Location requests by a network device

• US 20040080412A1
• Filed: 10/26/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Maguire, Gerald, Smith, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080412A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system includes a network device, and a locator for determining location of the network device. The network device includes a network interface for communication with the locator, and a motion sensor and controller for detecting motion of the network device. The controller sends a location request to the locator when motion of the network device has been detected.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network device; and

a locator for determining location of the network device;

the network device including a network interface for communication with the locator, and a motion sensor and controller for detecting motion of the network device, the controller sending a location request to the locator when motion of the network device has been detected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network device is a cell phone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator sends an updated location to the device in response to the request.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the device receives the updated location from the locator and processes the updated location.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the device uses a location-aware application to process the location.

7. A network device comprising:

a motion sensor; and

a controller;

the motion sensor and the controller cooperating to detect motion of the network device, the controller generating a location request when motion of the network device has been detected.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the network device is a cell phone.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a network interface, the controller sending the location request to the network interface when motion of the network device has been detected.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the controller receives the updated location from the network interface and processes the updated location.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the controller uses a location-aware application to process the location.

13. The device of claim 7, further comprising an on-board location device, the controller requesting location information from the location device when motion of the network device has been detected.

14. A method of updating location of a network device, the method comprising:

detecting when motion of the device as occurred; and

sending a request for location of the device only when motion has been detected.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a wireless network interface is used to send the location request and receive a location in response to the request.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising processing the location received in response to the request.

17. The method system of claim 16, wherein the location is processed with a location-aware application.