a2) United States Patent
`US 8,536,999 B2
`(0) Patent No.:
`Sep. 17, 2013
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Holcmanet al.
`
`US008536999B2
`
`7/2011 Verechtchiagine...... 342/357.33
`7,973,707 B2*
`(54) METHOD FOR DYNAMIC CREATION OF A
`2002/0196151 Al=12/2002 Troxler
`GEOFENCEIN A WIRELESS SYSTEM
`2003/0078042 Al
`4/2003 Miriyalaetal.
`2005/0046567 Al
`3/2005 Mortensonetal.
`2006/0099971 Al
`5/2006 Statonet al.
`2006/0181411 Al*
`8/2006 Fastetal. ........ 340/539. 13
`2007/0176771 Al
`8/2007 Doyle
`2010/0113061 Al*
`5/2010 Holeman ou... 455/456.1
`2011/0140884 Al*
`6/2011 Santiago etal.
`......... 340/539. 13
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`101051407 A
`10/2007
`2003281694 A
`10/2003
`2008524670 A
`7/2008
`2008524699 A
`7/2008
`20040045928
`6/2004
`20070094893 A
`9/2007
`WO2005078473 Al
`8/2005
`2006052400 Al
`5/2006
`2006065492 A2
`6/2006
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Alejandro R. Holeman, San Diego, CA
`(US); Babak Aryan, San Diego, CA
`(US); Jack B. Steenstra, San Diego, CA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: QUALCOMMIncorporated, San
`Diego, CA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USS.C. 154(b) by 1277 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/334,950
`
`CN
`JP
`JP
`JP
`KR
`KR
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 15, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0017126 Al
`
`Jan. 21, 2010
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/081,265, filed on Jul.
`16, 2008.
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GO8B 1/08
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC woe 340/539.13; 455/456.1; 701/469
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC woe 340/539.13, 573.3; 342/357.33,
`342/357.34; 455/456.1; 701/469
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,461,390 A
`6,014,080 A
`6,211,817 Bl
`7,783,423 B2*
`
`10/1995 Hoshen
`1/2000 Layson, Jr.
`4/2001 Eschenbach
`8/2010 Vermaetal. ou... 701/469
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Search Report—EP11164804—Search Authority—
`European
`Munich—Aug. 1, 2011.
`International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT/US2009/
`050865, International Search Authority—European Patent Office—
`Feb. 15, 2010.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner — John A Tweel, Jr.
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Shyam K.Parekh
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus for creating a dynamic GeoFence
`area by determiningan instant reference point usinga first set
`of pseudorange measurements received by a GeoFence
`device, defining the dynamic GeoFence area referencedto the
`instant reference point, determining a position fix using a
`second set of pseudorange measurements, and comparing the
`position fix to the dynamic GeoFencearea. In one aspect, an
`alert message based on the comparisonresults is presented to
`a user.
`
`45 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`source
`TERRESTRIAL ~~
`
`sp
`
`roSATELLITE603 B18
`
`naehoe
`
`2ND
`TRACKED
`DEVICE
`1044
`
`TE!RRESTRIAL
`“SOURCE
`PTME
`
`POSITION
`SERVICE
`DETERMINING MAPPOINT WEB
`SIGNAL
`605
`
`NETWORK.
`
`1020 3RD TRACKED DEVICE
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 01 of 13
`
`607
`
`Samsung etal. v. Hardin etal.
`IPR2022-01330
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`|
`
`USER
`BEvICE
`DATABASE
`
`emery
`DATABASE
`
`610
`
`3
`|
`|i
`ii
`
`DATABASE
`MANAGER
`614
`612
`
`616
`TRACKING
`ENGINE
`
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`i
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`608
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`WO
`MAP
`APPLICATION]
`APPLICATION
`AND
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`IN’ITIALIZATION
`INTERFACE
`Es
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`MANAGEMENT
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`SF GOK wm
`APPLICATION
`APPLICATION
`1006
`INTERFACE
`INTERFACE
`SPS
`
`ist|TRACKED ons
`DEVICE
`TRACKED
`601
`613.|APPLICATION
`& HARDWARE
`SMS
`NETWORK
`615
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 01 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`DEFINE DYNAMIC GEOFENCE AREA
`RELATIVE TO INSTANT REFERENCE POINT
`
`PSEUDORANGE MEASUREMENTS
`RECEIVED BY FIRST TRACKED DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`110
`
`115
`
`130
`
`WAIT TIME T1
`
`DETERMINE FIRST TRACKED DEVICE'S
`POSITION FIX
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DETERMINE IF FIRST
`
`TRACKED DEVICE'S POSITION
`FIX IS OUTSIDE DYNAMIC
`GEOFENCE AREA
`
`
`
`120
`
`
`
`PRESENT ALERT MESSAGE
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 02 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 02 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`DEFINE DYNAMIC GEOFENCE AREA
`RELATIVE TO INSTANT REFERENCE POINT
`
`205
`
`210
`
`PSEUDORANGE MEASUREMENTS
`RECEIVED BY SECOND TRACKED DEVICE
`
`215
`
`WAIT TIME T2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DETERMINE SECOND TRACKED
`DEVICE'S POSITION FIX
`
`
`
`DETERMINE IF SECOND
`225
`
`TRACKED DEVICE'S POSITION
`
`FIX IS INSIDE DYNAMIC
`
`GEOFENCE
`
` 230
`
`
`PRESENT ALERT MESSAGE
`
`FIG.2
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 03 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 03 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`GEOFENCE PROTOCOL
`ACTIVATED
`
`310
`
`320
`
`PSEUDORANGE
`MEASUREMENTS
`RECEIVED BY THIRD
`TRACKED DEVICE
`
`PSEUDORANGE
`MEASUREMENTS
`RECEIVED BY
`GEOFENCE DEVICE
`
`WAIT
`TIME
`14
`
`DETERMINE THIRD
`TRACKED DEVICE'S
`POSITION FIX
`
`DETERMINE GEOFENCE
`DEVICE'S POSITION FIX
`
`DEFINE DYNAMIC
`GEOFENCE AREA
`
`
`
`DETERMINE
`IF THIRD TRACKED
`
`
`DEVICE'S POSITION FIX
`
`
`IS SOASNSEE)
`
`
`GEOFENCE AREA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`
`PRESENT ALERT
`MESSAGE
`
`350
`
`FIG.3
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 04 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 04 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 17, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`TRACKEDDEVICEAPPLICATION
`ensma_ ©
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`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 05 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 05 of 13
`
`

`

`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`1
`METHOD FOR DYNAMIC CREATION OF A
`GEOFENCEIN A WIRELESS SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`2
`dynamic GeoFence areas for n quantity of tracked devices,
`monitoring the n quantity of dynamic GeoFence areas to
`determine overlap between the n quantity of dynamic
`GeoFence areas, and presenting an alert messageif at least
`one of the n quantity of dynamic GeoFence areas does not
`overlap with at least one other of the n quantity of dynamic
`GeoFencearea.
`
`This application claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)to
`According to yet another aspect, a GeoFence device com-
`provisional U.S. Patent Application 61/081,265 titled
`“METHOD FOR DYNAMIC CREATION OF A
`prises a SPS application & hardware unit for receivingafirst
`set ofpseudorange measurements; a processing unit for deter-
`GEOFENCEIN A WIRELESS SYSTEM”,filed on Jul. 16,
`mining an instant reference point based on the first set of
`2008, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by
`pseudorange measurements, wherein the processing unit fur-
`reference herein in its entirety.
`ther defines a dynamic GeoFence area based on the instant
`reference point; and an interface unit for receiving a position
`fix, and wherein the processing unit comparesthe position fix
`to the dynamic GeoFencearea.
`According to yet another aspect, a computer-readable
`medium including program code stored thereon comprises
`program codeto determine an instant reference point using a
`first
`set of pseudorange measurements received by a
`GeoFence device; program code to define the dynamic
`GeoFencearea referencedto the instant reference point; pro-
`gram code to determine a position fix using a second set of
`pseudorange measurements; and program code to compare
`the position fix to the dynamic GeoFencearea.
`It is understood that other aspects will becomereadily
`apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
`description, whereinit is shown and described various aspects
`and features by wayofillustration. The drawings anddetailed
`description are to be regardedas illustrative in nature and not
`as restrictive.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`FIELD
`
`This disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods
`for wireless tracking of people, pets or assets. More particu-
`larly,
`the disclosure relates to dynamic creation of a
`GeoFence area in a wireless system.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`GeoFencetracking is the monitoring of movementoftar-
`gets such as personal assets, vehicles or personnel within a
`defined geographic boundary. GeoFencetracking is used to
`track and record the movement(such as entry or exit) of an
`assigned target from a geographic boundary andto alert a
`system user of the movementactivities of the assignedtarget.
`A GeoFence boundary is generally referenced to a fixed
`location. Here, the system user redefines the geographic
`boundary orthe reference point for the geographic boundary
`for each different area it would like to monitor. Thus, a new
`GeoFence boundary is defined each time. Ina fixed GeoFence
`boundary, the system user cannot track an assigned target
`relative to another assignedtarget if both assigned targets are
`moving. It is also difficult to determine if a movingtarget has
`entered and/or exited a geographic area surrounding another
`movingtarget.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating asset
`tracking.
`FIG.2 is an exemplary flow diagramillustrating tracking a
`target to prevent the target from entering a restricted area.
`FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating tracking
`multiple moving targets using a dynamic GeoFence.
`FIG.4 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary architec-
`ture of a dynamic GeoFencein a wireless system.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`65
`
`According to one aspect, a user activates a GeoFence
`device to automatically define a surrounding GeoFence area
`at his present location, eliminating the need for the user to
`look up his present location and program a GeoFencearea.
`The detailed description set forth below in connection with
`According to one aspect, a method for creating a dynamic
`GeoFence area comprises determining an instant reference
`the appended drawings is intended as a description of various
`
`point usingafirst set of pseudorange measurements received aspects of the present invention and is not intendedto repre-
`by a GeoFencedevice; defining the dynamic GeoFence area
`sent the only aspects in which the present invention may be
`referenced to the instant reference point; determining a posi-
`practiced. Each aspect describedin this disclosure is provided
`tion fix using a secondset ofpseudorange measurements; and
`merely as an example orillustration of the present invention,
`comparing the position fix to the dynamic GeoFence (geo-
`and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or
`fence) area.
`advantageous over other aspects. The detailed description
`According to another aspect, a method for creating a
`includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thor-
`dynamic GeoFence area comprises determining an instant
`ough understanding ofthe present invention. However,it will
`reference point using a first set ofpseudorange measurements
`be apparentto those skilledin the art that the present invention
`received by a GeoFence device; defining the dynamic
`may be practiced without these specific details. In some
`instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in
`GeoFence area referenced to the instant reference point;
`determining a position fix using a secondset of pseudorange
`block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts
`measurements; comparing the position fix to the dynamic
`of the present invention. Acronyms and other descriptive
`GeoFence area; updating the position fix after a first wait
`terminology may be used merely for convenience andclarity
`time; updating the instant reference point after a second wait
`and are not intendedto limit the scope ofthe invention.
`time andredefining the dynamic GeoFence area based on the
`The variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, and cir-
`updated instant reference point; and comparing the updated
`cuits described herein may be implemented or performed
`positionfix to the redefined dynamic GeoFencearea.
`with one or more processors. A processor may be a general
`According to yet another aspect, a method for monitoring
`purposeprocessor, such as a microprocessor, a specific appli-
`dynamic GeoFence areas comprises defining n quantity of
`cation processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP), or
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 06 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 06 of 13
`
`

`

`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`3
`any other hardware platform capable of supporting software.
`Software shall be construed broadly to mean any combination
`of instructions, data structures, or program code, whether
`referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or
`any other terminology. Alternatively, a processor may be an
`application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a program-
`mable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array
`(FPGA), a controller, micro-controller, a state machine, a
`combination of discrete hardware components, or any com-
`bination thereof. The variousillustrative logical blocks, mod-
`ules, and circuits described herein may also include machine
`readable mediumfor storing software. The machine readable
`medium mayalso include one or more storage devices.
`FIG. 1 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating asset
`tracking. One skilled in the art would understand that FIG. 1
`presents an exemplary combination and ordering of the
`blocks. Various other combinations and orderings of the
`blocks presented in FIG. 1 will be readily apparent to those
`skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of
`the disclosure.
`In Block 105, a GeoFence device 1000 defines a dynamic
`GeoFence area relative to an instant reference point. The
`dynamic GeoFence area can be any polygon, the simplest
`being a circle. To define the dynamic GeoFencearearelative
`to the instant reference point, the GeoFence device 1000 first
`obtains a position fix of the instant reference point. The
`dynamic GeoFencearea is definedrelative to the instantref-
`erence point by choosing a specific geographic boundary
`relative to the instant reference point and defining the
`dynamic GeoFencearea as such. Here, the instant reference
`point, once established, does not move. The user defines the
`dynamic GeoFenceareaas suited to his needsat that time. In
`one aspect, the instant reference point may be any distance
`from the dynamic GeoFence area,
`including inside the
`dynamic GeoFence area, on the border of the dynamic
`GeoFence area or outside ofthe dynamic GeoFencearea. One
`of the simplest arrangements for defining the dynamic
`GeoFencearearelative to the instant reference point is having
`the instant reference point at the center of a circle, where the
`circle defines the dynamic GeoFence area with a specified
`radius. In one aspect, the shape and parameters of a dynamic
`GeoFence area are pre-programmed into the GeoFence
`device 1000. The user activates the GeoFence device 1000 to
`
`receive pseudorange measurements which are used to calcu-
`late a position fix. The position fix becomesthe instantrefer-
`ence point whichis then used to define the dynamic GeoFence
`area. In this aspect, the user need not determinehis present
`location or how to define a GeoFencearea. In one example,
`the user activates the GeoFence device and the GeoFence
`
`device performs the processes shownin FIG.1.
`In determining the position fix, pseudorange measure-
`ments are obtained. The pseudorange measurements can be
`obtained in a variety of modes, including but notlimited to,
`stand-alone Satellite Positioning System (SPS) with no sys-
`tem assistance; MS-based (Mobile Station-based) SPS with
`system assistancefor initialization; MS-assisted (Mobile Sta-
`tion-assisted) with an external entity performing the position
`fix; AFLT (Advanced Forward Link Trilateration) based on
`CDMA sectors triangulation; hybrid based on SPS and
`CDMA sectorstriangulation; and sector center based on sec-
`tor location. SPS includes Global Positioning System (GPS),
`Galileo, GLONASS, GNSSand any system that uses satel-
`lites from a combination ofthese systemsor any future devel-
`opedsatellite systems. Furthermore, somepositioning deter-
`mination systems utilize pseudolites or a combination of
`satellites and pseudolites. Pseudolites are ground-based
`transmitters that broadcast a ranging code, such as a PN code
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`4
`(similar to a GPS or CDMA cellular signal), modulated on a
`carrier signal which may be synchronized with time provided
`by an SPS. Pseudolites are useful in situations where signals
`from an orbiting satellite might be unavailable. Additional
`terrestrial ranging sources, for example, such as AFLT may be
`used asalternative positioning systems. Oneskilled in the art
`would understandthatothersatellite based orterrestrial based
`
`sources for obtaining the pseudorange measurementsare also
`available.
`
`In Block 110, pseudorange measurements are received by
`the first tracked device 1006. In Block 115, the position fix of
`the first tracked device 1006 is determined based on the
`
`received pseudorange measurements. In one aspect, thefirst
`tracked device 1006 includes components for determining its
`positionfix from the received pseudorange measurements. In
`another aspect, the first tracked device 1006 relays the pseu-
`dorange measurements to an external position determining
`entity 1008 and the position determining entity 1008 deter-
`mines the position fix and relays the first tracked device’s
`position fix back to the first tracked device 1006. In another
`aspect, the first tracked device 1006 relays the pseudorange
`measurements
`to the GeoFence device 1000 and the
`GeoFence device 1000 determinesthefirst tracked device’s
`
`positionfix.
`In Block 120 it is determinedif the first tracked device’s
`position fix is outside the dynamic GeoFencearea. This deter-
`mination could be madebythefirst tracked device 1006, an
`external device such as the position tracking management
`entity 620 or the GeoFence device 1000.
`If the first tracked device’s position fix is not outside the
`dynamic GeoFencearea, proceed to Block 125. In Block 125,
`the process must wait a time T1 before proceeding back to
`Block 110 to receive the next set of pseudorange measure-
`ments. The time T1 is a system parameter that may be con-
`figured by the user, another operator, a system parameter or
`the applicationitself. In one aspect, time T1 represents a fixed
`time period between obtaining pseudorange measurements.
`In another aspect, time T1 is a variable time period. In one
`aspect, the time T1 is determinedor altered by the measure-
`ment of a sensor, such as but not limited to, an inertial sensor.
`For example, in the event, movement of the first tracked
`device is detected, the time T1 is altered according to the
`magnitude ofthe movement measured.Ifthe measurement of
`the inertial sensor indicates a great amount of movement in a
`relatively short amountof time, the time T1 may be reduced
`so that the next set of pseudorange measurements is immedi-
`ately gathered. One skilled in the art would understandthat a
`variety of sensors may be used withoutaffecting the scope or
`spirit of the disclosure. For example, a sensor measurement
`indicating that a windowin a car withthefirst tracked device
`has broken can be used to reduce the time T1. In another
`example, a sensor measures the battery powerof the first
`tracked device and alters the time T1 accordingly. If the
`battery poweris full, the time T1 maybe shorter than if the
`battery poweris nearly empty. In another example, a sensor
`senses daylight versus night time and alters the time T1
`accordingly. In yet another example, the time T1 is adjusted
`according to the relative distance between the first tracked
`device and the boundary of the dynamic GeoFence area. For
`example,as the first tracked device approaches the boundary,
`the time T1 is reduced accordingly.
`If the first tracked device’s position fix is outside the
`dynamic GeoFencearea, proceed to Block 130. In Block 130,
`an alert message is presented. In one aspect, the GeoFence
`device 1000 presents the alert message to the user, and the
`user has a choiceto relay the alert message to other persons,
`devices or systems. In another aspect, the GeoFence device
`
`Exhibit 1026
`
`Page 07 of 13
`
`Exhibit 1026
`Page 07 of 13
`
`

`

`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`5
`1000 relays the alert message to other persons, devices or
`systems. Alternatively, an external device such asthe position
`tracking managemententity 620 relays the alert message to
`other persons, devices or systems. The GeoFence device 1000
`and thefirst tracked device 1006 can be separate devices or a
`single device. In the example where the GeoFence device
`1000 and thefirst tracked device 1006 are a single device, the
`alert message may be relayed to a separate device, for
`example a wireless phone,etc., in the user’s possession. In
`one aspect, the first tracked device’s position fix is updated
`periodically and compared to the dynamic GeoFence area.
`Oneskilled in the art would recognize that for some applica-
`tions, the process described in FIG.1 1s repeated after the alert
`message in block 130 is presented.
`One skilled in the art would recognize that the flow dia-
`gram of FIG. 1 may be usedto track assets such as vehicles,
`jewelry or other tangible objects. For example, a user driving
`to a restaurant can park his car outside the restaurant and
`activate the GeoFence device 1000, setting the dynamic
`GeoFence area relative to the instant reference point that’s
`created by activating the GeoFence device 1000. For
`example, by activating his GeoFence device 1000, a dynamic
`GeoFence area is created without the need for the user to
`
`determine his present location or for him to define the perim-
`eter of his dynamic GeoFencearea. In one aspect, the char-
`acteristics of the dynamic GeoFencearea are predefined. In
`another aspect,
`simple parameters associated with the
`dynamic GeoFencearea can be adjusted by the user. The user
`mayfit his car with thefirst tracked device 1006. During his
`visit to the restaurant, if the car (i.e., the first tracked device)
`moves outside the dynamic GeoFencearea, an alert message
`is sent to the GeoFence device 1000 (in the user’s possession)
`to alert the userthat his car has moved.In another example in
`which the GeoFencedevice and thefirst tracked device are a
`
`single device, the user activates the GeoFence device in his
`car to create a dynamic GeoFence area. If the car moves
`outside the dynamic GeoFencearea, an alert message is sent
`to a device capable of displaying the alert messageto the user.
`Likewise, another example could be a user away on a
`business trip who wantsto ensure that herjewelry stays within
`her house. The user could set the dynamic GeoFence area to
`be the perimeter of her house by activating the GeoFence
`device 1000 and setting the dynamic GeoFencearearelative
`to the instant reference point that’s created by activating the
`GeoFence device 1000. Here, the instant reference point
`could be a reference point within her house. The user mayfit
`her jewelry with the first tracked device 1006. If the jewelry
`(i.e., the first tracked device) is moved outside the dynamic
`GeoFencearea (e.g., the jewelry is taken outside her house),
`an alert message is sent to the GeoFencedevice 1000 to alert
`the user. In one example, the user then notifies the authorities
`that herjewelry had been removed from her house withouther
`permission. In another example, the GeoFence device 1000
`presents a secondalert message to a third party, for example,
`police or security authorities. In addition, the first tracked
`device 1006 could send an alert message to the authorities
`directly. In one aspect, instead of monitoring assets, the first
`tracked device 1006 could be fitted on a person to monitor the
`person’s movementrelative to the dynamic GeoFencearea.
`FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating tracking a
`target to prevent the target from entering a restricted area. One
`skilled in the art would understand that FIG. 2 presents an
`exemplary combination and ordering of the blocks. Various
`other combinations and orderings of the blocks presented in
`FIG. 2 will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
`without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.
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`Blocks 205 through 215 of FIG.2 are functionally the same
`as Blocks 105 through 115 of FIG. 1, except the first tracked
`device 1006 is replaced by a second tracked device 1011. The
`user activates the GeoFence device 1000 to receive pseudor-
`ange measurements whichare usedto calculate a position fix.
`The position fix becomesthe instant reference point which is
`then usedto define the dynamic GeoFencearea. In this aspect,
`the user need not determine his present location or how to
`define a GeoFencearea. In one example, the useractivates the
`GeoFence device and the GeoFence device performsthe pro-
`cesses shown in FIG. 2.
`
`In Block 22, it is determinedif the second tracked device’s
`position fix is inside the dynamic GeoFence area. In one
`aspect, this determination is made by the second tracked
`device 1011, or by an external device such as the position
`tracking management entity 620 or the GeoFence device
`1000. If the second tracked device’s position fix is not inside
`the dynamic GeoFence area, proceed to Block 225. In Block
`225, the process must wait a time T2 before proceeding to
`Block 2210 to receive the next set of pseudorange measure-
`ments. The time T2 is a system parameter that may be con-
`figured by the user, another operator or the applicationitself.
`Time T2 sets the time interval between obtaining pseudor-
`ange measurements. If the second tracked device’s position
`fix is inside the dynamic GeoFence area, proceed to Block
`230. In Block 230, the alert message is presented. In one
`aspect, the GeoFence device 1000 presents the alert message
`to the user. The user may then present the alert message to
`other persons, devices, or systems. In another aspect, the
`GeoFence device 1000 relays the alert messageto other per-
`sons, devices or systems. Alternatively, an external device
`such as the position tracking managemententity 620 relays
`the alert message to other persons, devices or systems. Simi-
`lar to time T1 time T2 could represent a fixed time period
`between obtaining pseudorange measurements or a variable
`time period dependent upon other parameters such as the
`examples (e.g., sensor measurements) discussed in the con-
`text oftime T1. Similarly, the second tracked device 1011 and
`the GeoFence device 1000 could be two separate devices or a
`single device. In one aspect, the second tracked device’s
`position fix is updated periodically and compared to the
`dynamic GeoFence area. Oneskilled in the art would recog-
`nizethat for some applications, the process described in FIG.
`2 is repeatedafter the alert message in block 230 is presented.
`One skilled in the art would recognize that the flow dia-
`gram of FIG. 2 may be usedto track a target to prevent the
`target from entering a restricted area. For example, a mother
`at a resort may wish to prevent her teenager from entering the
`bar area of the resort. The mother enters the bar area and
`
`activates her GeoFence device 1000 to create a dynamic
`GeoFencearea aroundtherestricted bar area. In one example,
`the teenager carries a second tracked device 1011. If the
`second tracked device position 1011 moves inside the
`dynamic GeoFencearea, an alert message is presented to the
`mother (for example,
`through her GeoFence device). In
`another example, the mother enters the bar area andactivates
`the GeoFence device 1000 to create a dynamic GeoFence area
`around the bar area. The mother then gives the GeoFence
`device 1000 to her teenager. If the teenager (i.e.,
`the
`GeoFence device 1000) enters the bararea (i.e., the dynamic
`GeoFencearea), an alert message is presented to the mother
`through a separate device. One skilledin the art would under-
`stand that the flow diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 2 are notlimited
`to the examples presented, but can encompass numerous
`examples for monitoring the movementofa target relative to
`a dynamic GeoFencearea.
`
`Exhibit 1026
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`Page 08 of 13
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`Exhibit 1026
`Page 08 of 13
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`

`

`US 8,536,999 B2
`
`7
`FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating tracking
`multiple targets using a dynamic GeoFence. One skilled in
`the art would understand that FIG. 3 presents an exemplary
`combination and ordering of the blocks. Various other com-
`binations and orderingsofthe blocks presentedin FIG.3 will
`be readily apparentto those skilled in the art without depart-
`ing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.
`In Block 310, the GeoFence device 1000 checksto verify
`that a GeoFence protocol has been activated. The user, for
`example, may activate the GeoFence protocol by pressing a
`button on the GeoFence device 1000. In one aspect, when the
`GeoFence device 1000 is ON,it checks periodically to verify
`that the GeoFenceprotocolhas been activated. One skilled in
`the art would understandthat how often the periodic check is
`madeis a system parameter that may be configured by the
`user, another operatoror the application itself. The user acti-
`vates the GeoFence device 1000 to receive pseudorange mea-
`surements which are used to calculate a position fix. The
`position fix becomesthe instant reference point which is then
`used to define the dynamic GeoFencearea. In this aspect, the
`user need not determine his present location or how to define
`a GeoFence area. In one example, the user activates the
`GeoFence device and the GeoFence device performsthe pro-
`cesses shown in FIG.3.
`
`If the GeoFence protocol is activated, proceed to Blocks
`335 and 320. In Block 335, a third tracked device 1020
`receives pseudorange measurements and in Block 340, the
`third tracked device’s position fix is determined based on the
`pseudorange measurements received. In one aspect, the third
`tracked device 1020 may include componentsto determineits
`position fix. In another aspect, the third tracked device 1020
`relays the pseudorange measurements to an external device
`such asthe position determining entity 1008, and the position
`determining entity 1008 determinesthethird tracked device’s
`position fix. In another aspect, the third tracked device 1020
`relays the pseudorange measurements to the GeoFence
`device 1000 and the GeoFence device 1000 determines the
`third tracked device’s position fix. From Block 340, proceed
`to Block 345.
`In Block 320, pseudorange measurements are received by
`the GeoFence device 1000. In Block 325, the GeoFence
`device’s position fix is determined using the received pseu-
`dorange measurements. In one aspect, the GeoFence device
`1000 includes components for determining its position fix. In
`another aspect, the GeoFence device 1000 relays the pseudo-
`range measurements to an external device such asthe position
`determining entity 1008, and the position determining entity
`1008 determines the GeoFence device’s positionfix.
`In one aspect, the GeoFence device’s position fix defines
`the instant reference point. In Block 330,
`the dynamic
`GeoFence area is defined relative to the instant reference
`point. In Block 330, the process waits a time T3 before pro-
`ceeding back to Block 320 to receive the next set of pseudo-
`range measurements. Similar to time T1, time T3 could rep-
`resent a fixed time period between obtaining pseudorange
`measurementsor a variable time period dependent upon other
`parameters such as the examples(e.g., sensor measurement)
`discussed in the context of time T1.
`In Block 345, determineif the third tracked device’s posi-
`tion fix is outside the dynamic GeoFence area defined in
`Block 330. This determination could be made by the third
`tracked device 1020, an external device such as the position
`tracking management entity 620 or the GeoFence device
`1000. If the third tracked device 1020 is outside the dynamic
`GeoFence area, proceed to Block 350 wherean alert message
`is presented. In one aspect, the GeoFence device 1000 pre-
`sents the alert messageto the user. In another aspect, the alert
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`messageis presented to other persons, devices or systems. If
`the third tracked device position 1020 is not outside the
`dynamic GeoFencearea, the process waits a time T4 before
`proceeding back to Block 335 to receive the next set of pseu-
`dorange measurements. Similar to time T1, time T4 could
`representa fixed time period between obtaining pseudorange
`measurementsora variable time period dependent upon other
`parameters such as the examples(e.g., sensor measurement)
`discussedin the context of time T1. In one example, time T4
`is equal to time T3.
`In one aspect, the third tracked device’s position fix is
`updated periodically and compared to the dynamic GeoFence
`area. In one aspect, the instant reference point is updated
`periodically to redefine the dynamic GeoFencearea based on
`the updated first instant reference point. Once the dynamic
`GeoFencearea is redefined, compare the updatedposition fix
`to the redefined GeoFence area. One skilled in the art would
`
`recognize that for some applications, the process described in
`FIG. 3 is repeated after the alert message in block 350 is
`presented.
`One skilled in the art would recognize that the flow dia-
`gram of FIG. 3 maybe usedto track multiple targets using a
`dynamic GeoFence,such use is describedlater. For example,
`a mother may desire to keep her child (or children in the case
`of tracki