Seek and find location method, system and apparatus

• US 9,451,407 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vopy AB
• Original Assignee: Seek and find AS
• Inventors: van der Laak, Frode, Julo, Erik, Julo, Bente, Julo, Marlene
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/748,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20150373496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/456.2, 455/517
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• 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 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for locating the seek and find RF device are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a seek and find RF device receives a first RF cell phone signal from a requesting party device, wherein the first RF cell phone signal includes at least a location query requesting location information of the seek and find RF device, and wherein the location query is directed to the seek and find RF device using a mobile device identifier. The seek and find RF device receives at least three GPS satellite signals and determines a location of the seek and find RF device based upon the at least three GPS satellite signals. The seek and find RF device then transmits a second RF cell phone signal, wherein the second RF cell phone signal includes the determined location, and wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device using a device identifier.

Claims

1. A method performed in a seek and find radio frequency (RF) device for locating the seek and find RF device, wherein the seek and find RF device stores a list of device identifiers that identify at least one authorized requesting party device that is authorized to receive location information that defines a location for the seek and find RF device, comprising:

receiving a first RF cell phone signal from the requesting party device over a wireless cellular network, wherein the first RF cell phone signal includes at least a device identifier that identifies the requesting party device and a location query requesting the location information of the seek and find RF device, wherein the location query is directed to the seek and find RF device using a mobile device identifier;

receiving at least three GPS satellite signals;

determining a location of the seek and find RF device based upon the at least three GPS satellite signals;

comparing the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify the at least one authorized requesting party device;

determining whether the requesting party device is one of the authorized requesting party device or an unauthorized requesting party device based on the comparison of the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify the at least one authorized requesting party device;

where in response to determining that the requesting party device is the authorized requesting party device, the method further comprises;

transmitting a second RF cell phone signal, wherein the second RF cell phone signal includes the determined location, and wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device using a device identifier uniquely associated with the requesting party device; and

where in response to determining that the requesting party device is the unauthorized requesting party device, the method further comprises;

ignoring the request for location information from the unauthorized requesting party device; and

transmitting the second RF cell phone signal to the authorized requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal indicates that the seek and find RF device received the request for location information from the unauthorized requesting party device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device identifier of the requesting party device is a second mobile device identifier (i.e.:

cell phone number), and further comprising;

communicating the first RF cell phone signal and the second RF cell phone signal over a wireless cell phone system used by the requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device based upon the second mobile device identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier of the requesting party device is an internet protocol (IP) address, and further comprising:

communicating the first RF cell phone signal and the second RF cell phone signal over the Internet used by the requesting party device,

wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device based upon the IP address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier of the requesting party device is an e-mail address, and further comprising:

communicating the first RF cell phone signal and the second RF cell phone signal over an e-mail system used by the requesting party device,

wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device based upon the e-mail address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third RF cell phone signal from the requesting party device, wherein the third RF cell phone signal includes at least a device command instruction configured to control operation of a device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the controlled device is an automobile, and wherein the device command instruction is configured to disable operation of an engine in the automobile, the method further comprising:

communicating a control signal to a device controller in the automobile, wherein the device controller in the automobile is configured to disable the engine in response to receiving the control signal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the controlled device is a medical device drug delivery system, and wherein the device command instruction is configured to operate the medical device drug delivery system to deliver medicine to a patient, the method further comprising:

communicating a control signal to a device controller in the medical device, wherein the device controller in the medical device is configured to deliver the medicine to the patient.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the third RF cell phone signal is different from the first RF cell phone signal, and wherein the third RF cell phone signal is received after the first RF cell phone signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information in the second RF cell phone signal is communicated to the requesting party cellular phone device in a short text message.

10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprises:

transmitting a third RF cell phone signal to the authorized requesting party device that indicates that the seek and find RF device is being tampered with.

11. A system, comprising:

a requesting party device configured to communicate a location query directed to a remote electronic device that is identified by a mobile device identifier, wherein the location query is communicated to the remote electronic device using a first radio frequency (RF) cell phone signal; and

the remote electronic device, wherein the remote electronic device comprises;

a GPS receiver configured to receive at least three GPS satellite signals;

a processor system configured to determine a location of the remote electronic device based upon the at least three GPS satellite signals;

a memory that stores a list of device identifiers that identify at least one authorized requesting party device; and

a RF transceiver configured to receive the first RF cell phone signal from the requesting party device that includes a device identifier that identifies the requesting party device and a request for location information that defines a location for the remote electronic device, and further configured to transmit a second RF cell phone signal,

wherein the processor system is configured to;

compare the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify at least one authorized requesting party device;

determine whether the requesting party device is one of the authorized requesting party device or an unauthorized requesting party device based on the comparison of the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify the at least one authorized requesting party device;

generate the second RF cell phone signal that is directed to the requesting party device when the requesting party device is determined to be the at least one authorized requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal includes the determined location of the remote electronic device; and

generate the second RF cell phone signal that is directed to the at least one authorized requesting party device when the requesting party device is determined to be the unauthorized requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal indicates that the remote electronic device received the request for location information from the unauthorized requesting party device, and wherein the request for location information is not provided to the unauthorized requesting party device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the device identifier of the requesting party device is an e-mail address.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a control interface communicatively coupled to the processor system and to a device controller that controls operation of a controlled device,

wherein the RF transceiver is configured to receive a third RF cell phone signal from the requesting party device that includes at least a device command instruction configured to control operation of the controlled device, and

wherein the processor system is further configured to generate a command signal that corresponds to the device command instruction received from the requesting party device; and

wherein the command signal generated by the processor system is communicated from the control interface to the device controller to control operation of the controlled device in accordance with the device command instruction received from the requesting party device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controlled device is an automobile, and wherein the device command instruction is configured to disable operation of an engine in the automobile.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the controlled device is a medical device drug delivery system, and wherein the device command instruction is configured to operate the medical device drug delivery system to deliver medicine to a patient.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor system is further configured to:

generate a third RF cell phone signal that is transmitted to the authorized requesting party device that indicates that the remote electronic device is being tampered with.

17. A seek and find RF device that is attachable to or coupled to one of an auxiliary device, a human or a pet, comprising:

a GPS receiver configured to receive at least three GPS satellite signals;

a processor system configured to determine a location of the seek and find RF device based upon the at least three GPS satellite signals;

a memory that stores a list of device identifiers that identify at least one authorized requesting party device; and

a RF transceiver configured to receive the first RF cell phone signal from a requesting party device that includes a device identifier that identifies the requesting party device and a request for location information that defines a location for the seek and find RF device, and further configured to transmit a second RF cell phone signal,

wherein the processor system is configured to;

compare the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify at least one authorized requesting party device;

determine whether the requesting party device is one of the authorized requesting party device or an unauthorized requesting party device based on the comparison of the device identifier of the requesting party device with the list of device identifiers that identify the at least one authorized requesting party device;

generate the second RF cell phone signal that is directed to the requesting party device when the requesting party device is determined to be the at least one authorized requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal includes the determined location of the seek and find RF device; and

generate the second RF cell phone signal that is directed to the at least one authorized requesting party device when the requesting party device is determined to be the unauthorized requesting party device, wherein the second RF cell phone signal indicates that the seek and find RF device received the request for location information from the unauthorized requesting party device, and wherein the request for location information is not provided to the unauthorized requesting party device.

18. The seek and find RF device of claim 17, further comprising:

a control interface communicatively coupled to the processor system and to a device controller that controls operation of a controlled device,

wherein the RF transceiver is configured to receive a third RF cell phone signal from the requesting party device that includes at least a device command instruction configured to control operation of the controlled device, and

wherein the processor system is further configured to generate a command signal that corresponds to the device command instruction received from the requesting party device; and

wherein the command signal generated by the processor system is communicated from the control interface to the device controller to control operation of the controlled device in accordance with the device command instruction received from the requesting party device.

19. The seek and find RF device of claim 17, wherein the processor system is further configured to:

generate a third RF cell phone signal that is transmitted to the authorized requesting party device that indicates that the seek and find RF device is being tampered with.