Apparatus and method for measuring and recording movement of a mobile station using a mobile network

• US 6,611,788 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hussa, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHAT, ADITYA S
• Application Number:
  US09/573,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160, 340/323, 370/17
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/10 specially constructed to fit in the corner of a room
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308

Abstract

An apparatus and method for measuring movement of a Mobile Station held by a user and for measuring the elapsed time of such movement. The invention is particularly suited for following the movements of the athlete as the athlete trains and/or competes, timing the athlete'"'"'s movements and recording the time elapsed and the distance traveled by the athlete.

Claims

1. A service in a communication network for measuring at least one of time and distance for tracking and recording movements of a wireless terminal, the communication network having a service network and a wireless terminal in communication with the service network, said service comprising:

a location system operatively connected to the service network for determining a location of the wireless terminal;

distance calculating means connected with said service network for calculating a distance traveled by the wireless terminal between a plurality of determined locations of the wireless terminal from a start time to a stop time, said distance calculating means being responsive to commands communicated from said wireless terminal to said distance calculating means of said service network;

a timer operatively connected to the service network for measuring an elapsed time between the start time and the stop time; and

a database operatively connected to said location system and said timer for recording data corresponding to the elapsed time measured by said timer and the distance traveled by the wireless terminal as calculated by said distance calculating means.

2. The service of claim 1, further comprising identity input means for inputting an identity of a user moving the wireless terminal, the identity input means being operatively connected to the database so that the recorded data in said database is associated with the user.

3. The service of claim 1, further comprising means for selecting one of a manually activated start and stop times and automatically activated start and stop times.

4. The service of claim 3, wherein said start and stop times are place dependent.

5. The service of claim 4, wherein said stop time is dependent on a number of laps the wireless terminal travels around a track.

6. The service of claim 3, wherein said stop time is traveled distance dependent.

7. The service of claim 1, wherein said service network comprises said database.

8. The service of claim 1, wherein said database is located at a remote location and is connectable to the service network via an internet connection.

9. The service of claim 1, wherein said database is located in the wireless terminal or in another wireless terminal.

10. The service of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting real time display information to said wireless terminal from said service network between the start time and the stop time.

11. The service of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting periodic display information to the wireless terminal from said service network between the start time and the stop time.

12. The service of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting place dependent display information to the wireless terminal from said service network between the start time and the stop time.

13. The service of claim 1, wherein said location system comprises a counter for counting a number of laps the wireless terminal has traveled around a track.

14. The service of claim 13, further comprising a display arranged remote from the wireless terminal for displaying at least the results of the last lap completed by the wireless terminal.

15. The service of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting, from the location system, the current value of the number of laps traveled to the wireless terminal.

16. The service of claim 1, wherein said communication network further comprises a wireless network connected to said service network for facilitating communication between the wireless terminal and said service network, said wireless network comprises a pair of base transceiver stations and said location system comprises one of a time of arrival positioning mechanism which measures the time of arrival of a signal transmitted from the wireless terminal to at least three measuring units, an observed time difference positioning mechanism which measures a time difference between arrival of a signal frog the pair of base transmission stations, and a global positioning assisted positioning mechanism.

17. A method for monitoring at least one of a distance and time traveled by a wireless terminal of a user using a communication system having a service network and a wireless terminal for communicating with the service network, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining, by service equipment in the service network, whether a start criteria are met after the service equipment is activated in response to an activation signal initiated by the wireless terminal;

(b) measuring a distance traveled and a time elapsed by the user by monitoring movement of the wireless terminal held by the user with a location system connected in the service network when it is determined in said step (a) that the start criteria are met;

(c) determining, by the service equipment, whether a stop criteria are met;

(d) stopping measurement of the distance traveled and the time elapsed when it is determined in said step (c) that the stop criteria are met; and

(e) recording the measured distance traveled and the measured time elapsed at the time that the stop criteria are met.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in said step (a) the start criteria are met when a start button is manually depressed, and in said step (c) the stop criteria are met when a stop button is manually depressed.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein in said step (a) the start criteria are met when the wireless terminal held by the user reaches a predetermined start location and in said step (c) the stop criteria are met when the wireless terminal reaches a predetermined stop location.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein in said step (c) the stop criteria are met when the wireless terminal has completed a predetermined number of laps around a track.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein in said step (a) the start criteria are met when a predetermined start time is reached and in said step (c) the stop criteria are met when a predetermined stop time is reached.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein in said step (c) the stop criteria are met when the wireless terminal has traveled a predetermined distance.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of transmitting the distance traveled and the elapsed time from the location system to the wireless terminal and displaying the distance traveled and the elapsed time on said wireless terminal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of displaying comprises continuously displaying the distance traveled and the time elapsed.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of displaying comprises periodically displaying the distance traveled and the elapsed time at periodic intervals.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of displaying comprises displaying the distance traveled and the elapsed time when the wireless terminal has reached predetermined locations.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (e) comprises recording the measured distance traveled and the measured time elapsed in a database in the service network.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (e) comprises recording the measured distance traveled and the measured time elapsed in a database in the wireless terminal.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein said step (e) comprises recording the measured distance traveled and the measured time elapsed in a database at a remote location and connectable to the core network via an internet connection.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein said user comprises an athlete so that said step (e) further comprises associating the measured distance and measured time with the athlete.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless terminal is associated with a vehicle so that said step (e) further comprises associating the measured distance and measured time with the vehicle.

32. A service for measuring at least one of a distance and time for tracking and recording movements of a wireless terminal around a continuous track, comprising:

a base transceiver station comprising an antenna arranged at a final area of the continuous track for detecting when the wireless terminal enters the final area of the continuous track;

a timer operatively connected with said base transceiver station for measuring an elapsed time between a start time and a stop time;

a counter operatively connected to said base transceiver station for counting the number of laps traveled by the wireless terminal and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance traveled by the wireless terminal based on the number of laps traveled; and

a database operatively connected to said base transceiver station for recording data corresponding to the elapsed time measured by said timer and distance traveled as calculated by said distance calculating means, wherein said timer and said counter are activated in response to commands received from the wireless terminal, the command being communicated to said timer and counter via said base transceiver station.

33. The service of claim 32, wherein said antenna comprises means for focusing a first narrow antenna beam at the final area of the track.

34. The service of claim 33, where said antenna further comprises means for focusing a second narrow antenna beam at another area of the track for measuring an intermediate time.

35. The service of claim 32, wherein said base transceiver station is dedicated to said track.

36. The service of claim 35, wherein said base transceiver station further comprises a user interface.

37. The service of claim 32, wherein said base transceiver station is in communication with a service network of a communication system.

38. The service of claim 37, wherein said base transceiver station further comprises a user interface.

39. The service of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of base transceiver stations arranged at lamp posts around the track.

40. The service of claim 39, wherein said plural base transceiver stations comprise means for transmitting signals over electric power cables connecting the lamp posts.

41. The service of claim 32, further comprising a wireless terminal dedicated to the service having means for communicating with said base transceiver station.

42. The service of claim 41, wherein said wireless terminal comprises a wristband.

46. The service of claim 32, wherein said base transceiver comprises means for transmitting display information to the wireless terminal during the measuring period between the start time and the stop time.

43. A wireless terminal for use with a service for measuring at least one of a time and distance for tracking and recording movements of the user equipment between a start time and distance for tracking and recording movements of the user equipment between a start time and a stop time, the service being arranged in a communication network having a service network, said wireless terminal comprising means for setting parameters for said measuring of said at least one of time and distance, said parameter including start measurement criteria, stop measurement criteria, display characteristics, and target equipment to which the measurement results may be transmitted and said wireless terminal further comprising means for activating the service by transmitting an activation signal to the service network.

44. The wireless terminal of claim 43, wherein said wireless terminal comprises a wireless phone.

45. The wireless terminal of claim 43, wherein said wireless terminal comprises a wireless application protocol device.

47. The wireless terminal of claim 43, further comprising means for receiving display formation including the at least one of time and distance measured by said service and means for displaying the display information during the measuring period between the start time and the stop time.