Wireless virtual campus escort system

• US 7,149,533 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mark D. Laird, Michael Glier
• Inventors: Laird, Mark D., Glier, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/956,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455410-411, 455/414.1, 455/421, 455/422.1, 4554561-4566, 455/457, 455/418, 455/455, 455/427, 455/461, 455/550.1, 455/569.2, 455/432.3, 455/67.11, 455/566, 455560-561, 455/556.2, 455/412.2, 340988-994, 340/995.17, 3409952-99521, 340/995.23, 340/995.24, 340/995.25, 340/995.1, 340/995.19, 340/426.13, 340/825.36, 709217-219, 701200-211, 701217-219, 701 23- 26, 379 38- 39, 379/45, 342/357.12, 342/257.06, 342/357.02
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A user selects a route between a starting point and a destination. A mobile handset monitors the user'"'"'s progress along the route by monitoring the location and movement of the handset and, optionally, sensor data, and by comparing this information to rules that define permitted or prohibited locations or movements or threshold sensor values. The handset uses one or more positioning systems, such as GPS, to ascertain its location. A server provides the handset with information to correct errors in the location information. If a rule fires, possibly indicating that the user is in danger, the handset attempts to ascertain the user'"'"'s wellbeing, warns the user to return to the prescribed route and begins sending the handset'"'"'s location to a server, which displays the information to a dispatcher who dispatches safety or security personnel to the user'"'"'s location. The handset and servers communicate via any available wireless channel(s).

Claims

1. A wireless handset for use with a server, the wireless handset comprising:

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the wireless handset; and

an application program configured to;

receive route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time and trigger generation of an alarm at said server if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

2. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to receive signals from at least one satellite and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the satellite signals.

3. The wireless handset of claim 2, wherein the handset is configured to receive location correction information and the positioning system is configured use the location correction information in conjunction with the satellite signals to ascertain the location of the handset.

4. The wireless handset of claim 3, wherein the handset is configured to receive the location correction information over at least one of a plurality of channels.

5. The wireless handset of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel provided by a wireless telephone system, a wireless local area network and a signal from a satellite.

6. The wireless handset of claim 1, where in the handset is configured to receive location information from the server and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the positioning information.

7. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to receive location information from a wireless telephone system and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the positioning information.

8. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route by sending a message to the server over at least one of a plurality of channels.

9. The wireless handset of claim 8, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel of a wireless telephone system and a wireless local area network.

10. The wireless handset of claim 9, wherein the plurality of channels further comprises a wireless link through another wireless handset.

11. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein:

the route information describing the prescribed route includes information about a plurality of geographic boundaries; and

the determination of if the handset is within the prescribed route is based on a location of the handset relative to at least some of the geographic boundaries.

12. The wireless handset of claim 11, wherein the geographic boundaries define a plurality of route segments.

13. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is farther operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

14. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route.

15. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

16. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route.

17. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein said signal is operative to trigger the generation of said alarm in said handset.

18. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein said handset is operative to communicate said signal to said server to trigger the generation of said alarm at said server.

19. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein said signal comprises a data message.

20. A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas; and

a wireless handset comprising;

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset; and

an application program operable to;

receive the route information from the server;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time,

wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

21. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to:

receive a notification from the handset if the handset rails to follow the prescribed route; and

display information about the prescribed route.

22. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to:

receive a notification from the handset if the handset fails to arrive within the one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time; and

display information about the prescribed route.

23. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to;

receive location correction information from a satellite; and

provide the location correction information to the handset.

24. The wireless security escort system of claim 23, wherein the server is operative to provide the location correction information over a wireless local area network.

25. The wireless security escort system of claim 23, wherein the server is operative to also provide the location correction information over a data channel of a wireless telephone system.

26. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to ascertain a location of the handset based on information about messages carried by a wireless local area network to or from the handset.

27. The wireless security escort system of claim 26, wherein the server is operative to ascertain the location of the handset based on information about messages carried by a wireless local area network to or from the handset and on information about the location of the handset from a wireless telephone system.

28. The wireless security escort system of claim 27, wherein:

the server comprises a web server operative to accept a request to configure a prescribed route; and

the server is operative to send information describing the prescribed route to the handset in response to receiving the request to configure the prescribed route.

29. The wireless security escort system of claim 28, wherein the server is operable to send the information describing the prescribed route via at least one of a plurality of channels.

30. The wireless security escort system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel provided by a wireless telephone system and a wireless local area network.

31. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to display information about the prescribed route if the server does not receive a message from the handset for a predetermined amount of time.

32. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset.

33. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset.

34. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset.

35. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset.

36. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

37. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route.

38. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

39. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route.

40. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the route information provided by the server includes a plurality of overlapping route segments.

41. The wireless security escort system of claim 40, wherein:

the route information provided by the server includes at least one prohibited area; and

the application program in the handset is further operable to notify the server if the handset enters one of the at least one prohibited area.

42. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a GIS database.

43. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless telephone connections available to the handset at a plurality of locations along the route.

44. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless connections, over which the application program could notify the server, at a plurality of locations along the route.

45. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless navigation signals at a plurality of locations along the route.

46. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on real-time data available to the server.

47. A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and

a wireless handset comprising;

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset; and

an application program operable to;

receive the route information from the server;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time,

wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas to the handset, and

wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas.

48. A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and

a wireless handset comprising;

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset; and

an application program operable to;

receive the route information from the server;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time,

wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas to the handset, and

wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas.

49. A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and

a wireless handset comprising;

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset; and

an application program operable to;

receive the route information from the server;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times;

notify the server when the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time; and

wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas.

50. A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and

a wireless handset comprising;

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset; and

an application program operable to;

receive the route information from the server;

use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; and

notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time,

wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information about the quality of a wireless connection, over which the application program could notify the server, and

wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas.

51. The wireless security escort system of claim 50, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless connections, over which the application program could notify the server, at a plurality of locations along the route.