Systems and methods for gathering information about discrete wireless terminals

• US 8,315,598 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prima Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Prima Research, LLC
• Inventors: Price, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAHEED, KHALID W
• Application Number:
  US12/463,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20100285814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/404.2, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention is broadly directed to systems and methods for gathering information about wireless transceiver devices in a defined boundary region. To this end, the disclosure is more particularly directed to gathering movement information (e.g., via detection and location) about two-way end-user wireless terminals within three-dimensional boundaries of defined local space (“DLS”) to allow for selective control of the terminals and other subsystems, as desired. Additionally, the data collected can be used to improve accuracy and precision regarding the prediction of behavior characteristics and tendencies of populations based on a sampling of observed terminals.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring movement of two-way wireless terminals within a defined local space (DLS), comprising:

a. a mathematically characterized DLS architecture, including;

i. an array of at least four receivers which are volumetrically synchronized together to identify a volume within the defined local space (DLS);

ii. at least one processor in communication with said array of receivers;

b. at least one two-way wireless terminal; and

c. a base station associated with a wireless service provider system, said base station adapted to periodically broadcast a series of request signals, each intended for a particular said wireless terminal, whereupon said DLS architecture is operative;

i. during a first time interval to;

1. intercept a first sampling of return signals transmitted by at least one associated first wireless terminal that is physically within said DLS during the first time interval; and

2. log initial location information for the first wireless terminal within the DLS based on said first sampling of return signals;

ii. during subsequent time intervals to;

1. intercept at least one subsequent sampling of return signals transmitted by at least one associated wireless terminal that is physically located within the DLS during the subsequent time intervals; and

2. log initial location information for the at least one associated wireless terminal within the DLS based on said sampling of return signals; and

iii. to compare said initial location information to said subsequent location information to ascertain tracking movement of wireless terminals within the DLS.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein each request signal is a service request or ping signal transmitted by a base station in an RF signaling channel, and wherein each request signal includes identifying information that is unique to a particular one of said two-way wireless terminals.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein no personal information is obtained concerning any of the wireless terminals within the DLS.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein each said wireless terminal is selected from a group consisting of a cellular telephone, a pager, a personal data assistant (PDA), and other similar two-way wireless terminal devices.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said processor is operative to time stamp and determine intra-DLS physical location of all wireless terminals within the DLS during the initial and all subsequent time intervals, respectively.