Luggage tracking method and apparatus

• US 9,439,164 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PMF SPV LLC
• Original Assignee: Globatrac, LLC
• Inventors: Morgan, Joseph LaMance, Stewart, Robert John, Antoun, Charbel Abi, Naim, William, Aridi, Rabih, Steck, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US14/227,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/418, 455/420, 455/421, 455/423, 455/414.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• 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 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

The claimed technology provides a new method and process for locating and sharing information regarding the location of checked-in luggage while traveling. As part of the claimed technology, a GSM device is placed into luggage to be checked in by the traveler at the airline counter. A mobile device such as a phone or tablet lets the traveler know that their luggage has arrived in sync with the air flight. If the luggage has not arrived, the claimed technology notifies both traveler and airline of the airport location of the luggage, and proactively triggers the airline to coordinate with the passenger for delivery of the luggage.

Claims

1. A system for determining the location of a piece of luggage, comprising:

providing a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) device attached to the luggage to be tracked;

providing a mobile device to be carried by a user;

providing a host HLR (Home Location Register) platform having programmable rule-set database parameters including rule-set driven pro-active data gathering, analysis, and historical data analytics store-and-forward purposes;

wherein the mobile device is capable of communicating with the HLR platform and requesting the HLR platform query the GSM device;

wherein the HLR platform is able to determine the location of the GSM device and the mobile device;

wherein the HLR platform is able to activate and deactivate the GSM device using the database parameters;

wherein the HLR platform disables the GSM device if the GSM device is traveling above a predetermined speed calculated by comparing changes in the time it takes a signal to travel from one or more cell sites to the GSM device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the HLR platform enables the GSM device if the GSM device is traveling below a predetermined speed calculated by comparing changes in the time it takes a signal to travel from one or more cell sites to the GSM device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the HLR platform determines the location of the GSM device using RRLP (Radio Resource Location Services Protocol) function of the GSM device to obtain E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the HLR platform determines the speed of the GSM device using RRLP (Radio Resource Location Services Protocol) function of the GSM device to obtain E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the GSM device lacks the ability to send or receive voice communications and lacks the ability to send or receive data communications.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second GSM device attached to a second piece of luggage to be tracked;

wherein the HLR platform is able to determine the location of the second GSM device;

wherein the HLR platform is able to activate and deactivate the second GSM device using the database parameters.

8. A kit for determining the location of a piece of luggage, comprising:

a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) device attachable to the luggage to be tracked;

a software application usable by a mobile device carried by a user;

wherein the software application is capable of communicating with a host HLR (Home Location Register) platform having programmable rule-set database parameters including rule-set driven pro-active data gathering, analysis, and historical data analytics store-and-forward purposes;

wherein the software application is capable of requesting the HLR platform query the GSM device;

wherein the HLR platform is able to determine the location of the GSM device and the mobile device;

wherein the HLR platform is able to activate and deactivate the GSM device using the database parameters;

wherein the HLR platform disables the GSM device if the GSM device is traveling above a predetermined speed and enables the GSM device if the GSM device is traveling below a predetermined speed, wherein the speed is determined by comparing changes in the time it takes a signal to travel from one or more cell sites to the GSM device.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the HLR platform determines the location of the GSM device using RRLP (Radio Resource Location Services Protocol) function of the GSM device to obtain E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) information.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the GSM device lacks the ability to send or receive voice communications and lacks the ability to send or receive data communications.