Position and proximity detection systems and methods

• US 10,109,174 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Ernest Troxler
• Original Assignee: Robert Ernest Troxler
• Inventors: Troxler, Robert Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T
• Application Number:
  US15/493,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

Position and proximity detection systems and methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a computing device may include a processor configured to determine a position coordinate of a first movable device. Further, the processor is configured to determine whether the position coordinate of the first movable device is a predetermined distance from a second movable device. The processor is also configured to signal the second movable device in response to determining that the position coordinate of the first movable device is a predetermined distance from a second movable device.

Claims

1. A method for determining a geofence, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more mobile devices, an indication to initiate data collection and determine a first location, wherein the mobile device travels a path for a desired boundary of the geofence;

determining, by one or more computer processors, the first location based, at least in part, on movement mobile device in at least one dimension along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence;

determining, by one or more processors, a second location based, at least in part, on movement of the mobile device in the at least one dimension along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence; and

connecting, by one or more processors, sequentially each of a set of sequentially determined locations along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence to determine the geofence, wherein the set of sequentially determined locations includes at least the first location and the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting, by one or more processors, sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence further comprises:

receiving, by one or more processors, an indication that the set of sequentially determined locations for creating the geofence is complete; and

connecting, by one or more processors, the first location and a last location of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting, by one or more processors, sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence further comprises:

determining, by one or more processors, the geofence is complete when connecting sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations creates an enclosed area for the geofence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations are determined by at least one of:

a global positioning system, an radio frequency identification system, a cellular positioning system, an assisted GPS positioning system, a Bluetooth Positioning system, a Beacon, a RF triangulation system, an indoor positioning system and a hybrid positioning system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on at least one of a time duration, a separation distance, and an angle after a previous location of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on a distance traveled by the mobile device after a previous location of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the distance traveled by the mobile device comprises one of a pre-set distance and a user selected distance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on a change of direction of a movement of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each sequentially determined location in the set of sequentially determined locations of the mobile device is determined by tracking a location of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting, by one or more processors, sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence occurs on one of the mobile device and a computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the geofence is a partial perimeter geofence.

12. A computer program product for determining a geofence, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable by a processor, the program instructions comprising instructions for;

receiving, on a mobile device, an indication to determine a first location, wherein the mobile device travels a path for a desired boundary of the geofence;

determining the first location based, at least in part, on movement of the mobile device in at least one dimension along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence;

determining a second location based, at least in part, on movement of the mobile device in at the at least one dimension along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence; and

connecting sequentially each of a set of sequentially determined locations along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence to determine the geofence, wherein the set of sequentially determined locations includes at least the first location and the second location.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein connecting, by one or more processors, sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence further comprises program instructions for:

receiving indication that the set of sequentially received locations for creating the geofence is complete; and

connecting the first location and a last location of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein connecting sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations to determine the geofence further comprises program instructions for:

determining the geofence is complete when connecting sequentially each of the set of sequentially determined locations creates an enclosed area for the geofence.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on at least one of a time duration, a separation distance, and an angle after a previously determined location of the set of sequentially determined locations.

16. A computer system for determining a geofence, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising instructions to perform a method comprising;

receiving, on a mobile device, an indication to determine a first location, wherein the mobile device travels a path for a desired boundary of the geofence;

determining the first location based, at least in part, on movement of the mobile device in at least one dimension along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence;

determining a second location based, at least in part, on movement of the mobile device in at least one dimensions along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence; and

connecting sequentially each of a set of sequentially determined locations along the path for the desired boundary of the geofence to determine the geofence, wherein the set of sequentially determined locations includes at least the first location and the second location.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on a distance traveled by the mobile device after a previous location of the set of sequentially determined locations.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein each of the set of sequentially determined locations is determined based on a change of direction of a movement of the mobile device.

19. The computer system of claim 16 where the geofence is a dynamic geofence and can change by at least one of a function of time, reprogramming, and as a predetermined equation.

20. The system of claim 16 where the geofence is applicable on land, sea, and air, and is defined in one, two or three dimensions.

21. A computer implemented method for a geo-fence, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of data samples;

selecting, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a zone;

configuring a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample; and

adjusting an operational characteristic of an autonomous craft while the autonomous craft is in the geographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the autonomous craft and the geo-fence.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21 where the geofence is a dynamic geofence.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 21 where the zone is a zone of exclusion, a corridor for allowable travel, a safe zone, a warning zone.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 21 where the craft is one of a ship, aircraft, drone.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a flying height of the drone.

26. The computer implemented method of claim 25, wherein the craft is autonomously directed to a safe zone.

27. A system for configuring geo-fences, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of data samples;

a processor configured to;

select, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a zone;

configure a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample; and

adjust an operational characteristic of a craft while the craft is in the geographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the craft and the geo-fence.

28. The system of claim 27 where the craft is one of an aircraft, a ship, an autonomous aircraft, a drone, an autonomous ship, a vehicle, and an autonomous vehicle.

29. The system of claim 27 where the geofence is a dynamic geofence.

30. The system of claim 27 where the zone is a zone of exclusion, a corridor for allowable travel, a safe zone, a warning zone.

31. The system of claim 27 where the craft is one of a ship, aircraft, drone.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a flying height or direction of the drone.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the craft is autonomously directed to a safe zone.