I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US008421618B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Scalisi et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,421,618 B2
`Apr. 16, 2013
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`DETERMINING LOCATION AND TRACKING
`COORDINATES OF A TRACKING DEVICE
`
`4,807,453 A
`4,850,007 A
`4,885,920 A
`
`2/1989 Bernier et al.
`7/1989 Marino et al.
`12/1989 Larson
`(Continued)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Joseph F. Scalisi, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
`David Butler, Staffordshire (GB); Roger
`B. Anderson, Arcadia, CA (US); Desiree
`Mejia, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
`Michael L. Beydler, Irvine, CA (US)
`
`JP
`JP
`
`(73) Assignee: Location Based Technologies, Inc.,
`Irvine, CA (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/356,599
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan.23,2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0119905 Al
`
`May 17, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62)
`
`DivisionofapplicationNo.11/969,905,
`2008, now Pat. No. 8,102,256.
`
`filed on Jan. 6,
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GOSB 1/08
`U.S. Cl.
`. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... . 340/539.13
`USPC
`Field of Classification Search ............. 340/539.13,
`340/539.21, 686.1, 636.1; 701/400
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`References Cited
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`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Phung Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Timberline Patent Law
`Group
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A device and method to monitor location coordinates of an
`electronic tracking device are disclosed here. The device
`includes transceiver circuitry to receive at least one portion of
`a receive communication signal comprising location coordi(cid:173)
`nates information; accelerometer circuitry to measure dis(cid:173)
`placements of the portable electronic tracking device; a bat(cid:173)
`tery power monitor configured to selectively activate and
`deactivate at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and
`location tracking circuitry; and processor circuitry configured
`to process the at least one portion of the receive communica(cid:173)
`tion signal. The method includes receiving at transceiver cir(cid:173)
`cuitry of a portable electronic tracking device at least one
`portion of a receive communication signal comprising loca(cid:173)
`tion coordinates information; measuring displacements of the
`portable electronic tracking device; activating and deactivat(cid:173)
`ing at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and loca(cid:173)
`tion tracking circuitry; and processing the at least one portion
`of the receive communication signal using processor cir(cid:173)
`cuitry.
`
`24 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Antenna acquire
`snapshot information
`
`S302
`
`Processor processes
`snapshot information
`
`Determine power level
`
`S308
`
`Activate accelerometer
`if power level = to or +-----1
`less than first signal
`level.
`
`Reactivate location
`tracking circuitry if power
`level greater than first
`signal level
`
`S312
`
`S310
`
`Processing unit
`computes location
`coordinates
`
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`
`

`

`US 8,421,618 B2
`Page 2
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 8,421,618 B2
`
`Monftoring
`Station
`
`demod
`
`Figure '1
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 8,421,618 B2
`
`20~
`
`~40
`
`100~0
`
`Figure 2
`
`143
`
`G PS ~..'ilel1te
`
`100
`
`150
`
`IPR2020-01192
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 8,421,618 B2
`
`Antenna acquire
`snapshot information
`
`~ -
`
`I
`
`Processor processes
`snapshot information
`
`-
`Determine power level -
`
`I
`
`S302
`
`S30 4
`
`S30 6
`
`S308
`
`'
`t
`'
`
`Activate accelerometer
`if power level = to or
`less than first signal
`level.
`
`Reactivate location
`tracking circuitry if power
`
`level greater than first -
`
`signal level
`
`S3 12
`
`S310
`Processing unit L)
`
`computes location
`coordinates
`
`Figure 3
`
`IPR2020-01192
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`

`US 8,421,618 B2
`
`1
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`DETERMINING LOCATION AND TRACKING
`COORDINATES OF A TRACKING DEVICE
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`5
`
`2
`disk drives integrated with an accelerometer to detect dis(cid:173)
`placement or falling incidents. For instance, when a hard-disk
`accelerometer detects a low-g condition, e.g., indicating free(cid:173)
`fall and expected shock, a hard-disk write feature may be
`temporarily disabled to avoid accidental data overwriting and
`prevent stored data corruption. After free- fall and expected
`shock, the hard-disk write feature is enabled to allow data to
`be written to one or more hard-disk tracks. Still others includ-
`ing medical product manufacturers utilize accelerometers to
`measure depth of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
`chest compressions. Sportswear manufacturers, e.g., Nike
`sports watches and footwear, incorporate accelerometers to
`feedback speed and distance to a runner via a connected
`iPod®Nano.
`Still others including manufacturers of conventional iner(cid:173)
`tial navigation systems deploy one or more accelerometers as
`part of, for instance, on-board electronics of a vehicle, vessel,
`train and/or airplane. In addition to accelerometer measure(cid:173)
`ments, conventional inertial navigation systems integrate one
`or more gyroscopes with the on-board electronics to assist
`tracking including performing various measurements, e.g.,
`tilt, angle, and roll. More specifically, gyroscopes measure
`angular velocity, for instance, of a vehicle, vessel, train, and/
`or airplane in an inertial reference frame. The inertial refer(cid:173)
`ence frame, provided, for instance, by a human operator, a
`GPS receiver, or position and velocity measurements from
`one or more motion sensors.
`More specifically, integration of measured inertial accel(cid:173)
`erations commences with, for instance, original velocity, for
`30 instance, of a vehicle, vessel, train, and/or airplane to yield
`updated inertial system velocities. Another integration of
`updated inertial system velocities yields an updated inertial
`system orientate, e.g., tilt, angle, and roll, within a system
`limited positioning accuracy. In one instance to improve posi-
`35 tioning accuracy, conventional inertial navigation systems
`utilize GPS system outputs. In another instance to improve
`positioning accuracy, conventional inertial navigation sys(cid:173)
`tems intermittently reset to zero inertial tracking velocity, for
`instance, by stopping the inertial navigation system. In yet
`40 other examples, control theory and Kalman filtering provide
`a framework
`to combine motion sensor information
`in
`attempts to improve positional accuracy of the updated iner(cid:173)
`tial system orientation.
`Potential drawbacks of many conventional inertial naviga-
`45 tions systems include electrical and mechanical hardware
`occupying a large real estate footprint and requiring complex
`electronic measurement and control circuitry with limited
`applicability to changed environmental conditions. Further(cid:173)
`more, many conventional inertial navigation system calcula-
`50 tions are prone to accumulated acceleration and velocity mea(cid:173)
`surement errors. For instance, many conventional inertial
`navigations accelerations and velocity measurement errors
`are on the order of0.6 nautical miles per hour in position and
`tenths of a degree per hour in orientation.
`In contrast to conventional inertial navigation systems, a
`conventional Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system uses
`Global Positioning Signals (GPS) to monitor and track loca(cid:173)
`tion coordinates communicated between location coordinates
`monitoring satellites and an individual or an object having a
`60 GPS transceiver. In this system, GPS monitoring of location
`coordinates is practical when a GPS transceiver receives at
`least a minimal GPS signal level. However, a minimal GPS
`signal level may not be detectable when an individual or
`object is not located in a skyward position. For instance, when
`65 an individual or object carrying a GPS transceiver enters a
`covered structure, e.g., a garage, a parking structure, or a large
`building, GPS satellite communication
`signals may be
`
`This application is a Divisional of, claims priority to, and
`herein incorporates in its entirety U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 11/969,905 filed Jan. 6, 2008.
`This application also incorporates by reference in their 10
`entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/753,979 filed on
`May 25, 2007, entitled "Apparatus and Method for Providing
`Location Information on Individuals and Objects Using
`Tracking Devices"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/933,
`024 filed on Oct. 31, 2007, entitled "Apparatus and Method 15
`for Manufacturing an Electronic Package", U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 11/784,400 filed on Apr. 5, 2007, entitled
`"Communication System and Method Including Dual Mode
`Capability"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/784,318 filed
`on Apr. 5, 2007, entitled "Communication System and 20
`Method Including Communication Billing Options"; and
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/935,901 filed on Nov. 6,
`2007, entitled "System and Method for Creating and Manag(cid:173)
`ing a Personalized Web Interface for Monitoring Location
`Information on Individuals and Objects Using Tracking 25
`Devices."
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates generally to the field oflocation and
`tracking communication systems. More particularly,
`the
`present invention relates in one embodiment to an accelerom(cid:173)
`eter incorporated as part of portable electronic tracking
`device for individuals and objects to improve monitoring by a
`wireless location and tracking system and/or wireless com(cid:173)
`munication system (WCS).
`2. Description of Related Technology
`Accelerometers are conventionally integrated into elec(cid:173)
`tronics systems that are part of a vehicle, vessel, and airplane
`to detect, measure, and monitor deflections, vibrations, and
`acceleration. Accelerometers, for example, may include one
`or more Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices.
`In particular, MEMS devices include one or more suspended
`cantilever beams ( e.g., single-axis, dual-axis, and three-axis
`models), as well as deflection sensing circuitry. Accelerom(cid:173)
`eters are utilized by a multitude of electronics manufacturers.
`For instance, electronics gaming manufacturers exploit an
`accelerometer's deflection sensing capability, for instance, to
`measure device tilt and control game functionality. In another
`instance, consumer electronics manufacturers, e.g., Apple,
`Ericsson, and Nike, incorporate accelerometers in personal
`electronic devices, e.g., Apple iPhone, to provide a change(cid:173)
`able screen display orientation that toggles between portrait
`and landscape layout window settings; to manage human 55
`inputs through a human interface, e.g., Apple iPod® touch
`screen interface; and to measure game movement and tilt,
`e.g., Wii gaming remotes. Still others including automobile
`electronics circuitry manufacturers utilize MEMS acceler(cid:173)
`ometers to initiate airbag deployment in accordance with a
`detected collision severity level by measuring negative
`vehicle acceleration.
`Other electronics manufacturer products, e.g., Nokia 5500
`sport, count step motions using a 3D accelerometer, and
`translate user information via user's taps or shaking motion to
`select song titles and to enable mp3 player track switching. In
`another instance, portable or laptop computers include hard-
`
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`obstructed or partially blocked, hindering tracking and moni(cid:173)
`toring capability. Not only is a GPS transceiver receiving a
`weak GPS signal, but also the GPS transceiver is depleting
`battery power in failed attempts to acquire communications
`signals from one or more location coordinates monitoring
`satellites, e.g., GPS satellites, or out-of-range location coor(cid:173)
`dinates reference towers. Furthermore, weak GPS communi(cid:173)
`cation signals may introduce errors in location coordinates
`information.
`In summary, electronic tracking device and methodology is 10
`needed that provides additional advantages over conventional
`systems such as improved power management, e.g., efficient
`use ofbatterypower, and provide other improvements includ(cid:173)
`ing supplementing conventional electronic tracking device 15
`monitoring, e.g., increased measurement accuracy oflocation
`coordinates of objects and individuals traveling into and/or
`through a structure, e.g., a partially covered building, a park(cid:173)
`ing structure, or a substantially enclosed structure, such as a
`basement or a storage area in a high-rise office building.
`
`4
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of an electronic tracking
`device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a location tracking system associated
`with the electronic tracking device and the wireless network
`in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram to manage and control
`circuitry associated with the electronic tracking device of
`FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In a first aspect of the present invention, a portable elec(cid:173)
`tronic apparatus for a tracking device is disclosed. The elec(cid:173)
`tronic apparatus includes a transceiver, an accelerometer, and
`an antenna. The antenna is disposed on the tracking device.
`The antenna is configured to communicate signal strength to
`a signal processor associated with the tracking device. In one
`variant, responsive to the signal strength, a battery manage(cid:173)
`ment module ( e.g., battery monitor) controls electronic com(cid:173)
`ponents associated with the tracking device. In one variant, an
`accelerometer performs an acceleration measurement. In one
`variant, prior or nearby location coordinates associated with
`the tracking device are utilized or assist to compute current
`location coordinates information of the tracking device.
`In a second aspect of the present invention, a method is
`disclosed to communicate location coordinates of a first,
`tracking device. In this method, a transceiver communicates
`measured signal strength. In response to measured signal
`strength level, a power management circuitry ( e.g., battery
`monitor) controls power levels associated with the first track(cid:173)
`ing device to reduce or increase power consumption of a
`transceiver and its associated circuitry. In one variant, a user
`defines a first signal level, e.g., a threshold level, to commence
`accelerometer measurements. In one variant, if a first signal
`level is detected, an accelerometer measures displacement
`from prior location coordinates of the first tracking device. In
`another variant, if a first signal level is detected, an acceler(cid:173)
`ometer measures relative displacement from prior location
`coordinates of a second tracking device. In yet another vari(cid:173)
`ant, if a first signal level is detected, the relative displacement
`is utilized to compute current location coordinates informa(cid:173)
`tion of the first tracking device. In another variant, the accel(cid:173)
`erometer may be activated to measure impacts of an object or
`an individual to determine if the object or individual may be
`medical attention (e.g., be injured).
`These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and
`features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the
`description which follows, and in part will become apparent
`to those skilled in the art by reference to the following
`description of the invention and referenced drawings or by
`practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages and fea(cid:173)
`tures of the invention are realized and attained by means of the 65
`instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly
`pointed out in the appended claims.
`
`Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like
`numerals refer to like parts throughout.
`As used herein, the terms "location coordinates" refer
`20 without limitation to any set or partial set of integer, real
`and/or complex location data or information such as longitu(cid:173)
`dinal, latitudinal, and elevational positional coordinates.
`As used herein, the terms "tracking device" and "electronic
`tracking device" refer to without, limitation, to any hybrid
`25 electronic circuit, integrated circuit (IC), chip, chip set, sys(cid:173)
`tem-on-a-chip, microwave integrated circuit (MIC), Mono(cid:173)
`lithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC), low noise
`amplifier, power amplifier, transceiver, receiver, transmitter
`and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that may
`30 be constructed and/or fabricated. The chip or IC may be
`constructed ("fabricated") on a small rectangle (a "die") cut
`from, for example, a Silicon ( or special applications, Sap(cid:173)
`phire), Gallium Arsenide, or Indium Phosphide wafer. The IC
`may be classified, for example, into analogue, digital, or
`35 hybrid (both analogue and digital on the same chip and or
`analog-to-digital converter). Digital integrated circuits may
`contain anything from one to millions of logic gates, inver(cid:173)
`tors, and, or, nand, and nor gates, flipflops, multiplexors, etc.
`on a few square millimeters. The small size of these circuits
`40 allows high speed, low power dissipation, and reduced manu(cid:173)
`facturing cost compared with board-level integration.
`As used herein, the terms "data transfer", "tracking and
`location system", "location and tracking system", "location
`tracking system", and "positioning system," refer to without
`45 limitation to any system, that transfers and/or determines
`location coordinates using one or more devices, such as Glo(cid:173)
`bal Positioning System (GPS).
`As used herein, the terms "Global Positioning System"
`refer to without limitation to any services, methods or devices
`50 that utilize GPS technology to determine position of a GPS
`receiver based on measuring a signal transfer time of signals
`communicated between satellites having known positions
`and the GPS receiver. A signal transfer time is proportional, to
`a distance of a respective satellite from the GPS receiver. The
`55 distance between a satellite and a GPS receiver may be con(cid:173)
`verted, utilizing signal propagation velocity, into a respective
`signal transfer time. The positional information of the GPS
`receiver is calculated based on distance calculations from at
`least four satellites to determine positional information of the
`60 GPS receiver.
`As used herein, the terms "wireless network" refers to,
`without limitation, any digital, analog, microwave, and mil(cid:173)
`limeter wave communication networks that transfer signals
`from one location to another location, such as, but not limited
`to IEEE 802.1 lg, Bluetooth, WiMax, IS-95, GSM, IS-95,
`CGM, CDMA, wCDMA, PDC, UMTS, TDMA, and FDMA,
`or combinations thereof.
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`Major Features
`In one aspect, the present invention discloses an apparatus
`and method, to provide an improved capability electronic
`tracking device. In one embodiment, the device provides
`electronic circuitry including an accelerometer to measure
`location coordinates without requiring GPS signaling. In this
`embodiment, location coordinates of an electronic tracking
`device are measured when the electronic tracking device is
`located in a partially enclosed structure, e.g., a building or
`parking lot, up to a fully enclosed structure. In one embodi-
`ment, the electronic tracking device conserves battery power
`when the device is partially or fully blocked access to location
`coordinates from one or more GPS satellites, e.g., a primary
`location tracking system. In yet another embodiment, accel(cid:173)
`erometer measures force applied to the electronic tracking 15
`device and provides an alert, message to a guardian or other
`responsible person. In one embodiment, the alert message
`includes
`location coordinates of the electronic
`tracking
`device and other information, e.g., magnitude or nature of
`force, as well as possibility of injury of an object or individual 20
`having the electronic tracking device. As described through(cid:173)
`out the following specification, the present invention gener(cid:173)
`ally provides a portable electronic device configuration for
`locating and tracking an individual or an object.
`Exemplary Apparatus
`Referring now to FIGS. 1-2 exemplary embodiments of the
`electronic tracking device of the invention are described in
`detail. Please note that the following discussions of electron-
`ics and components for an electronic tracking device to moni-
`tor and locate individuals are non-limiting; thus, the present 30
`invention may be useful in other electronic signal transferring
`and communication applications, such as electronic modules
`included in items such as: watches, calculators, clocks, com(cid:173)
`puter keyboards, computer mice, and/or mobile phones to
`locate and track trajectory of movement and current location 35
`of these items within boundaries of or proximity to a room,
`building, city, state, and country.
`Furthermore, it will be appreciated that while described
`primarily in the context of tracking individuals or objects, at
`least portions of the apparatus and methods described herein 40
`may be used in other applications, such as, utilized, without
`limitation, for control systems that monitor components such
`as transducers, sensors, and elec