System and method for monitoring the location of individuals via the world wide web using a wireless communications network

• US 8,655,379 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, Harper, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US13/681,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20130115976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 4554561-4566, 455/457, 455/466, 455/521, 340/539, 340/574.1, 340/0.4, 340/988, 340/989, 340/994, 701/200, 701207-209, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A system is described for monitoring the geographical location of a subscriber'"'"'s mobile cellular telephone, and for providing the location information to an authorized user through the world wide web. The geographical location of the subscriber'"'"'s mobile cellular telephone is tracked using registration signals transmitted over the control channel by the cellular telephone. This information is supplied to a geographical location coordinator system, which determines the geographical coordinates for the cellular telephone. A database stores the geographical location information along with a subscriber'"'"'s telephone number and account code. The database is updated to track the movement of the cellular telephone user across a geographical area.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an input configured to receive control signals detected from a wireless communication device by a plurality of receivers located across a geographical region, wherein the control signals are continuously transmitted from the wireless communication device even when the wireless communication device is turned off;

a location processor configured to determine location information corresponding to the wireless communication device according to the received control signals detected by the plurality of receivers; and

an output configured to provide the location information corresponding to the wireless device to only authorized users through the Internet via an Internet server, wherein the location information is provided on an Internet website accessible by an authorized user on a personal computer-at a location that is remote from the geographical region for monitoring the location of the wireless communication device that is within the geographical region from the location that is remote from the geographical region, the location information corresponding to the wireless communication device is output to the Internet server via a geographic location database that maintains location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices sorted by authorized user access code, and location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same access code is accessible by the authorized user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information is provided to a mapping graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information is provided as a text message.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information is provided as an audio signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices is simultaneously accessible by the authorized user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to continuously determine the location of the wireless communication device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location of the wireless communication device responsive to entry of the authorized user access code.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographical database further maintains information identifying the wireless communication device.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving control signals detected from a wireless communication device by a plurality of receivers across a geographical region, wherein the control signals are continuously transmitted from the wireless communication device even when the wireless communication device is turned off;

determining, by a processor, location information corresponding to the wireless communication device according to the received control signals detected by the plurality of receivers; and

providing the location information corresponding to the wireless communication device to only authorized users via an Internet server, wherein the location information is provided on an Internet website accessible by an authorized user on a personal computer at a location that is remote from the geographical region for monitoring the location of the wireless communication device that is within the geographical region from the location that is remote from the geographical region, the location information corresponding to the wireless communication device is output to the Internet server via a geographic location database that maintains location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices sorted by authorized user access code, and location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same access code is accessible by the authorized user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the processor continuously determines the location of the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the processor determines the location of the wireless communication device responsive to entry of the authorized user access code.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices is simultaneously accessible by the authorized user.

13. A system, comprising:

an input configured to receive control signals detected from a plurality of wireless communication devices by a plurality of receivers across a geographical region, wherein the control signals are continuously transmitted from the wireless communication devices even when the wireless communication devices are turned off;

a location processor configured to determine location information corresponding to each of the wireless communication devices according to the received control signals detected by the plurality of receivers; and

an output configured to provide the location information corresponding to each of the wireless communication devices to only authorized users via an Internet server, wherein the location information corresponding to the wireless communication devices is provided on an Internet website accessible by an authorized user via a personal computer at a location that is remote from the geographical region for monitoring the location of the wireless communication device that is within the geographical region from the location that is remote from the geographical region, the location information corresponding to the wireless communication devices is output to the Internet server via a geographic location database that maintains location information for the plurality of wireless communication devices sorted by authorized user access code, and location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same access code is accessible by the authorized user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information is provided to a mapping graphical user interface.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information is provided as a text message.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information is provided as an audio signal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices is simultaneously accessible by the authorized user.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to continuously determine location information corresponding to each of the wireless communication devices.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine location information corresponding to the wireless communication devices responsive to entry of an authorized user access code.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the geographical database further maintains information identifying each of the wireless communication devices.