Tracking implementing geopositioning and local modes

• US 8,797,214 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Kirk S., Steenstra, Jack, Chen, Liren
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US11/774,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.14, 342/443, 342/457, 342463-465, 342/451, 342/357.25, 342/357.32, 455/456.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A wireless device provides location data concerning an object by use of geolocation in order to provide distance tracking and local location techniques in order to provide local tracking. The geolocation and local location techniques may be implemented at the same time or individually, reconfigurable on demand, in both the tracking and tracked devices. The tracked wireless device includes a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network. A geolocation reading circuit provides GPS or similar location data and is capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object. A local locating device parses local location data, and an indication is provided of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and is further responsive to the local location data which is used to modify the geolocation data with the local location data.

Claims

1. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation reading circuit capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object;

a local locating device capable of producing local location data; and

a control circuit responsive to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and responsive to detection of a second event related to location providing an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive to the local location data to supplement the geolocation data with the local location data.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit responsive to the geolocation reading circuit and the local locating device, capable of modifying the geolocation data with the local location data.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing a relative reading of the geolocation data concerning the object.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit capable of communicating through the multiuser wireless subscriber network a request for a transmission of a local signal identifiable with the object.

5. A method of providing location data concerning an object, the method comprising:

communicating with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

obtaining geolocation data concerning the object;

producing local location data; and

responsive to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and responsive to detection of a second event related to location providing an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive to the local location data, supplementing the geolocation data with the local location data.

21. The method of claim 5, further comprising responsive to the geolocation data and the local location data, modifying the geolocation data with the local location data.

22. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a relative reading of the geolocation data concerning the object.

23. The method of claim 5, further comprising communicating through the multiuser wireless subscriber network a request for a transmission of a local signal identifiable with the object.

6. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing a method of providing location data concerning an object, the instructions comprising:

instructions to communicate with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

instructions to obtain geolocation data concerning the object;

instructions to produce local location data; and

instructions responsive to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and responsive to detection of a second event related to location to provide an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive to the local location data, to supplement the geolocation data with the local location data.

7. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a local locating device capable of providing local location data concerning the object; and

a control circuit augmenting geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data to produce location data, the control circuit responsive to a predetermined event related to location, to provide the location data.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing geolocation data.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the control circuit further responds to an external signal to provide the local location data.

10. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the control circuit further responds to a sensed condition signal to provide the local location data.

11. The wireless device of claim 7, further comprising a geolocation circuit capable of providing geolocation data concerning the object, wherein the predetermined event related to location is determined from the geolocation data.

12. The wireless device of claim 7, further comprising a rate detection device, whereby detected rate activates receiving the geolocation data provided by the network.

13. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising:

an acceleration detection device; and

the control circuit, responsive to acceleration detected by the acceleration detection device to activate the geolocation circuit and the wireless communication circuit to provide geolocation data to the multiuser wireless subscriber network.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, further comprising an event response circuit responsive to a predetermined condition to provide an indication of the sensed condition signal.

15. A method of providing location data using a wireless device, the method comprising:

detecting at least a first event related to location;

providing, in response to detection of the first event, geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation of the wireless device;

using the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location; and

in the case of detection of the second event related to location, providing the geolocation data concerning the wireless device and selectively activating data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising providing an audible or visible signal to a user concerning the detected geolocation of the wireless device in order to monitor the geolocation.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising providing an output signal through a wireless communication network to permit an external indication of the geolocation of the wireless device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event, thereby providing a first level of monitoring associated with a first status of the wireless device, a second level of monitoring associated with the first event related to location and a third level of detection associated with detection of the second event related to location.

19. A processor comprising circuitry for providing location data using a wireless device the processor being configured to:

detect at least a first event related to location;

provide, in response to detection of the first event, geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation of the wireless device;

use the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location; and

in the case of detection of the second event related to location, provide the geolocation data concerning the wireless device and selectively activate data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions for performing a method of providing location data using a wireless device, the instructions comprising:

instructions to detect at least a first event related to location;

instructions to provide, in response to detection of the first event, geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation of the wireless device;

instructions to use the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location; and

instructions in the case of detection of the second event related to location, to provide the geolocation data concerning the wireless device and selectively activate data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.

24. A processor comprising circuitry for providing location data concerning an object the processor configured to:

communicate with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

obtain geolocation data concerning the object;

produce local location data; and

responsive to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and responsive to detection of a second event related to location to provide an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive to the local location data, to supplement the geolocation data with the local location data.

25. An apparatus for providing location data concerning an object, the apparatus comprising:

means for communicating with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

means for obtaining geolocation data concerning the object;

means for producing local location data; and

means responsive to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and responsive to detection of a second event related to location, for providing an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and further responsive to the local location data, for supplementing the geolocation data with the local location data.

26. A method of providing location data concerning an object, the method comprising:

communicating with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

providing local location data concerning the object; and

responsive to a predetermined event related to location, providing the local location data and augmenting geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing geolocation data by a geolocation circuit.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising responding to an external signal to provide the local location data.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising responding to a sensed condition signal to provide the local location data.

30. The method claim 26, further comprising providing geolocation data concerning the object, wherein the predetermined event related to location is determined from the geolocation data.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising responsive to a predetermined condition, providing an indication of the predetermined event.

32. An apparatus for providing location data concerning an object, the apparatus comprising:

means for communicating with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

means for providing local location data concerning the object; and

means for responsive to a predetermined event related to location, providing the local location data and augmenting geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data.

33. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions for providing location data concerning an object, the instructions comprising:

instructions to communicate with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

provide local location data concerning the object; and

responsive to a predetermined event related to location, to provide the local location data and to augment geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to communicate with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

program code to obtain geolocation data concerning an object;

program to produce local location data concerning the object; and

program code to provide an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data in response to a first event related to location to begin monitoring the geolocation data and in response to detection of a second event related to location providing an indication of geolocation based on the geolocation data, and to supplement the geolocation data with the local location data in response to the local location data.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to detect at least a first event related to location;

program code to provide, in response to detection of the first event, geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation of a wireless device;

program code to use the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location; and

program code to provide the geolocation data concerning the wireless device in the case of detection of the second event related to location and selective activate data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to communicate with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

program code to provide local location data concerning an object; and

program code to provide the local location data and to augment geolocation data provided by the network with the local location data in response to a predetermined event related to location.

37. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

a geolocation reading circuit capable of obtaining geolocation data concerning the object; and

a control circuit responsive to a first event related to location to provide geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation of the wireless device with the geolocation reading circuit, to use the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location, and to provide the geolocation data concerning the wireless device in the case of detection of the second event related to location and selective activate data augmentation in response to at least one of the detected events.