PERSONAL LOCATOR DEVICE

• US 20120050101A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James D. Whiteman
• Original Assignee: James D. Whiteman
• Inventors: Whiteman, James D.
• Application Number:
  US13/219,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks

Abstract

Some embodiments may relate to a location monitoring system and/or method. Embodiments may include a plurality of locator units, each adapted to be worn by a living subject. The locator units may be adapted to communicate with a host computer through the Internet, and/or receive location data signals from a plurality of location signal sources including one or more of a Global Positioning System satellite signal, a Global Navigation Satellite System signal, a broadcast television signal, a broadcast radio signal, a radar signal, a cellular telephone signal, and/or a wireless networking signal. A system embodiment of the invention may include a means for signaling a particular locator unit to search for location signals. A host may be adapted to receive location data from each of the plurality of locator units and to relay the location data through the Internet to other Internet-enabled devices.

Claims

1. A location monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of locator units, each adapted to be worn by a living subject, and adapted to be in electronic data networking communication with each other on an ad-hoc basis, each locator unit being adapted to communicate with a host computer through the Internet, and each locator unit being adapted to receive location data signals from a plurality of location signal sources including one or more of a Global Positioning System satellite signal, a Global Navigation Satellite System signal, a broadcast television signal, a broadcast radio signal, a radar signal, a cellular telephone signal, and/or a wireless networking signal;

a system activation means for signaling a particular locator unit of the plurality of locator units to search for location signals, calculate location from said signals, and report a location back to the host computer; and

the host computer being adapted to receive location data from each of the plurality of locator units and to relay the location data through the Internet to other Internet-enabled devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locator units defines a form selected from one or more of a wrist watch, a lanyard, a necklace, a bracelet, an ankle bracelet, a collar, a tag, or a wearable article.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprise at least one antenna adapted to send and/or receive one or more wireless signals including a Global Positioning System satellite signal, a Global Navigation Satellite System signal, a broadcast television signal, a broadcast radio signal, a radar signal, a cellular telephone signal, or a wireless networking signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprise an engine selected from one or more of a Global Positioning System engine or a broadcast signal engine, wherein the engine is adapted to receive one or more location signals from the antenna and process the one or more location signals according to predefined processing steps.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the Global Positioning System engine and/or the broadcast signal engine are adapted to assess location signal quality according to predefined criteria and either accept or reject the location signal accordingly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprise a digital clock in electronic communication with one or more of the Global Positioning System engine or the broadcast signal engine, wherein the Global Positioning System engine and/or the broadcast signal engine are adapted to use an output of the digital clock to determine a travel time of an accepted location signal from a location signal source to the locator unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprises a microprocessor in electronic data communication with one or more of the Global Positioning System engine or the broadcast signal engine and adapted to perform calculations on data received from the Global Positioning System engine or the broadcast signal engine, wherein the calculations include calculating a position from location signals.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprises a volatile memory in data communication with the microprocessor and adapted to temporarily store predetermined data received from the microprocessor, wherein the data includes a position communicated from the microprocessor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of locator units further comprises a data link selected from one or more of a radio frequency data link or a cellular data link, wherein the one or more data links are adapted to communicate electronically with the remote host computer and to wirelessly transmit position data from the locator unit to the remote host computer through the Internet.

10. A process for monitoring the location of a living subject comprising the steps of:

fixing a locator unit to the living subject;

providing a means for a host computer to receive an activation request from a remote location;

the host computer identifying a particular locator unit to be activated;

the host computer sending a wake-up signal to the identified locator unit;

the locator unit searching for transmitting location signal sources and identifying location signals emitted therefrom;

the locator unit determining whether identified location signals are acceptable, and accepting or rejecting location signals accordingly;

calculating a position using one or more accepted location signals; and

the host computer transmitting the calculated position to one or more network enabled devices.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of providing a means for receiving an activation request includes providing a means for receiving an SMS message, an email, a telephone call, or manual entry of a request by a telephone operator.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of sending a wake-up signal includes routing the signal through one or more of the Internet, a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network, or an ad-hoc network.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of determining whether identified location signals are acceptable includes evaluating one or more of signal strength, noise level, or signal-to-noise ratio.

14. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of calculating a position includes performing the calculation on the locator unit, or on the host computer.

15. The process of claim 11 further comprising the step of the locator unit communicating the calculated position to the host computer.

16. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the calculated position to one or more network enabled devices further comprises transmitting one or more of cartographic coordinates, or a map.

17. A location monitoring system, comprising:

a means for receiving a system activation message, generating a system activation signal in response to receiving the system activation message and communicating the system activation signal to a locator unit, wherein the system activation signal causes the locator unit to become active;

the locator unit being adapted to be worn by a living subject, the unit comprising one or more of a watch, a lanyard, a necklace, an ankle bracelet, a bracelet, a collar, a tag, or a wearable article;

a means for receiving a location signal from at least one location signal source selected from one or more of a Global Positioning System satellite signal, a Global Navigation Satellite System signal, a broadcast television signal, a cellular telephone signal, a radio signal, or a wireless networking signal;

a means for assessing the quality of location signals received, and accepting or rejecting location signals according to predefined criteria;

a means for calculating a position according to one or more accepted location signals;

a means for communicating the position to a host computer;

a means for communicating the position from the host computer to a network enabled device; and

a means for directing one or more individuals to the position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for receiving a system activation message comprises a means for receiving an SMS message, an email, a telephone call, or manual entry of a request by a telephone operator.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for calculating a position can be located on a locator unit or on a remote host computer.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for communicating the position to a host computer includes one or more of a means for connecting to the Internet, linking to a cellular telephone network, linking to a wireless local area network, or linking to an ad-hoc network.