form a rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as a center; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary.

10. The computer readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the computer program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to determine the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates by:

determining a slope of the hypotenuse; and

mirroring the formed isosceles triangle across a line parallel to the hypotenuse and passing through a point defined by the first set of coordinates to define the fourth set of coordinates as reflected from the second set of coordinates and the fifth set of coordinates as reflected from the third set of coordinates.

11. The computer readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the computer program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to:

determine if the request specifies beginning and ending altitudes where the geographic boundary is to begin and end; and

if determined that the request specifies the beginning and the ending altitudes, form the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary as having a footprint of the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular boundary extending from the beginning altitude to the ending altitude; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary and between the beginning and the ending altitudes.

12. The computer readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the computer program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to:

determine whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including the first set of geographic location coordinates and four additional sets of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the first set of geographic location coordinates and the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates, determine if the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle;

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle, form the rectangular geographic boundary from the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates; and

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates do not define a rectangle, determine the rectangular exception and form the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as the center.

13. A programmable device, comprising:

a processing unit;

a computer readable memory in communication with the processing unit; and

a computer readable storage device in communication with the processing unit and the memory and comprising program code instructions stored thereon for execution by the processing unit via the computer readable memory to;

in response to a request to form a geographic boundary for monitoring a presence of an object within the geographic boundary, determine whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including a first set of geographic location coordinates and;

a radius;

or

a second set of geographic location coordinates and a third set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the radius and does not include the second and the third sets of coordinates, form a circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the second set of coordinates and the third set of coordinates, determine if the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle;

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates form an isosceles triangle, determine fourth and fifth sets of coordinates from the formed isosceles triangle and form a rectangular geographic boundary from the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates, wherein the second and the third sets of coordinates form a hypotenuse of the formed isosceles triangle; and

if determined that the first, the second and the third sets of coordinates do not form an isosceles triangle, determine a rectangular exception and form a rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as a center; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary.

14. The programmable device of claim 13, wherein the program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to determine the fourth and the fifth sets of coordinates by:

determining a slope of the hypotenuse; and

mirroring the formed isosceles triangle across a line parallel to the hypotenuse and passing through a point defined by the first set of coordinates to define the fourth set of coordinates as reflected from the second set of coordinates and the fifth set of coordinates as reflected from the third set of coordinates.

15. The programmable device of claim 14, wherein the program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to:

determine if the request specifies beginning and ending altitudes where the geographic boundary is to begin and end; and

if determined that the request specifies the beginning and the ending altitudes, form the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary as having a footprint of the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular boundary extending from the beginning altitude to the ending altitude; and

wherein the formed one of the circular geographic boundary, the rectangular geographic boundary and the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary is configured to be monitored to determine whether the presence of the object is inside or outside of the formed one geographic boundary and between the beginning and the ending altitudes.

16. The programmable device of claim 15, wherein the program code instructions, when executed by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit to:

determine whether the request includes parameters associated with the geographic boundary to be formed including the first set of geographic location coordinates and four additional sets of geographic location coordinates;

if determined that the request includes the first set of geographic location coordinates and the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates, determine if the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle;

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates define a rectangle, form the rectangular geographic boundary from the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates; and

if determined that the four additional sets of geographic location coordinates do not define a rectangle, determine the rectangular exception and form the rectangular exception circular geographic boundary on the radius from the first set of geographic location coordinates as the center.