Methods and systems for proximity-based monitoring of wireless devices

• US 8,150,418 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari J., Ruckart, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/692,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring the geographic location or velocity of a first wireless device relative to at least one other wireless device and noting an exception if the first wireless device moves beyond a predetermined threshold of separation from the second wireless device, or if the velocity of the first wireless device is outside a predetermined threshold. In response to an exception, supervisory action is taken which may include contacting the wireless device or contacting another person.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a monitored wireless device relative to a monitoring wireless device using a monitoring system having a computer processor, the monitoring wireless device and the monitored wireless device having a relative velocity and a geographic separation, the method comprising:

comparing, at the monitoring system, the geographic separation to a geographic separation threshold;

determining, at the monitoring system, if a relative-velocity threshold is determined to be dynamic, a first value for a relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation;

determining, at the monitoring system, if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed, a second value for a relative-velocity threshold, including decreasing a previous threshold if the geographic separation is below a certain separation;

comparing, at the monitoring system, the relative velocity to the first value if the relative-velocity threshold is dynamic and to the second value if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed; and

generating, at the monitoring system, a notification if the geographic separation threshold or a relative-velocity threshold has been breached.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the monitoring system determining the second value for the relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation, including the monitoring system increasing a value for the relative-velocity threshold from a previous level if the geographic separation is above a certain separation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further enable the processor to, determine the first value for the relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation, including increasing a value of the relative-velocity threshold from a previous level if the geographic separation is above a certain separation.

3. A system for monitoring a monitored wireless device relative to a monitoring wireless device, the monitoring wireless device and the monitored wireless device having a relative velocity and a geographic separation, the system comprising:

a monitoring subsystem including a processor programmed with instructions for causing the processor to;

compare the geographic separation to a geographic separation threshold;

determine, if a relative-velocity threshold is determined to be dynamic, a first value for a relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation;

determine, if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed, a second value for a relative-velocity threshold, including decreasing a previous threshold if the geographic separation is below a certain separation;

compare the relative velocity to a first value if the relative-velocity threshold is dynamic and to the second value if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed; and

generate a notification if the geographic separation threshold or a relative-velocity threshold has been breached.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for monitoring a monitored wireless device relative to a monitored wireless device, the monitoring wireless device and the monitored wireless device having a relative velocity and a geographic separation, and the method comprising:

comparing the geographic separation to a geographic separation threshold;

if a relative-velocity threshold is determined to be dynamic, determining a first value for a relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation;

determining, if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed, a second value for a relative-velocity threshold, including decreasing a previous threshold if the geographic separation is below a certain separation;

comparing the relative velocity to a first value if the relative-velocity threshold is dynamic and to the second value if the relative-velocity threshold is fixed; and

generating a notification if the geographic separation threshold or a relative-velocity threshold has been breached.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine the first value for the relative-velocity threshold using the geographic separation, including increasing a value of the relative-velocity threshold from a previous level if the geographic separation is above a certain separation.