Mobile tracking

• US 8,554,243 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard Dietrich, Lewis, Allan David, Wormald, Christopher R., Johnson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLIDAY, JAIME MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US11/950,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4564, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of tracking a first wireless communications device using another computing device, such as a second wireless communications device, includes obtaining current position data for the first wireless communications device and obtaining one or more of speed data, time data, and path data for the first wireless communications device. The first wireless device then transmits the current position data and at least one of the speed data, time data and path data to the second wireless communications device or other computing device. In addition to current position data, the speed, path and time data facilitate tracking of the first wireless communications device. When a first mobile user wants a second mobile user to follow him, the first mobile user can put his device in “follow me” (tracking) mode. This is particularly useful when the first and second mobile users are traveling in respective cars or other vehicles.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a first wireless communications device using a second wireless communications device, the method comprising:

using a proximity detection subsystem to detect when the first wireless communications device has strayed away from the second wireless communications device;

and upon detecting that the first wireless communications device has strayed away from the second wireless communications device, automatically triggering tracking of the first wireless communications device by the second wireless communications device by;

obtaining current position data for the first wireless communications device;

obtaining one or more of speed data, time data, and path data for the first wireless communications device;

transmitting the current position data and at least one of the speed data, time and path data from the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device to enable tracking of the first wireless communications device using the second wireless communications device;

providing navigation instructions to the current location of the second wireless communications device; and

storing waypoints to define a breadcrumb path for retracing route taken by the second wireless communications device when following the first wireless communication device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining the speed data, the time data, and the path data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the speed data, the time data and the path data in addition to the current position data.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the speed data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the speed data in addition to the current position data.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the time data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the time data in addition to the current position data.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the path data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the path data in addition to the current position data.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the speed data and the time data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the speed data and the time data in addition to the current position data.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the speed data and the path data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the speed data and the path data in addition to the current position data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising obtaining only the time data and the path data and transmitting to the second wireless communications device the time data and the path data in addition to the current position data.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving preference data from the second wireless communications device indicating which of the speed data, time data and path data is to be transmitted by the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein using the proximity detection subsystem comprises using a Bluetooth®

proximity detection subsystem for pairing the first wireless communications device with the second wireless communications device whereby tracking is triggered automatically when Bluetooth®

connectivity is lost.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein providing comprises displaying the path data on a map and audibly presenting the navigation instructions.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a second wireless communications device, is adapted to perform tracking of a first wireless communications device by:

using a proximity detection subsystem to detect when the first wireless communications device has strayed away from the second wireless communications device; and

upon detecting that the first wireless communications device has strayed away from the second wireless communications device, automatically triggering tracking of the first wireless communications device by the second wireless communications device by;

obtaining current position data for the first wireless communications device;

obtaining one or more of speed data, time data, and path data for the first wireless communications device;

transmitting the current position data and at least one of the speed data, time and path data from the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device to enable tracking of the first wireless communications device using the second wireless communications device;

providing navigation instructions to the current location of the second wireless communications device; and

storing waypoints to define a breadcrumb path for retracing a route taken by the second wireless communications device when following the first wireless communication device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12 wherein the code further comprises receiving preference data from the second wireless communications device indicating which of the speed data, time data and path data is to be transmitted by the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12 wherein using the proximity detection subsystem comprises using a Bluetooth®

proximity detection subsystem for pairing the first wireless communications device with the second wireless communications device whereby tracking is triggered automatically when Bluetooth®

connectivity is lost.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 12 wherein providing comprises displaying the path data on a map and audibly presenting the navigation instructions.

16. A first wireless communications device for generating and transmitting data to enable tracking of the first wireless communications device by a second wireless communications device, the first wireless communications device comprising:

a proximity detection subsystem for detecting when the first wireless communications device has strayed away from the second wireless communications device and for automatically triggering tracking of the first wireless communications by the second wireless communications device ;

a GPS chipset for receiving GPS signals and for generating current position data representing a current position of the first wireless communications device;

a memory operatively connected to a processor for storing and executing an application configured to obtain one or more of speed data, time data and path data for the first wireless communications device, and storing waypoints to define a breadcrumb path for retracing a route taken by the second wireless communications device when following the first wireless communications device;

and a radiofrequency transmitter for transmitting the current position data of the first wireless communications device in addition to at least one of the speed data, the time data and the path data and for providing navigation instructions to the current location of the second wireless communications device.

17. The first wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the application is further configured to generate the path data by identifying a street name or highway number corresponding to the current position of the first wireless communications device.

18. The first wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein using the proximity detection subsystem comprises using a Bluetooth®

proximity detection subsystem for pairing the first wireless communications device with the second wireless communications device whereby tracking is triggered automatically when Bluetooth®

connectivity is lost.

19. The first wireless communications device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the application is further configured to generate the path data by determining all street names or highway numbers between the current position of the first wireless communications device and a previously determined position of the first wireless communications device.

20. The first wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the application is further configured to generate the time data by determining the time when the current position is obtained.

21. The first wireless communications device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the application is further configured to display the path data on a map and audibly present the navigation instructions.