Method and system to monitor persons utilizing wireless media

• US 7,317,927 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WirelessWERX IP LLC (Pueblo Nuevo LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wirelesswerx International, Inc.
• Inventors: Staton, Houston, Ashley, James Jr., Mooney, Patrick, Ashley, James Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson; Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/158,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/445, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/550.1, 455/423, 455/424, 455/500, 455/517, 455/409, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/539, 701/13, 701/25, 701/23, 701/28
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A method and system of selectively communicating with a first portable device within pre-defined geographical zones is disclosed. The first portable device is associated with a geographical zone defined utilizing latitude and longitude attributes. Data representative of the geographical zone is then loaded on the first portable device. The first portable device includes a ground positioning unit receiver which allows the first portable device to receive positioning data and to determine its position in relation to the geographical zone. When the first portable device determines it is within the geographical zone, the first portable device enables communication between the first portable device and a second portable device.

Claims

1. A method of selectively communicating with a first portable device within pre-defined geographical zones, comprising:

defining a geographical zone utilizing latitude and longitude attributes;

loading data representative of the geographical zone to the first portable device, wherein the data representative of the geographical zone includes the latitude and longitude attributes mapped to corresponding pixels in a pixilated computer image of the geographical zone stored in the first portable device;

providing the first portable device with a ground positioning unit receiver, the ground positioning unit receiver permitting the first portable device to obtain geographical coordinates of the position of the first portable device;

configuring the first portable device to determine the location of the first portable device in relation to the pixilated computer image of the geographical zone by determining a relative position of the geographical coordinates and the pixel data representative of the geographical zone;

programming a microprocessor in the first portable device to determine the occurrence of an event related to a status of the portable device in relation to the geographical zone; and

permitting the microprocessor in the first portable device to transmit an event message indicating the occurrence of the event to a second portable device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting at least one of a plurality of devices to transmit a signal to the first portable device indicating the occurrence of the event;

and

permitting a microprocessor in the first portable device to execute a preconfigured operation if the microprocessor in the first portable device determines that the event occurred triggers the execution of the preconfigured operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event occurred is surpassing a speed threshold level, entering a geographical zone, exiting a geographical zone, malfunction of equipment associated to an individual carrying the first portable device, or poor health condition of the individual carrying the first portable device as measured by an instrument associated by the individual.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a microprocessor in the second portable device to execute an operation if the microprocessor in the second portable device determines that the event occurred triggers the execution of the preconfigured operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable device is a cell phone, a smart phone, or a personal data assistant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portable device is a cell phone, a smart phone, or a personal data assistant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical zone is home environment, a work environment, a state, a city, a commercial neighborhood, a residential neighborhood, or a school zone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data representative of each geographical zone is a plurality of coordinates, wherein the portable device creates a further representation of the geographical zone using the plurality of coordinates by performing the steps of:

mapping the coordinates on the pixilated computer image so as to assign one pixel to each coordinate of the plurality of coordinates, wherein the distance between each assigned pixel is configurable;

connecting the plurality of assigned pixels with lines forming a contiguous and connected line that encloses an area in the pixilated image; and

activating the pixels that lie on the lines in order to form a contiguous array of pixels that enclose a shape in the pixilated image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data representative of each geographical zone is a plurality of waypoints, each waypoint in the plurality of waypoints being defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius;

wherein the geographical coordinate is represented by a latitude and longitude, and the radius is represented by a distance magnitude.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data representative of each geographical zone is a pixilated image created performing the steps of:

allowing a user to identify a geometrical zone in a computer map using two coordinate attributes;

dividing the identified geometrical area into a grid;

allowing a user to select at least one section from within the grid in order to define a geographical area; and

associating the at least one section to a pixel in the pixilated computer image such that the pixels selected by the user in the identified geometrical area are identified as being in the geographical zone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the grid is divided into a number of sections so as to achieve a high enough resolution to be able to correctly delineate the geographical zone.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a pre-programmed operation, wherein the pre-programmed operation is making a telephone call, reporting to a control center, or starting an alarm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable device is programmed to determine if certain conditions have occurred in the geographical zone, and when a condition occurs the portable device reports the occurrence to a control center.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a module communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices with the geographical zone, the module behaving as a hub for communication between the plurality of devices and the first portable device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication signal between the first portable device and the plurality of devices is a Bluetooth signal, an infrared signal, a short range radio signal, wireless universal serial bus, or Wi-Fi.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of devices are measuring instruments that measure the levels of carbon monoxide, chlorine, smoke, smog, oxygen in the air, or temperature.