Apparatus and method for radio frequency silencing in oil and gas operations, excavation sites, and other environments

• US 9,049,641 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Inventors: Wible, Jason A., Taylor, Brandon C., MacLean, James S. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaheed, Khalid
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US13/443,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method includes receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, where the silence command instructs the location tracking device to stop wireless transmissions. The method also includes stopping wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command. The method further includes automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device after the specified period of time has elapsed. A length of the specified period of time can be defined by the silence command. A request to identify the location tracking device can be received at the location tracking device, and a response identifying the location tracking device can be transmitted prior to receiving the silence command.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, the silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions;

stopping all wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command;

determining at the location tracking device that the specified period of time has elapsed;

automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed;

receiving a second silence command before the specified period of time has elapsed; and

extending the specified period of time in response to the second silence command,

wherein a length of the specified period of time is identified by the location tracking device prior to the specified period of time elapsing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the specified period of time is defined by the silence command.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to identify the location tracking device at the location tracking device; and

transmitting a response identifying the location tracking device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the response identifying the location tracking device is transmitted prior to receiving the silence command.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification indicating that the silence command has been received prior to stopping all wireless transmissions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification includes an identity of the location tracking device, an identity of a user or device that issued the silence command, a location of the location tracking device, and a timestamp.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the silence command comprises receiving the silence command over one of:

a cellular communication network, a satellite communication network, and a WiFi communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified period of time is one of:

a predefined or user-defined time period programmed into the location tracking device, a predefined or user-defined time period contained in the silence command, and a predefined or user-defined time period identified by the silence command.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the specified period of time, receiving at the location tracking device an incoming communication attempting to elicit a response from the location tracking device; and

refraining from transmitting the response from the location tracking device to thereby verify that the location tracking device is operating in a silent mode.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a location tracking device configured to be associated with an asset, the location tracking device configured to track a location of the location tracking device to thereby track a location of the asset, the location tracking device comprising;

at least one wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly; and

a control unit configured to;

receive via the at least one wireless transceiver a silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions;

stop all wireless transmissions from the at least one wireless transceiver for a specified period of time in response to the silence command;

determine that the specified period of time has elapsed;

automatically resume wireless transmissions by the at least one wireless transceiver in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed;

receive a second silence command before the specified period of time has elapsed; and

extend the specified period of time in response to the second silence command,

wherein the control unit is configured to identify a length of the specified period of time prior to the specified period of time elapsing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the length of the specified period of time using the silence command.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

receive a request to identify the location tracking device via the at least one wireless transceiver; and

initiate transmission of a response identifying the location tracking device via the at least one wireless transceiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate transmission of a notification indicating that the silence command has been received prior to stopping all wireless transmissions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the notification includes an identity of the location tracking device, an identity of a user or device that issued the silence command, the location of the location tracking device, and a timestamp.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the location tracking device further comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) engine configured to identify the location of the location tracking device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one wireless transceiver comprises:

at least one shorter-range transceiver comprising one or more of;

a BLUETOOTH Low Energy transceiver, a WiFi transceiver, a ZIGBEE transceiver, and a Radio Frequency identification (RFID) transceiver; and

at least one longer-range transceiver comprising one or more of;

a cellular network transceiver and a satellite network transceiver.

17. A method comprising:

identifying one or more location tracking devices in a specified area by;

initiating broadcasting of an identification request, and

receiving one or more responses from the one or more location tracking devices, the one or more responses identifying the one or more location tracking devices;

initiating transmission of a silence command to the one or more location tracking devices, the silence command instructing the one or more location tracking devices to stop all wireless transmissions for a specified period of time before automatically resuming wireless transmissions, the silence command identifying a length of the specified period of time; and

initiating transmission of a second silence command to the one or more location tracking devices, the second silence command instructing the one or more location tracking devices to extend the specified period of time to stop all wireless transmissions.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying one or more assets associated with the one or more identified location tracking devices; and

initiating presentation of information associated with the one or more assets to a user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a portable device identifies the one or more location tracking devices and transmits the silence command to the one or more location tracking devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable device comprises a mobile smartphone.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a computing device remote from the one or more location tracking devices identifies the one or more location tracking devices using a portable device in radio range of the one or more location tracking devices and causes the portable device to transmit the silence command.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the initiating the transmission of the second silence command occurs before the specified period of time has elapsed.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein initiating transmission of the silence command comprises initiating transmission of the silence command over one of:

a cellular communication network, a satellite communication network, and a WiFi communication network.

24. A method comprising:

receiving a silence command at a location tracking device, the silence command instructing the location tracking device to stop all wireless transmissions;

stopping all wireless transmissions from the location tracking device for a specified period of time in response to the silence command;

before the specified period of time has elapsed, receiving a second silence command;

extending the specified period of time in response to the second silence command;

determining at the location tracking device that the specified period of time has elapsed; and

automatically resuming wireless transmissions from the location tracking device in response to the determination that the specified period of time has elapsed;

wherein a length of the specified period of time is identified by the location tracking device prior to the specified period of time elapsing.