Satellite Aided Location Tracking with User Interface

• US 20120001753A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rich Battista
• Original Assignee: Rich Battista
• Inventors: Battista, Rich
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A satellite aided location tracking and data services with user interface. A graphical user interface is provided that enables users to monitor the status of movable assets. Detailed information in a position history enables the user to obtain status information (e.g., starts and stops) at each position report. This status information promotes visibility into the journey of each movable asset.

Claims

1. A location tracking method in an operation center that is remote from a movable asset, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables definition of a perimeter associated with a destination location;

receiving, in a second user interface, second user input that specifies a configuration of an arrival alert;

receiving, via a communication satellite, a no-motion position report from said movable asset, said no-motion position report being transmitted by said movable asset when it is determined by said movable asset that said movable asset has achieved a stopped condition, wherein said determination is based on tracking transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state;

determining, based on location information contained in said no-motion position report, whether said stopped condition occurs inside said perimeter; and

sending a notification message to a user when it is determined that said stopped condition occurs inside said perimeter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user input defines a circular perimeter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user input defines a polygon shaped perimeter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said stopped condition is based on a determination that said movable asset has not moved for a period of time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said stopped condition is based on a determination that said movable asset has not moved for a percentage of a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is sent via email.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is sent via telephone.

8. A location tracking method using a graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables an identification of a movable asset; and

displaying a position history of said movable asset, said position history including a plurality of positions of said movable asset, wherein each of said plurality of positions has an associated indication of whether said movable asset is moving or stopped, wherein said associated indication is based on tracking, by said movable asset, of transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said position history includes a listing of points on a map.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said map display also includes an outline of a perimeter.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said position history includes a table listing, wherein rows of said table are associated with a numbering of points on said map.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said table has a status column that indicates whether said movable asset is moving or stopped.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said table has a column that indicates an occurrence of a sensor event.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said table has a column that indicates a time.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving second user input that enables an identification of a time period of said position history.

16. A location tracking method using a graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving, in a first user interface, first user input that enables an identification of a movable asset; and

displaying a position history of said movable asset, said position history including a listing of a plurality of positions from an origin location to a destination location, wherein at least a part of the intermediate positions in said listing includes a status of whether said movable asset has started or stopped, wherein said started or stopped status represents a result of tracking multiple transitions between a moving state and a non-moving state in a time period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said intermediate positions having a status of started or stopped has an associated time that said movable asset has started or stopped.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said intermediate positions having a status of started or stopped has an associated time that a report was sent by a mobile terminal on said movable asset.