Method and system for location tracking

• US 8,301,158 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2008
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US12/150,126
• Time in Patent Office: 1,648 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/440, 340/539.13, 340/825.49, 340/988, 342/357.1, 342/457, 342/357.01, 701/213
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and management of location information are disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodiment includes at least a plurality of mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, and a web server coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing devices are associated with and proximate to an object whose location is being monitored. The web server stores the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users to obtain access the locations via the wired network.

Claims

1. A location monitoring system, comprising:

one or more mobile electronic devices supported by a wireless network, each of said mobile electronic devices being associated with and proximate to a corresponding object; and

a computer configured to store locations of each of said mobile electronic devices, and said computer enabling authorized users to access the locations of said mobile electronic devices,

wherein the authorized users do not have to be proximate to the objects whose locations they are authorized to access,

wherein said computer determines whether notification should be sent to an authorized user based on the location of a mobile electronic device corresponding to an object, the mobile electronic device being one of said mobile electronic devices,

wherein said computer sends an electronic notification to the authorized user when it has been determined that notification should be sent to the authorized user,

wherein one or more notification locations are defined for the authorized user through interaction with said computer, and wherein at least one of the one or more notification locations is assigned a location label by the authorized user through interaction with said computer,

wherein the location label assigned by the authorized user is personal to the authorized user, and

wherein said computer determines whether the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at one of the one or more notification locations, and generates the electronic notification when it is determined that the location of the mobile electronic device is at one of the notification locations.

2. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said mobile electronic devices operates to obtain location information of its location and to wirelessly forward the location information to said computer.

3. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein the object is a person, a vehicle or a package.

4. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1,

wherein the electronic notification is an electronic message, and

wherein the electronic message is automatically transmitted to the authorized user when it is determined that the location of the mobile electronic device is at one of the notification locations.

5. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1,

wherein a requestor requests that said computer provide the location of the object, and

wherein, when a requestor requests that said computer provide the location of the object, said computer returns a response to the requestor, the response including the location of the object based on the location of the corresponding mobile electronic device.

6. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1,

wherein the authorized user must be registered with said computer before the authorized user is authorized to access the location of one or more of said mobile electronic devices,

wherein at least one attribute of the electronic notification can depend on information provided by the authorized user during the registration of the authorized user, and

wherein the information provided by the authorized user during registration includes at least one notification condition.

7. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one notification condition specifies a type of notification or how often notification is to be provided.

8. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein access to locations of each of said mobile electronic devices is controlled by owner or user of the corresponding mobile electronic device.

9. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said location monitoring system is configured to enable the authorized user to set at least one delivery criterion regarding electronic notifications to be provided.

10. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device is a mobile phone.

11. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 10, wherein said computer maintains a history of locations of the mobile device, and wherein said computer is configured to present the history of locations to the authorized party in at least a graphical form.

12. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the object is a person, and wherein the mobile phone is available for use by the person.

13. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12,

wherein the electronic notification is an electronic message, and

wherein the electronic message is automatically transmitted to the authorized user when it is determined that the location of the mobile electronic device is at one of the notification locations.

14. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

15. A location monitoring system as recited In claim 13, wherein said location monitoring system is configured to enable the authorized user to select from a plurality of options regarding electronic notifications to be provided.

16. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein access to the location of the mobile phone is controlled by the person via the mobile phone.

17. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein said location monitoring system is configured to determine whether the person using the mobile phone has authorized the authorized party to access the location of the mobile phone.

19. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein said location monitoring system is configured to restrict access to the location of the mobile phone to only those one or more users that the person using the mobile phone has authorized device is at one of the notification locations.

20. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein said location monitoring system is configured to send an access request to the mobile phone to determine if a requestor is allowed to access to the location of the mobile phone, and to receive from the mobile phone an access response to the access request, the access response indicating whether or not the requestor is permitted to access the location of the mobile phone.

21. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein said location monitoring system comprises a web server, and

wherein the authorized user is able to log into the web server to gain access to one or more locations of the mobile phone.

22. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 12, wherein said location monitoring system provides an electronic notification to the mobile phone, the electronic notification indicating that the location of the mobile device is being monitored.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

18. A location monitoring system as recited in dam, 17, wherein said location monitoring system maintains a history of locations of the mobile phone, and wherein said location monitoring system is configured to present the history of locations to the authorized party in at least a graphical form.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code tangibly stored thereon for monitoring position of one or more objects using one or more mobile electronic devices, each object having a mobile electronic device corresponding thereto, the one or more mobile electronic devices being capable of communicating in a wireless manner, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving a location of an object at a server via a wireless network, the location being associated with the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object;

computer program code for determining whether the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at one of one or more notification locations for which a notification is to be sent to an interested party based on the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object being at one of one or more notification locations; and

computer program code for generating and sending the notification to the interested party when it has been determined that a notification is to be sent to the interested party based on the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object being at one of one or more notification locations; and

computer program code for receiving at least one of the one or more notification locations that has been defined by the interested party through interaction with the server,

wherein at least one of the one or more notification locations includes a location label that is for use by the server with respect to the interested party, and

wherein the notification sent to the interested party includes the location label when it is determined by said computer code for determining that the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at the notification location corresponding to the location label.

24. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein access to locations of each of the mobile electronic devices is controlled by owner or user of the corresponding mobile electronic device.

25. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for providing location data to display the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object to the interested party via accessing the server through the Internet,

wherein the interested party does not have to be proximate to the object.

26. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23,

wherein at least one of the one or more notification locations pertains to a predetermined location,

wherein said computer program code for determining comprises computer program code for determining whether the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at the predetermined location, and

wherein said computer program code for generating and sending the notification comprises computer program code for sending the notification when said computer program code for determining determines that the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at the predetermined location.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said computer program code for sending the notification operates to send the notification when it is determined that the location of the mobile electronic device has entered the predetermined location.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer program code for receiving periodically receives the location of the mobile electronic device, and wherein the period by which said computer program code for receiving operates to receive the location is in accordance with a predetermined schedule, the schedule utilizing a plurality of different periods by which the location is acquired.

30. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer program code for receiving periodically receives the location of the mobile electronic device, and wherein the period by which said computer program code for receiving operates to receive the location is different during different times of a day or on different days.

31. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein access to locations of each of the mobile electronic devices is controlled by an owner of the corresponding mobile electronic device.

32. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

33. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a request for the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object; and

computer program code for returning a response to the request, the response including the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object.

34. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a request from a requestor for the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object;

computer program code for determining whether the requestor is authorized to receive the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object; and

computer program code for returning a response to the request if the requestor is determined to be authorized, the response including the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object.

35. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 23, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving a notification condition at the server, the notification condition being associated with the interested party; and

computer program code for determining whether the notification is to be sent to the interested party based on the notification condition.

36. A method for monitoring position of one or more objects using one or more mobile electronic devices, each object having a mobile electronic device provided therewith, the one or more mobile electronic devices being capable of communicating over a wireless network, said method comprising:

receiving at a web server one or more notification locations set by a monitoring party;

receiving at the web server a location label assigned by the monitoring party to at least one of the one or more notification locations;

receiving, at the web server via the wireless network, a location of a mobile electronic device corresponding to an object;

determining, at the web server, whether a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party based on (i) the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object, and (ii) the one or more notification locations; and

electronically sending a notification to the monitoring party when it has been determined that a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party,

wherein said determining comprises determining whether the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at one of the one or more notification locations, and

wherein said electronically sending comprises (i) generating the notification when said determining determines that the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at one of the one or more notification locations, and (ii) sending the notification generated to the monitoring party when said determining determines that the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at one of the one or more notification locations,

wherein the notification generated includes at least the location label corresponding to the one of the one or more notification locations where the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is determined to be located, and

wherein the location label assigned by the monitoring party is for use with respect to the monitoring party, and wherein the notification sent to the monitoring party includes the location label when said determining determines that the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object is at the notification location corresponding to the location label.

37. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic message.

38. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic text message.

39. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein access to locations of each of the mobile electronic devices is controlled by a user of the corresponding mobile electronic device.

40. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying the location of the mobile electronic device corresponding to the object to a requestor via accessing the web server through the Internet,

wherein before the location is displayed to the requestor the monitoring party has to be authorized.

41. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein said receiving of the location periodically receives the location of the mobile electronic device, and wherein the period by which said receiving operates to receive the location of the mobile electronic device is different during different times of a day or on different days.

42. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein at least one of the one or more notification locations pertains to a predetermined location, and

wherein said method comprises:

electronically transmitting a notification that the object is in the predetermined location.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

44. A method as recited in claim 36,

wherein the object is a person, and

wherein at least one of the one or more notification locations pertains to a predetermined location, and

wherein said sending of the notification comprises transmitting a notification indicating that the object has entered the predetermined location.

45. A method for monitoring position of one or more persons using one or more mobile phones, each person having a mobile phone provided therewith, the one or more mobile phones being capable of communicating over a wireless network, said method comprising:

receiving at a server one or more notification locations set by a monitoring party;

receiving at the server one or more notification options requested by the monitoring party;

receiving at the server a location label assigned by the monitoring party to at least one of the one or more notification locations;

receiving a location of a mobile phone corresponding to a person;

determining whether the monitoring party has been authorized to access the location of the mobile phone;

determining whether a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party based on (i) the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person, (ii) the one or more notification options, (iii) the one or more notification locations, and (iv) whether the monitoring party has been authorized; and

electronically sending a notification to the monitoring party when it has been determined that a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party,

wherein said determining whether a notification is to be sent comprises determining whether the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person is at one of the one or more notification locations,

wherein said electronically sending comprises (i) generating the notification when said determining whether a notification is to be sent determines that the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person is at one of the one or more notification locations, and (ii) sending the notification generated to the monitoring party when said determining whether a notification is to be sent determines that the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person is at one of the one or more notification locations,

wherein the notification generated includes at least the location label corresponding to the one of the one or more notification locations where the mobile phone corresponding to the person is determined to be located, and

wherein the location label assigned by the monitoring party is for use with respect to the monitoring party, and wherein the notification sent to the monitoring party includes the location label when said determining whether a notification is to be sent determines that the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person is at the notification location corresponding to the location label.

46. A method as recited In claim 45, wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

47. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein said determining whether the monitoring party has been authorized to access the location of the mobile phone comprises:

sending an access request to the mobile phone to approve a monitoring party'"'"'s access to the location of the mobile phone; and

receiving from the mobile phone an access response to the access request, the access response indicating whether or not the monitoring party is permitted to access the location of the mobile phone.

48. A method as recited In claim 45, wherein said computer comprises a server, and

wherein the monitoring party is able to log into the server to gain access to one or more locations of the mobile phone.

49. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein said method comprises sending an electronic message to the mobile phone, the electronic message indicating that the location of the mobile device is being monitored.

50. A method as recited in claim 45 wherein said receiving of a location of a mobile phone comprises receiving the location of the mobile phone via the wireless network.

51. A method for monitoring position of one or more persons using one or more mobile phones, each person having a mobile phone provided therewith, the one or more mobile phones being capable of communicating over a wireless network, said method comprising:

receiving at a server one or more notification locations set by a monitoring party;

receiving at the server one or more notification options requested by the monitoring party;

receiving at the server a location label assigned by the monitoring party to at least one of the one or more notification locations;

receiving a location of a mobile phone corresponding to a person;

determining whether the monitoring party has been authorized to access the location of the mobile phone;

determining whether a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party based on the one or more notification options requested by the monitoring party, provided that the monitoring party has been authorized; and

electronically sending a notification to the monitoring party when it has been determined that a notification is to be sent to the monitoring party, the notification indicating the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person,

wherein said electronically sending comprises (i) retrieving the notification generated, and (ii) sending the notification generated to the monitoring party when said determining determines that a notification is to be sent, and wherein the notification being sent is an electronic mail or instant message.

52. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said determining whether the monitoring party has been authorized to access the location of the mobile phone comprises:

sending an access request to the mobile phone to approve a monitoring party'"'"'s access to the location of the mobile phone; and

receiving from the mobile phone an access response to the access request, the access response indicating whether or not the monitoring party is permitted to access the location of the mobile phone.

53. A method as recited in claim 51,

wherein the monitoring party is able to log into the server to gain access to one or more locations of the mobile phone.

54. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said method comprises sending an electronic message to the mobile phone, the electronic message indicating that the location of the mobile device is being monitored.

55. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said receiving a location of a mobile phone comprises receiving the location of the mobile phone via the wireless network.

56. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the location label assigned by the monitoring party is for use with respect to the monitoring party, and wherein the notification sent to the monitoring party includes the location label when said determining whether a notification is to be sent determines that the location of the mobile phone corresponding to the person is at the notification location corresponding to the location label.

57. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein the one or more notification options are set with respect to the one or more notification locations.

58. A location monitoring system, comprising:

one or more mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, each of said mobile computing devices being associated with and proximate to a corresponding object; and

a server operatively connectable to the wireless network, said server configured to store locations of each of said mobile computing devices, and said server enabling authorized users to access the locations of said mobile computing devices via the Internet,

wherein the authorized users do not have to be proximate to the objects whose locations they are authorized to access,

wherein said server determines whether an electronic mail or instant message notification is to be sent to an authorized user based on one or more notification options requested by the authorized user,

wherein said server sends an electronic mail or instant message notification to the authorized user when it has been determined that an electronic mail or instant message notification is to be sent to the authorized user, the electronic mail or instant message notification includes at least the location of at least one of said one or more mobile computing devices corresponding to an object,

wherein one or more notification locations are defined by the authorized user through interaction with said server, and wherein the one or more notification locations that have been defined are assigned location labels by the authorized user through interaction with the server, and

wherein the one or more notification options are defined by the authorized user through interaction with said server.

59. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein said server is further configured to determine whether the location of the mobile computing device corresponding to the object is at one of the one or more notification locations, and generate a notification when it is determined that the location of the mobile computing device is at one of the notification locations, and sends the notification to the authorized user.

60. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein each of said mobile computing devices operates to obtain location information of its location and to forward the location information to said server.

61. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein at least one of the mobile computing devices associated with a corresponding object is a mobile phone, and wherein the corresponding object is a person.

62. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 61, wherein the location monitoring system acquires the location of the person in accordance with a schedule, the schedule utilizing a plurality of different periods to acquire the location.

63. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58,

wherein at least one object corresponding to one of the mobile computing devices is a person,

wherein said server is configured to receive a request from an authorized user for the location of the person, and

wherein, when an authorized user requests that said server specify the location of the person, said server provides a response to the authorized user, the response including the location of the person based on the location of the corresponding one of said mobile computing devices, the corresponding one of said mobile computing devices being a mobile phone.

64. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein at least one of the notification options includes how often a notification is to be provided.

65. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein the different periods correspond to different days of the week.

66. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein access to locations of at least one of said mobile computing devices is controlled by the owner of the corresponding mobile computing device.

67. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein access to locations of at least one of said mobile computing devices is controlled by the user of the corresponding mobile computing device.

68. A location monitoring system as recited in claim 58, wherein said location monitoring system maintains a history of locations of each of said mobile computing devices, and wherein said location monitoring system is configured to present at least a portion of the history of locations of at least one of said one or more corresponding mobile computing devices to the authorized user in at least a graphical form.