Locator system

• US 9,807,556 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan Holland
• Original Assignee: Bryan Holland
• Inventors: Holland, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/980,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 4554041, 4554561-457, 455521, 455403, 4554221, 455500, 455517, 4554141-4144, 4554261, 4554262, 34235701, 34235706, 34235709
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A locator system and method of use is disclosed. The locator system may be used to receive radiolocation signals, calculate location data based on the radiolocation signals, and send the current location data over a telecommunication network to a server computer. A client may request the location data from the server computer and the server may send the location data to the client.

Claims

1. A locator system comprising:

a locator device including a GPS receiver, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the GPS receiver, a wireless communication interface operable to communicate with a server computer, and a power source operable to provide power to the GPS receiver, the CPU, and the wireless communication interface, the locator device configured to;

use the GPS receiver to receive signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determine positional data of the locator device based on the received signals;

use the wireless communication interface to transmit the positional data to the server at a periodic transmission rate;

determine a relative positional change by comparing currently calculated positional data with previously calculated positional data;

increase the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change increases; and

decrease the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change decreases; and

a computer software program configured to;

execute on the server computer,

receive the positional data,

receive a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device, and

provide the positional data to the client in response to the request from the client,

wherein the server does not query the locator device for its positional data in response to the request from the client.

2. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the periodic transmission rate varies over time.

3. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the periodic transmission rate is regular.

4. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

5. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the locator device is configured to determine the positional data based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication interface.

6. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

7. The locator system of claim 1, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

8. The locator system of claim 7, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

9. A method for providing location of a portable locator device, comprising the steps of:

at the portable locator device;

providing power from a power source to components of the locator device;

receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determining positional data of the locator device based on the received signals;

transmitting the positional data through a wireless communication network to a server at a periodic transmission rate;

determining a relative positional change by comparing currently calculated positional data with previously calculated positional data;

increasing the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change increases; and

decreasing the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change decreases; and

at the server;

receiving a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device; and

providing the positional data to the client in response to the request,

wherein the server does not query the locator device in response to the request from the client.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the periodic transmission rate varies over time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the periodic transmission rate is regular.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the positional data is based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication network.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

17. A portable locator device comprising a GPS receiver, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the GPS receiver, a wireless communication interface coupled to the CPU, and a power source operable to provide power to the GPS receiver, the CPU, and the wireless communication interface, the locator device configured to:

use the GPS receiver to receive signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determine positional data based on the received signals;

use the wireless communication interface to transmit, at a periodic transmission rate, the positional data to a server computer configured to provide the positional data to a client;

determine a relative positional change by comparing currently calculated positional data with previously calculated positional data;

increase the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change increases; and

decrease the periodic transmission rate when the relative positional change decreases;

wherein the portable locator device provides the positional data to the server without receiving a query from the server for the positional data.

18. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the periodic transmission rate varies over time.

19. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the periodic transmission rate is regular.

20. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

21. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the locator device is configured to determine the positional data based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication interface.

22. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

23. The locator device of claim 17, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

24. The locator device of claim 23, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

25. A computer server for providing location of a portable locator device, comprising:

one or more computers configured to;

at a periodic rate, receive positional data of the locator device through a wireless communication network, wherein the positional data is based on signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, the periodic rate increasing when a relative positional change of the locator device increases and the periodic rate decreasing when the relative positional change of the locator device decreases, the relative positional change determined by comparing currently calculated positional data of the locator device with previously calculated positional data of the locator device;

receive a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device; and

provide the positional data to the client in response to the request,

wherein the one or more computers provide the positional data to the client without having to query the locator device.

26. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the periodic rate varies over time.

27. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the periodic rate is regular.

28. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

29. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the positional data is based on at least some informational data transmitted through the wireless communication network.

30. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the one or more computers do not direct the periodic transmission of positional data from the locator device.

31. The computer server of claim 25, wherein the one or more computers arrange the positional data in a graphical form for presentation to the client.

32. The computer server of claim 31, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

33. A locator system comprising:

a locator device including a GPS receiver, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the GPS receiver, a wireless communication interface operable to communicate with a server computer, and a power source operable to provide power to the GPS receiver, the CPU, and the wireless communication interface, the locator device configured to;

use the GPS receiver to receive signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determine positional data of the locator device based on the received signals; and

use the wireless communication interface to transmit the positional data to the server when the locator device travels a specified distance from a previous position; and

a computer software program configured to;

execute on the server computer,

receive the positional data,

receive a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device, and

provide the positional data to the client in response to the request from the client,

wherein the server does not query the locator device for its positional data in response to the request from the client.

34. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the specified distance varies over time.

35. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the specified distance is fixed.

36. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

37. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the locator device is configured to determine the positional data based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication interface.

38. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

39. The locator system of claim 33, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

40. The locator system of claim 39, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

41. A method for providing location of a portable locator device, comprising the steps of:

at the portable locator device;

providing power from a power source to components of the locator device;

receiving signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determining positional data of the locator device based on the received signals; and

transmitting the positional data through a wireless communication network to a server when the locator device travels a specified distance from a previous position; and

at the server;

receiving a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device; and

providing the positional data to the client in response to the request,

wherein the server does not query the locator device for its positional data in response to the request from the client.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the specified distance varies over time.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the specified distance is fixed.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the positional data is based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication network.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

49. A portable locator device comprising a GPS receiver, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the GPS receiver, a wireless communication interface coupled to the CPU, and a power source operable to provide power to the GPS receiver, the CPU, and the wireless communication interface, the locator device configured to:

use the GPS receiver to receive signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

determine positional data based on the received signals;

use the wireless communication interface to transmit, when the locator device travels a specified distance from a previous position, the positional data to a server computer configured to provide the positional data to a client;

wherein the portable locator device provides the positional data to the server without receiving a query from the server for the positional data.

50. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the specified distance varies over time.

51. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the specified distance is fixed.

52. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

53. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the locator device is configured to determine the positional data based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication interface.

54. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the locator device directs the transmission of the positional data to the server.

55. The locator device of claim 49, wherein the client receives the positional data in a graphical form.

56. The locator device of claim 55, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.

57. A computer server for providing location of a portable locator device, comprising:

one or more computers configured to;

receive positional data of the locator device through a wireless communication network when the locator device travels a specified distance from a previous position, wherein the positional data is based on signals from a plurality of GPS satellites;

receive a request from a client for the positional data of the locator device; and

provide the positional data to the client in response to the request,

wherein the one or more computers provide the positional data to the client without having to query the locator device.

58. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the specified distance varies over time.

59. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the specified distance is fixed.

60. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the positional data includes the altitude of the locator device.

61. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the positional data is based on at least some informational data received through the wireless communication network.

62. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the one or more computers do not direct the transmission of positional data from the locator device.

63. The computer server of claim 57, wherein the one or more computers arrange the positional data in a graphical form for presentation to the client.

64. The computer server of claim 63, wherein the graphical form is a map illustration.