System for local monitoring

• US 7,043,365 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: XRS Corporation (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: GeoLogic Solutions, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morton, James W., Inbar, Iris, Brown, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US11/141,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/207, 701/213, 455/456, 455/457, 342/357.07, 340/426.1, 340/426.11, 340/426.12, 340/426.14, 340/426.15, 340/426.16, 340/426.19, 180/287
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates a method of monitoring. Position information related to a notification point is received. A mobile client determines a position of the mobile client. The position is compared with an area encompassing the mobile client. A message is transmitted in response to the position being within the area encompassing the notification point.

Claims

1. A method of monitoting, comprising:

receiving position information related to a notification point;

determining a position of a mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said position with an area encompassing said notification point;

transmitting a message in response to said position being within said area encompassing said notification point; and

setting a state of an entrance flag by said client to a value representing that said entrance flag is set in response to said position being within said area encompassing said notification point.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said second position with a second area encompassing said notification point; and

transmitting another message in response to said second position being outside of said second area encompassing said notification point and said state of said flag being set.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a subsequent position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said subsequent position with said area encompassing said notification point;

determining a status of a timer; and

transmitting another message in response to said subsequent position being within said area encompassing said notification point and said status of said timer being expired.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a transmit-message frequency; and

transmitting additional messages at the transmit-message frequency while said mobile client is within said area encompassing said notification point.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing said position of said client with a second area encompassing said selected notification point in response to said position of said client being within said first area encompassing said selected notification point;

determining a state of a flag in response to said position of said client being within said second area encompassing said selected notification point; and

transmitting said message in response to said state of said flag having a value representing that said flag is not set.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a timer in response to said position being within said area encompassing said notification point.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing said position of said client with a second area encompassing said selected notification point in response to said position of said client being within said first area encompassing said selected notification point;

determining a state of a flag associated with said selected notification point in response to said position of said client being within said second area encompassing said selected notification point;

determining a status of a timer in response to said state of said flag having a value representing that said flag is set; and

transmitting a second message in response to said status of said timer being expired.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing said position of said client with a second area encompassing said selected notification point in response to said position of said client being within said first area encompassing said selected notification point;

determining a state of a flag associated with said selected notification point in response to said position of said client being within said second area encompassing said selected notification point;

determining a status of a timer in response to said state of said flag having a value representing that said flag is set; and

determining a subsequent position of said client in response to said status of said timer being un-expired.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said second position with a second area encompassing said notification point; and

transmitting another message in response to said second position being outside of said second area encompassing said notification point.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a subsequent position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

determining a status of a timer; and

transmitting another message in response to said status of said timer being expired.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said another message indicates said subsequent position of said client.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a timer;

determining a second position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said second position with said area; and

transmitting another message in response to said second position being outside of said area, said another message indicating the length of time said client spent within said area.

13. A method of monitoring, comprising:

receiving position information related to a notification point;

determining a position of a mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said position with an area encompassing said notification point;

responsive to said position being within said area encompassing said notification point, initiating a timer and transmitting a message;

determining a subsequent position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said subsequent position with said area encompassing said notification point;

determining a status of said timer; and

transmitting another message in response to said subsequent position being within said area encompassing said notification point and said status of said timer being expired.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising receiving a length of time for said timer to expire along with said notification point.

15. A method of locally monitoring the mobile position of a mobile client relative to a stationary circle encompassing a waypoint, comprising:

prior to said mobile client entering said stationary circle, receiving said circle at said client;

repeatedly determining said position of said client by said client prior to said client entering said circle;

repeatedly comparing said position of said client relative to said stationary circle prior to said client entering said circle;

determining one position of said client by said client after said client has entered said circle; and

transmitting a message in response to said client having entered said circle.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining, at regular intervals, subsequent positions of said client by said client while said client is within said circle; and

transmitting, at regular intervals, subsequent messages while said client is within said circle; and

transmitting one other message in response to said client no longer being within said circle.

17. A method of locally monitoring the mobile position of a mobile client relative to a stationary area encompassing a waypoint, comprising:

prior to said mobile client entering said stationary area, receiving said area at said client;

determining said position of said client by said client prior to said client entering said area;

comparing said position of said client relative to said stationary area prior to said client entering said area;

determining said position of said client by said client after said client has entered said area; and

transmitting a message in response to said client having entered said area.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining, at regular intervals, subsequent positions of said client by said client while said client is within said area; and

transmitting, at regular intervals, subsequent messages while said client is within said area; and

transmitting another message in response to said client no longer being within said area.

19. A method of monitoring, comprising:

receiving position information related to a notification point;

determining a position of a mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said position with an area encompassing said notification point;

in response to said position being within said area encompassing said notification point, transmitting a message and initiating a timer;

determining a second position of said mobile client by said mobile client;

comparing said second position with said area; and

transmitting another message in response to said second position being outside of said area, said another message indicating the length of time said client spent within said area.

20. A method of monitoring, comprising:

receiving position information related to a notification point;

determining a position of a mobile client by said client;

comparing said position with an area encompassing said notification point; and

said client transmitting a message and setting an entrance flag in response to said position being within said area.