Location signaling for transport system

• US 20060208878A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nowlan, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0258 System arrangements wherein both parent and child units can emit and receive
• 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

Abstract

A system and method to provide location signaling for service, such as a request for transport from a child to his or her parent(s) to be picked up from school, for example. A dedicated communication device has location capabilities and a control to request service for the bearer. At least one monitoring communication device, such as one for each parent, is operable to receive a location with a request for service and acknowledge same. A secure domain manager can be used to; receive the location and request service instruction, deliver the location and request service instruction to the monitoring device(s), obtain an acknowledgment from one monitoring device, and send the acknowledgment to the other monitoring devices and the bearer'"'"'s communication device. Communication is only allowed between the bearer'"'"'s device and monitoring devices. The location of the communication device can be tracked, and navigation can be provided thereto.

Claims

1. A system to provide location signaling for service, comprising:

a wireless radio communication device having location capabilities, the radio communication device having a user interface with a control to transmit a request for service for the bearer of the radio communication device; and

at least one monitoring communication device, the monitoring device operable to receive a location with a request for service from the radio communication device and send an acknowledgment to the other monitoring communication devices and radio communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless radio communication device and the at least one monitoring device are registered in a secure domain, such that system communications can only occur between the wireless radio communication device and the at least one monitoring device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested service is for transport of the bearer of the radio communication device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein when the control of the user interface of the radio communication device is activated, a pre-recorded communication for the requested service is transmitted to the at least one monitoring device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is operable to query the radio communication device as to its location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one monitoring communication device is provided navigational information to the location of the radio communication device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the radio communication device is restricted to only being able to request service, provide its location, and to receive acknowledgment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the radio communication device is operable to inform the bearer of the device that an acknowledgment has been received identifying the one monitoring device that acknowledged the request for service.

9. A system to provide location signaling for transport, comprising:

a wireless radio communication device having location capabilities, the radio communication device having a user interface with a control to send a pre-recorded communication requesting transport for the bearer of the radio communication device;

at least one monitoring communication device, the monitoring device operable to receive a location with a request for transport and acknowledge same; and

a secure domain manager, wherein the wireless radio communication device and the at least one monitoring device are registered in a secure domain with the secure domain manager, the secure domain manager operable to;

receive a location and request for transport instruction from the radio communication device, deliver the location and request for transport instruction to the at least one monitoring communication device, obtain an acknowledgment from one of the monitoring communication devices, and notify the other monitoring communication devices and the radio communication device of the acknowledgment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the secure domain manager is operable to periodically query the radio communication device as to its location to track the radio communication device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one monitoring communication device is provided navigational information to the current location of the radio communication device, in accordance with the latest location query.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operation of the radio communication device is restricted to only being able to request transport, provide its location, and to receive acknowledgment.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface of the radio communication device is operable to inform the bearer of the device that an acknowledgment has been received identifying the one monitoring device that acknowledged the request for transport.

14. A method for providing location signaling for service, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless radio communication device having location capabilities and at least one monitoring communication device;

transmitting a location and request for service instruction from the radio communication device;

receiving the location and request service instruction by the at least one monitoring communication device; and

sending an acknowledgment from one of the monitoring communication devices to the other monitoring communication devices and the radio communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of registering the wireless radio communication device and the at least one monitoring device in a secure domain, such that the method is only operable between the wireless radio communication device and the at least one monitoring device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting a pre-recorded communication for the requested service.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of querying the radio communication device as to its location.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing navigational information to the location of the radio communication device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of restricting the operation of the radio communication device to only being able to request service, provide its location, and to receive acknowledgment.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of informing the bearer of the device that an acknowledgment has been received identifying the one monitoring device that acknowledged the request for service.