Position locating device and position determining system

• US 8,554,173 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paradigm Services Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Paradigm Services Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hope, Nigel, Pitts, Reece, Clements, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US13/245,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/404.1, 455/456.1, 455/558, 455 121- 132, 4554141-4141, 455/407, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/440, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.6, 455457-460, 342/357.1, 342/352, 342/357.4, 342/357.74, 342/357.59, 342/457, 340/988, 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/8.8
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A position locating device comprises a position determining unit for periodically determining the position of the device and storing position data in a memory. On activation of the device, a position transmitting unit periodically transmits a terminal identifier and position data, to a base station via a satellite. A power management unit controls the periodicity of the transmission by the position transmitting means. A position determining system includes the position determining device and a base station for receiving the terminal identifier and position data and relaying the information to a first responder.

Claims

1. A position determining system comprising:

a position locating device including a position determining unit which periodically determines the position of the device and stores position data in a memory, a position transmitting unit which, upon activation, periodically transmits a terminal identifier and position data to a satellite, and a power management unit which controls periodicity of the transmission by the position transmitting unit; and

a base station that operates to conserve battery power remotely from said position locating device by adjustment of said periodicity, and that includes contact means for contacting a first responder and, when no response is received from the first responder, contacting at least one other responder.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, on activation, the position transmitting unit retrieves the most recently stored position data from the memory, and transmits it, together with the terminal identifier.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position determining unit comprises a GPS receiver.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position transmitting unit transmits the terminal identifier and position data to a communications satellite.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable power source.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a solar cell configured to recharge the power source.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an encrypting unit for encrypting the terminal identifier and position data before transmission.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the encryption unit encrypts the data according to the Advanced Encryption Standard.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a position request from a satellite and, in response to receipt of the position request, transmitting the terminal identifier and position data.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position locating device further comprises means for receiving a setting command from a satellite, wherein the periodicity is adjusted based on the setting command.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving from a satellite a message; and

display means for displaying the message.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the output of a power source.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein, when the power source output is low, a time interval between transmissions is increased.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for comparing position data determined at intervals, wherein the periodicity of the transmission is set dependent on a change in the position data.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein, when the device is determined to be moving by comparison of the position data, a time interval between transmissions is decreased.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base station further includes position receiving means for receiving the terminal identifier and position data from a satellite.