Apparatus and method for tracking and communicating with a mobile radio unit

• US 6,771,969 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chinoy, Sharon, LeBlanc, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/610,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/428, 455/457, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 342/357.1, 342/557, 701/207
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method of the present invention establishes a communication link with at least one mobile radio unit as a mobile target by determining the location of the at least one mobile radio unit and displaying on a computer display an object identifier corresponding to the mobile radio unit. A user selects the object identifier and in response to the user selection, establishes one of at least a data or voice communication link with the mobile radio unit. A plurality object identifier corresponding to mobile radio units as different mobile assets are displayed and the object identifier for a displayed mobile radio unit in question is user selected as a mobile target to establish one of at least a data or voice communication link with the mobile radio unit.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a communication link with a mobile radio unit comprising the steps of:

determining the location of at least one mobile radio unit;

selecting a desired screen format for a computer display as either a geographical, graphical or text display;

displaying on the computer display an object identifier indicative of the mobile radio unit as either the geographical, graphical or text display as selected by the user; and

user selecting the object identifier and in response to the user selection, establishing one of at least a data or voice least cost route communication link with the mobile radio unit.

2. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of storing least cost routing data within a least cost routing database and accessing the database for determining a least cost route of the communication link.

3. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of storing data relating to the location of the mobile radio unit within a database while also updating periodically within the database any changes reflective of a change in location of the mobile radio unit.

4. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of assigning a unique identification code to the mobile radio unit for accessing from the database any data about the mobile radio unit, including location data of the mobile radio unit.

5. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of displaying the geographic location of the mobile radio unit on the computer display in longitude and latitude coordinates.

6. A method of establishing a communication link with at least one mobile radio unit comprising the steps of:

determining the location of a mobile radio unit;

storing data relating to the location of the mobile radio unit within a database while also updating periodically within the database any changes to the data reflective of a change in location of the mobile radio unit;

assigning a unique object identification code to the mobile radio unit for accessing from the database any data about the mobile radio unit, including the location data stored within the database;

displaying on a computer display an object indentifier corresponding to the mobile radio unit, wherein the object identifier is linked to the unique object identification code for accessing from the database the stored data about the mobile radio unit and location data of the mobile radio unit;

user selecting an object identifier and displaying a target properties box having a display of stored data from the database that identifies specific data about the mobile radio unit as retrieved from the database to aid in determining specific applications for the mobile radio unit as a mobile asset; and

selecting the object identifier through the user interface and in response to the object identifier selection, establishing one of at least a data or voice communication link with the mobile radio unit.

7. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of displaying the object identifier as a user selectable icon on a graphical user interface.

8. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of displaying the object identifier as user selectable text on a user interface.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the data about the mobile radio unit stored within the database further comprises information relating to communication parameters of the communication link that can be established with the mobile radio unit.

10. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of displaying the geographic location of the mobile radio unit as an object identifier on the computer display in longitude and latitude coordinates.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of determining the location of the mobile radio unit further comprises the step of receiving a distress signal from the mobile radio unit.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the object identifier further comprises a geographic region displayed on a geographic display.

13. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of dialing a telephone number to establish a communication link.

14. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of recording any data or voice communications that are established to the mobile radio unit.

15. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of determining the location of the mobile radio unit by the use of direction finding sensors.

20. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the step of displaying the object identifier as a user selectable icon on a graphical user interface.

16. A method of establishing a communication link with a mobile radio unit comprising the steps of:

determining the location of the mobile radio unit within a mobile network by the use of direction finding sensors;

storing data relating to the location of the mobile radio unit within a database while also updating periodically within the database any changes to the data reflective of a change in location of the mobile radio unit;

storing least cost routing data in a database for establishing a least cost networked communication link with the mobile radio unit from a controller;

assigning a unique object identification code to the mobile radio unit for accessing from the database the data about the mobile radio unit, including the location data stored within the database;

displaying on a computer display an object indentifier corresponding to the mobile radio unit, wherein said object identifier is linked to the unique object identification code for accessing from the database the stored data about the mobile radio unit and location data of the mobile radio unit;

user selecting the object identifier through the user interface and in response to the object identifier selection, determining a least cost communication route to the mobile radio unit; and

establishing one of at least a data or voice networked communication link with the mobile radio unit based on the least cost communication route determination.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said least cost communication route is determined by accessing the least cost routing database containing costs of communication routes between the user selected mobile radio unit and controller, and calculating a least cost route.

18. A method according to claim 17, and wherein the step of establishing one of at least a data or voice networked communication link comprises the step of merging a plurality of controller to target communication routes into a least cost communication route.

19. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of updating the least cost routing database at predetermined time intervals.

21. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of displaying the object identifier as user selectable text on a user interface.

22. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of displaying the geographic location of the mobile radio unit s an object identifier on the computer display in latitude and longitude coordinates.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein the data about the mobile radio unit stored within the database further comprises information relating to communication parameters of the communication link that can be established with the mobile radio unit.

24. A method according to claim 16, wherein the step of determining the location of the mobile radio unit further comprises the step of receiving a distress signal from the mobile radio unit.

25. A method according to claim 16, wherein the object identifier further comprises a geographic region displayed on a geographic display.

26. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of dialing a telephone number to establish a communication link.

27. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of recording any data or voice communications that are established to the mobile radio unit.

28. A method according to claim 16, and further comprising the step of determining the location of the mobile radio unit by the use of direction finding sensors.

29. An apparatus for establishing a communication link with a mobile radio unit comprising:

a controller for receiving location determining signals and determining the location of a mobile radio unit;

a computer display associated with the controller for displaying an object identifier indicative of the mobile radio unit, wherein said controller is operative for displaying a desired screen format of either a geographical, graphical or text display based on a user selection of the desired display; and

a transceiver connected to the controller, wherein upon user selection of the object identifier, at least one of a data or a voice least cost route communication link is established with the mobile radio unit.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said object identifier displayed on said computer display identifies the geographic location of the mobile radio unit in latitude and longitude coordinates.

31. An apparatus according to claim 29, and further comprising a least cost routing database for storing least cost routing data.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, and further comprising a database associated with said controller for storing data relating to the location of the mobile radio unit, and a unique object identification code assigned to the mobile radio unit, including the location data stored within the database.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said unique object identification code is linked to said object identifier for allowing user selection of the object identifier and selectively accessing the data stored within the database about the mobile radio unit.

34. An apparatus for tracking and communicating with a mobile radio unit comprising:

a controller for receiving location determining signals and determining the location of a mobile radio unit;

a database connected to the controller for storing data relating to the mobile radio unit, including the location of the mobile radio unit, said controller assigning a unique object identification code to the mobile radio unit for accessing by the controller the database and retrieving any stored data about the mobile radio unit;

a computer display associated with the controller for displaying an object identifier corresponding to the mobile radio unit, wherein said object identifier is linked to the unique object identification code, wherein said object identifier can be user selected to display stored data in a target properties box that identifies specific data about the mobile radio unit as retrieved from the database to aid in determining specific applications for the mobile radio unit as a mobile asset; and

a transceiver connected to the controller, wherein upon user selection of the object identifier, at least one of a data or a voice communication link is established with the mobile radio unit.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said object identifier is displayed as a user selectable icon on a graphical user interface.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said object identifier is displayed as user selectable text.

37. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the data about the mobile radio unit stored within the database further comprises information relating to communication parameters of the communications link that can be established with the mobile radio unit.

38. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said object identifier further comprises a geographic region displayed on said computer display.

39. An apparatus according to claim 34, and further comprising a recorder for recording any data or voice communications that are established to the mobile radio unit.

40. An apparatus for tracking and communicating with a mobile radio unit comprising:

a controller for receiving location determining signals and determining the location of a mobile radio unit;

a database connected to the controller for storing data relating to the mobile radio unit, including the location of the mobile radio unit, said controller assigning a unique object identification code to the mobile radio unit for accessing by the controller the database and retrieving any stored data about the mobile radio unit;

a least cost routing database connected to the controller for storing least cost routing data for establishing a least cost networked communication link with the mobile radio unit;

a computer display associated with the controller for displaying an object identifier corresponding to the mobile radio unit, wherein said object identifier is linked to the unique object identification code; and

a transceiver connected to the controller, wherein upon user selection of the object identifier, at least one of a data or a voice communication link is established with the mobile radio unit.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said object identifier is displayed as a user selectable icon on a graphical user interface.

42. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said object identifier is displayed as user selectable text.

43. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the data about the mobile radio unit stored within the database further comprises information relating to communication parameters of the communications link that can be established with the mobile radio unit.

44. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said object identifier further comprises a geographic region displayed on said computer display.

45. An apparatus according to claim 40, and further comprising a recorder for recording any data or voice communications that are established to the mobile radio unit.