Self-contained selectively activated mobile object position reporting device with reduced power consumption and minimized wireless service fees.

• US 6,693,585 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aradiant
• Original Assignee: Aradiant
• Inventors: MacLeod, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US10/071,020
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.1, 342/457
• US Class Current: 342/357.55
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• 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

Abstract

A system for selectively reporting the position of a person, animal, vehicle, or other mobile object utilizes a low power remote tracking device with a one-way tone-only paging receiver, wireless telephone transceiver, and location-sensing device such as a GPS unit. The paging receiver responds to remotely initiated activation signals to selectively power-up the location-sensing device and transceiver. The location-sensing device determines position, whereupon the transceiver places a call to report the tracking device'"'"'s position. Position reports may be transmitted upon request, or repeatedly upon a predetermined schedule. The mobile tracking device may deactivate automatically, or in response to a further deactivation

Claims

1. A method for locating a mobile object, comprising operations of:

attaching a remote tracking device to the mobile object, the remote tracking device comprising a one-way tone-only paging receiver having a unique capcode, wireless telephone transceiver having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN), global positioning system (GPS) unit, and a controller;

from a requesting source, a tracking coordination facility receiving a request to locate the mobile object;

responsive to receiving the request, performing operations comprising;

the tracking coordination facility identifying destination information exclusively associated with the mobile object;

the tracking coordination facility utilizing the destination information to transmit an activation signal to the paging receiver of the remote tracking device attached to the requested mobile object;

responsive to the paging receiver receiving the activation signal, the paging receiver issuing a tone-only output to the controller, and in response, the controller activating the GPS unit to determine position and thereafter activating the transceiver to transmit a representation of the determined position to the tracking coordination facility;

the tracking coordination facility providing an output of the determined position to the requesting source.

2. The method of claim 1, the operation of receiving the request comprising receiving the request via at least one of the following:

telephone, Internet web site, e-mail, facsimile, hand delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, where the operation of providing an output of the position comprises outputting a representation of the determined position via at least one of the following:

telephone, Internet web site, e-mail, facsimile, hand delivery.

4. The method of claim 1,

the tracking coordination facility receiving a deactivation request;

responsive to receiving the deactivation request, transmitting a paging deactivation signal to the remote tracking device;

responsive to receiving the paging deactivation signal, the remote tracking device removing electrical power from circuitry comprising at least the GPS unit and the transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after transmitting the representation of the determined position, the remote tracking device automatically removing electrical power from circuitry including at least the GPS unit and the transceiver.

6. A method of operating a mobile object locating system, comprising operations of:

making arrangements for wireless communications service for multiple wireless telephone transceivers such that each has a nonconforming, transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);

making arrangements for receive-only tone-only paging service for multiple paging receivers such that each has a unique capcode;

distributing multiple remote tracking devices for use by customers, each remote tracking device including one of the paging receivers, one of the wireless telephone transceivers, a global positioning system (GPS) unit, and at least one controller;

assigning each remote tracking device to a mobile object and configuring a database cross-referencing different destination information for each remote tracking device with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;

responsive to receiving each request from a requesting source to locate a specified mobile object, performing operations comprising;

accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;

using the determined destination information to transmit an activation signal to paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object.

7. The method of claim 6,

further comprising operations including, from a requesting source, receiving a request to locate a specified mobile object;

the request being received by one or more of the following;

interaction with Internet web site, discussion with a live operator via telephone, interaction with a telephonic interactive voice response system, transmission by mail, transmission by facsimile, transmission by e-mail.

8. The method of claim 6, the operations further comprising:

receiving a location report from the remote tracking device;

issuing an output representative of the location report, the report being issued to the requesting source via one or more of the following;

interaction with Internet web site, discussion with a live operator via telephone, interaction with a telephonic interactive voice response system, transmission by mail, transmission by facsimile, transmission by e-mail.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising further operations of:

before selling a mobile tracking device, applying a registration code to one or more of the following;

product literature for the mobile tracking device, product packaging of the mobile tracking device, the mobile tracking device itself;

providing registration services to accept customer information including the registration code by communicating with purchasers of mobile tracking devices via one or more of the following;

Internet web server, telephone voice conversation, use of telephonic interactive voice response system, facsimile, manual delivery.

10. The method of claim 9, said registration services additionally including entering subscription contracts with customers for future on-demand pet locating services.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising entering subscription contracts with customers for future on-demand pet locating services.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising charging customers on a subscription basis for pet location services.

13. A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

a one-way tone-only paging receiver having a unique capcode;

a wireless telephone transceiver having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);

a position locating device;

at least one controller coupled to the receiver, transceiver and position locating device, configured to perform operations comprising;

responsive to the paging receiver receiving an activation signal, activating the position locating device to take a position reading;

activating the transceiver to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the position locating device comprising one of the following:

a GPS unit, a long range navigation (LORAN) unit, an inertial navigation unit, wireless network-based location unit.

15. A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

a case defining a compartment therein;

positioned inside the compartment, components comprising;

a one-way tone-only paging receiver having a unique capcode and being coupled to a first antenna;

a wireless telephone transceiver having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN) and being coupled to a second antenna;

a global positioning system (GPS) unit coupled to a third antenna;

at least one controller configured to perform operations comprising;

responsive to the paging receiver receiving an activation signal, activating the GPS unit to take a position reading;

activating the transceiver to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, where the case comprises a pet collar.

17. A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

pager means for receiving activation signals targeted at a unique capcode and issuing at least one tone only pager output;

wireless telephone transceiver means for transmitting and receiving wireless data, said transceiver means having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);

locating means for ascertaining position;

controller means for managing the pager means, transceiver means, and locating means by;

responsive to the pager means receiving an activation signal, activating the locating means to take a position reading;

activating the transceiver means to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

18. A tracking coordination facility for use in locating remote tracking devices each including a one-way tone-only paging receiver, wireless telephone transceiver, self-locating apparatus, and circuitry responsive to receipt of a activation signal by the paging receiver to transmit a location report via the transceiver, the tracking coordination facility comprising:

a database cross-referencing different destination information for each of multiple remote tracking devices with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;

a customer Interface utility including one or more of the following;

Internet web server, telephone voice line, telephonic interactive voice response system, facsimile machine, operator interface;

a tracking coordination facility manager programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving requests from a requesting source via the customer interface utility to locate a specified mobile object;

responsive to each request, performing operations comprising accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object, and utilizing the destination information to issue an activation signal to the paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object.

19. An automated tracking coordination facility:

a database cross-referencing different destination information for each of multiple remote tracking devices with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;

a customer interface utility;

a digital data processing machine coupled to the database and the customer interface utility, and programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving requests from a requesting source via the customer interface utility to locate a specified mobile object;

responsive to each request, automatically performing operations comprising;

accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;

utilizing the destination information to issue an activation signal to the paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;

receiving a location report from the assigned remote tracking device;

via the customer interface utility, issuing an output representative of the location report.