Remotely activatable locator system and method

• US 8,180,319 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Nalley, James Elwood, Buehler, Christopher Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US12/029,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 340/8.1, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device. The method comprises of receiving, at the locator device, a message over a cellular network; and responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating a call over the cellular network to enable a party answering the call to determine a location of the locator device.

Claims

1. A method for locating an entity attached to a locator device, wherein the locator device is configured to remain in a standby state and to enter an active state only upon receiving an activation message, wherein during the standby state the locator device is able to communicate with a cellular network only over a control channel of the cellular network while maintaining a low power state, and wherein during the active state the locator device initiates a voice channel call to enable locating the entity attached to the locator device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the locator device, an activation message over a control channel of the cellular network;

responsive to receiving the activation message, automatically authenticating the activation message and, upon authentication of the activation message, determining whether emergency activation has been authorized;

if emergency activation has not been authorized, performing at least one of performing an over the air update of the locator device, and initiating the voice channel call, over a voice channel of the cellular network, by calling a predetermined number;

if emergency activation has been authorized, automatically initiating the voice channel call over the voice channel of the cellular network, wherein the voice channel call is a public assistance or emergency call, and wherein the voice channel call enables location of the locator device by a radiolocation system;

sending a confirmation message to a party that transmitted the activation message confirming that the voice channel call has been placed by the locator device; and

determining that the voice channel call has been answered, and in response to determining that the voice channel call has been answered, transmitting a predetermined data stream providing information about the entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

playing a prerecorded audible message providing information about the entity in response to determining that the call has been answered.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a status of the locator device to an operation center over the control channel of the cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating, by the locator device, a multiparty call between the party answering the voice channel call and a party that transmitted the activation message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice channel call is placed to a public safety answering point.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing a prerecorded audible message providing contact information associated with a party that transmitted the activation message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a status indicating that a power source of the locator device is low, transmitting a remote notification to a party that the power source is low.

8. A locator device comprising:

an electronic module configured to perform the following process;

receiving, at the locator device, an activation message over a control channel of a cellular network;

responsive to receiving the activation message, automatically authenticating the activation message and, upon authentication of the activation message, determining whether emergency activation has been authorized;

if emergency activation has not been authorized, performing at least one of performing an over the air update of the locator device, and initiating a voice channel call, over a voice channel of the cellular network, by calling a predetermined number;

if emergency activation has been authorized, automatically initiating a voice channel call over the voice channel of the cellular network, wherein the voice channel call is a public assistance or emergency call, and wherein the voice channel call enables location of the locator device by a radiolocation system; and

sending a confirmation message to a party that transmitted the activation message confirming that the voice channel call has been placed by the locator device;

wherein the locator device is configured to remain in a standby state and to enter an active state only upon receiving a properly authenticated activation message; and

wherein during the standby state the locator device is able to communicate with the cellular network only over the control channel of cellular network while maintaining a low power state.

9. The locator device of claim 8, further comprising:

memory for storing a prerecorded audible message; and

a processor for playing the prerecorded audible message in response to determining that the call has been answered.

10. The locator device of claim 8, further comprising memory for storing identifying information of a subscriber associated with the locator device.

11. The locator device of claim 8, further comprising a processor for initiating a multiparty call between a party answering the voice channel call and the party that transmitted the activation message.

12. The locator device of claim 8 disguised as an accessory item.

13. The locator device of claim 8, further comprising a global positioning system component.

14. The locator device of claim 8, further comprising a processor for returning the device to lower power inactive mode.