United States Patent
`US 7,233,795 Bl
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12)
`Ryden
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`
`US007233795B1
`
`(54) LOCATION BASED COMMUNICATIONS
`SYSTEM
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Michael V. Ryden, 62290 Jay Jay Rd.,
`Montrose, CO (US) 81401
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`US.C. 154(b) by 138 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/101,841
`(22)
`Filed:
`Mar. 19, 2002
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`.
`.
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/277,117,filed on Mar.
`19, 2001.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO04Q 7/20
`(52) US. CD. eee ceeeceeeeereesseseeseeneeseeseeeeeeeeee 455/445
`(58) Field of Classification Search................. 455/445
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`5,448,623 A
`5,890,092 A
`5,946,618 A
`5,995,041 A
`6,002,363 A
`
`........... 379/59
`9/1995 Wiedeman et al.
`. 701/216
`3/1999 Kato et al.
`..........
`
`8/1999 Agre et al. we 455/428
`11/1999 Bradley et al.
`........... 342/357
`12/1999 Krasner ........e eee 342/357.1
`
`2/2000 Lemelson et al.
`.......... 340/539
`6,028,514 A
`3/2000 Hortonet al... 455/255
`6,041,222 A
`
`3/2000 Boling et al... 455/404
`6,044,257 A
`atop anata et al vers5Syne
`ove3G ‘
`
`asner .......
`see
`2
`.
`,064,
`5/2000 Enimed vseeeesssseseseeeesesee 345/174
`6,067,082 A
`Primary Examiner—William D. Cumming
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Allen H. Erickson
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A location based communications system uses a physical
`location system (PLS)or relative position system to deter-
`mine a communication unit’s location in two or three
`dimensions, and is configured for radiotelephonic calls
`through intermediary communications satellite systems, cel-
`lular systems or other mobile systems and landline systems,
`based on the location G# of the called telephone or on a
`caller-defined estimated area or space termed a G zone
`number GZ# surrounding the desired callee. The system is
`particularly advantageous for mobile communications, and
`may be interfaced with conventionalstationary telephones,
`cellular phones and other communications devices. Multiple
`telephone units may be simultaneously contacted with mes-
`sages in user-defined languages. Emergency features enable
`the location based communication system to locate and
`notify the nearest and/or best equipped party for assistance
`in the event of an emergency, issue warningsto all phones
`in a specific area ofany size, calculate vehicle velocities and
`controltraffic.
`
`31 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`a
`
`Google v. Mullen
`
`Google Exhibit 1009
`Google Exhibit 1009
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 Bi
`
` i
`
`2°
`2 |Z
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`ia
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`10B
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`“enceNe
`ceene
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`
`26
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`
`FIG.
`
`|
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`
`
`10B
`
`lyse
`
`——
`
`GF
`
`PLS SIGNAL
`ANTENNA|
`
`LOC. DETERM. DEVICE
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`MATRIX MEMORY
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`82
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`3l
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`DIRECTION FINDER
`DEVICE
`
`70
`
`MEMORY
`
`«
`
`100
`
`102
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`OB
`
`62
`
`93UTE
`eSeaeL/L)¥/CO4)My,
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`FIG, 3
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`60
`
`106
`
`LY),7)//CDs ®)©
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`1220
`
`7
`
`179
`
`(24,
`128
`
`132
`
`29A
`
`ay
`
`.
`
`)
`
`134
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 BI
`
`18O.
`
`182
`
`1824
`1828
`1826
`
`(88
`
`*BATTERY *SOFTWARE
`
`STATUS
`
`CHECKS
`*CIRCUITS
`
`* ERROR MESSAGE
`
`186
`
`ANY
`
`YES
`
`178
`
`NO
`
`IGG
`
`49A
`
`ACTIVATE
`CALL
`FUNCTION
`
`a
`
`MESSAGE
`
`BYPASS
`
`oO
`
`is
`G# OR GZ
`KNOWN
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`20
`
`USE
`DIAL
`METHOD
`
`
`
`IS CAL
`TOA
`VISIBLE
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`FIG, 10
`
`S
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`194
`
`2l2
`
`30
`
`176
`
`40
`136
`138
`140°
`so
`144.
`
`DIAL METHOD 1
`CALLING
`ACTIVATE
`
`SIGNAL
`
`/
`4
`
`2!l0
`
`204
`
`SPECIFY
`PRIORITY
`
`CODE OR
`
`EXTENSION
`
`
`144
`
`IF4A
`
`PRESS
`CALL
`
`190
`
`
`
`ORIGINATION STRING
`SATELLITE CONTACT CODE
`
`CALLER
`
`CALLER BILLING#
`
`PRIOR.CODE OR EXT.
`
`
`
`
`CALLED
`
`R
`
`ISOA
`
`20
`l44A
`
`FIG.
`
`Il
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`2
`
`DIAL METHOD 2
`
`[94
`
`ACTIVATE
`CALLING
`SIGNAL
`
`57——1GREATE_G2#-J— 20
`
`
`
`DIRECTION ESTIMATE
`SHAPE OF G2#
`INCLUSIVE ANGLE
`*RECTANGLE
`
`DISTANCE ESTIMATE
`*#CIRCLE
`
`‘INCLUSIVE ANGLE
`*OVAL
`
`
`
`CALCULATE GZ#
`
`48
`48A
`48B
`48C
`
`57
`
`57
`
`20
`
`176
`
`WANT™
`‘PRIORITY
`CODE?
`
`204
`
`YES
`
`20
`
`a4
`
`SPECIFY
`PRIORITY
`CODE
`
`190
`
`PRESS
`CALL
`
`IQOA
`
`40
`36
`138
`140-
`20
`
`PRIORITY CODE
`
`ORIGINATION STRING
`SATELLITE CONTACT CODE
`CALLER G#
`CALLER BILLING #
`CALLED GZ#
`
`194, 144A
`
`FIG.
`
`Il2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`DIAL METHOD 3
`
`PRESS EMERGENCY KEY.
`
`92D
`
`176
`
`‘tf
`
`WW?
`
`SPECIFY
`
`TYPE OF
`
`EMERGENCY
`
`194
`
`
`
`ISOA
`
`CALL TRANSMISSION BEGINS
`ORIGINATION STRING
`SATELLITE CONTACT CODE
`CALLER G#
`
`“CALLER BILLING # TYPE OF EMERGENCY
`
`6
`
`WAIT FOR
`
`CALL RECEIPT
`
`(96
`
`OBTAIN CAL
`RECEIPT
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`92D
`
`REPRESS»
`EMERGENCY
`KEY
`
`OR
`
`STAY ON LINE
`FOR FURTHER
`INFORMATION
`
`aig
`
`198
`136-
`(38.
`140
`Wt?
`
`196 -
`
`2t6
`
`FIG.
`
`13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`SATELLITE RESPONSE
`
`ISSUE CALL RECEIPT
`
`SATELLITE
`MEMORY
`
`DETERMINE ASSISTANCE GZ#
`SURROUNDING CALLER G#
`
`
`
`ORIGINATE CALL TO
`ASSISTANCE GZ#
`
`124
`
`(96
`
`212
`
`134
`
`134A
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE G# AND ID
`OF RESPONDING
`ASSISTANCE
`
`
`
`CALLER DISTANCE
`
`—
`
`
`
` REPEAT TO FIND
`NEW ASSISTANCE
`
`220
`
`TRANSMIT MESSAGE TO
`CALL G@ (IF ON LINE)
`ASSISTANCE LOCATED
`IDENTIFICATION
`LOCATION
`DISTANCE
`RESCUE FACILITIES
`
`
`
`
`
`RECORD PROGRESS OF
`ASSISTANCE & CALLER
`
`220
`
`222
`
`|
`
`CALL Gé (IF HUNG UP)
`AND TRANSMIT MESSAGE
` ASSISTANCE LOCATED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IDENTIFICATION
`LOCATION
`DISTANCE
`RESCUE FACILITIES
`
`224
`
`RECORD PROGRESS OF
`ASSISTANCE & CALLER
`
`FIG. 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`-
`
`40
`
`[a
`
`42
`
`a
`
`44/1444
`
`138
`
`40
`
`\ a
`
`136
`
`FIG, 15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 19, 2007
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`164
`
`i) Oy20Q (S)
`
`
`
`ri
`4,
`
`a
`
`166
`
`20R CSF
`AN)
`
`FIG. {7
`
`

`

`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`1
`LOCATION BASED COMMUNICATIONS
`SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communica-
`tions systems. Moreparticularly, the invention pertains to
`apparatus and methods for enhanced local and wide-area
`communications between stationary and/or roving commu-
`nications units on land, at sea, underwater, underground and
`in the air.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A variety of wireless communications systems are used to
`provide voice and data transmission to and from subscriber
`telephonic units within a prescribed geographic area. Analog
`cellular systems such as those designated as AMPS, ETACS,
`MMT-450 and MMT-900 have been deployed throughout
`the world. Subsequently, digital cellular systems have
`become common, and include the so-called personal com-
`munications
`system (PCS)
`including those denoted as
`IS-95m OCS-1900, PACS, DCS-1800, DECT, PHS and
`other names. PCS systems generally utilize a radio fre-
`quency band of about 2 gigahertz (Ghz) for both voice and
`data transmission.
`
`In a conventional terrestrial wireless communication sys-
`tem, wireless mobile terminals,
`i.e. cellular phones may
`communicate witha plurality of cells served by base stations
`and a mobile telephone switching office. Communication is
`enabled between mobile telephones and between a mobile
`telephone and a land line terminal, e.g. conventionaltele-
`phone or computer.
`Celestial wireless communications systems are known,
`and comprise typically a plurality of earth satellites that
`serve as transponders or relays for radio communications
`between earth stations and wireless satellite mobile termi-
`
`nals. Such cellular systems may utilize a single antenna
`beam covering the entire area served by the system, or
`alternatively, the system may produce multiple beams (with
`minimal overlap), each beam serving a distinct geographic
`coverage area within the service region. Thus, a satellite and
`beam coverage serve the same purposeas a base station and
`a cell of a non-satellite cellular communications system.
`Various systems for locating one’s earth position are in
`place including the well-known Global Positioning Satellite
`System (GPS). In this application, electronic position locat-
`ing systems will be referred to generically as physical
`location systems (PLS) of which GPSis one version.
`Various methods and apparatus for integrating a physical
`location system (PLS) such as a global position satellite
`system (GPS) with a satellite communications system are
`described in the patent literature, as noted below.
`In USS. Pat. No. 5,448,623 of Wiedemanetal., a satellite
`communications system is disclosed having a network of
`gateways which interface with a terrestrial communications
`system.
`USS. Pat. No. 5,946,618 of Agre et al., describes a mobile
`telephone system employing a fleet of communications
`satellites and a set of gateway ground stations arranged
`around the globe for handling communications to and from
`mobile subscriber units. The location of a mobile unit is
`determined using a GPSsatellite system, and the mobile unit
`transmits the location to a gateway. The disclosure presents
`methods for selecting which service provider will handle a
`call made by a mobile unit, and ways for directing emer-
`gency calls to the proper authorities. In addition, methods
`
`2
`for handling a mobile unit call to a nearby phone which is
`far distant from the calling unit’s home area are disclosed,
`wherein the call is handled as a local call irrespective of
`whether a long distance area code or trans-country prefix is
`dialed.
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,041 of Bradley et al. discloses a
`satellite phone for direct communication with a communi-
`cations satellite system. The phone may bestationary or
`mobile, and generates a highly directed antenna beam which
`is continuously controlled regardless of the position of the
`phone, using GPS determined coordinates of both the phone
`and a communicationssatellite.
`
`In US. Pat. No. 6,028,514 of Lemelsonet al., a system is
`described for monitoring a person’s location. A few stan-
`dardized warning messages may be transmitted to the per-
`son, and a few emergency messages may be transmitted
`from the person’s unit to a commandcenter. The person’s
`location is calculated from GPS signals, and the communi-
`cations are transmitted via a terrestrial cellular system or via
`communication satellites.
`
`20
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,222 of Horton et al. describes a
`wireless mobile terminal having a communication trans-
`ceiver and a GPStransceiver. The two transceivers share a
`
`common frequency reference signal whichis used for signal
`demodulation and processing. The reference indicates utility
`in an advanced “911” system whereby an emergencycall by
`e.g. an accident victim would include the GPS location of
`the victim. It is also indicated that radio communications
`
`from a communicationssatellite could be highly directed (in
`“pencil beams”) if the mobile terminal’s location is accu-
`rately known. This would save considerable transmission
`energy.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,336 of Krasner, a GPS receiver
`having a communications link is described. A precision
`carrier frequencyis used to calibrate the local oscillator such
`that its output is modified by a reference signal generated
`from the precision carrier frequency signal. More particu-
`larly, satellite almanac data are transmitted to a remote GPS
`receiver unit from a base station. The remote GPS receiver
`unit uses the almanac data to determine approximate Dop-
`pler data for the satellite in the “view” of the receiver unit.
`As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,561 of Alanaraet al.,
`a mobile station within the geographic limits of a “cell”
`receives a signal from the cellular base station indicating the
`location of the base station. The location data are stored in
`the mobile station and transmitted in calls made therefrom.
`
`In USS. Pat. No. 6,002,363 of Krasner, a cellular mobile
`unit is disclosed which has a GPSreceiver for determination
`
`of the unit’s location. The circuitry for GPS receiving/
`calculating operations and cellular communications opera-
`tions are shared, requiring that both operations cannot be
`used simultaneously.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,092 of Kato et al. describes a navi-
`gation system for vehicles wherein direction of movement
`(heading) is calculated using a geomagnetic sensor, steering
`sensor, gyro, or the like. The heading data is combined with
`GPSposition data to determine the route and velocity of a
`vehicle.
`
`As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,257 of Boling et al.,
`a “panic button”cell phone may be activated to recetve GPS
`signals and calculate its position. The phone maybe usedto
`call to an emergency response center (ERC) whichis given
`the phone’s position. In addition to a sound alarm, a low-
`range radio may be used to activate a household alarm
`system.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`

`

`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`3
`A cellular communications device is described in U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,067,082 of Enmei in whichits position is calcu-
`lated from GPSsignals, and transmitted in communications
`(voice, facsimile and data) made from the device.
`In the currentstate of the art, each cellular telephone unit
`has a unique identification code. Radio signals (initiated by
`other units) which present that code will initiate a response
`from the called unit, as long as the called unit is “switched
`ON”andis within radio range to receive the radio signals.
`Cellular telephone communication with ships at sea is
`non-existent unless the ship is in port or near land having a
`nearby cellular tower.
`Currently, radio communicationsat sea require a person to
`maintain a radio ON andlisten to various parties commu-
`nicating on the same channel. In proper use, the radio must
`be kept ON and audible. Becauseit is tiresome to continu-
`ously listen to conversation which is not specific to the
`listener’s vessel, radios are generally ignored, and often are
`turned OFF. Thus, a call from another vessel is unsuccessful.
`Often, distress (SOS) transmissions from nearby ships or
`boats are missed, and the vessel passes the troubled ship
`without any knowledge of the emergencysituation. Plans are
`underway to abandonthe present maritime communications
`system in the near future because of these and other inherent
`problems. In a proposed system, a ship in trouble maydial
`a sighted vessel(if its “telephone” numberis known), and an
`emergency button may beactivated to radio-transmit the
`GPSposition ofthe calling “phone” and a MayDay Message
`to the sighted vessel. Only short range “line-of-sight”VHF
`radio is in view, and the phone numberofthe rescue vessel
`must be known. Thus, a satisfactory and comprehensive
`communications system for providing enhancedsafety con-
`siderations has not yet been announced.
`
`4
`applied. Thus for example, when applied to a globular
`surface such as the earth, the physical location identification
`system (PLS) may utilize latitude and longitude as two
`dimensions, and distance from the earth’s center as a third
`dimension. Such a system will include locations both above
`and below the earth’s surface. Arbitrarily, the third dimen-
`sion may be defaulted to comprise the earth’s surface, or
`alternatively to a value of altitude abovethe earth’s surface,
`or above mean sea level, or below using negative values,
`thus eliminating sub-surface locations from the system. A
`location on the earth’s surface (default third dimension) may
`thus be identified by two dimensions (two factors) and
`considered to be a “two-dimensional” location for calcula-
`tion purposes. Although the invention may be adapted for
`universal use, it will be illustrated herein in relation to the
`earth’s surface or a portion thereof, to airspace, to under-
`water use, to local intercommunications such as shipboard,
`and the like. The matrix of physical
`locations may be
`configured to be “relative”, e.g. based on the location of the
`calling telephone unit, even if the unit is moving at high
`speed relative to the earth.
`The invention requires (1) a system for identifying the
`geographic location of a telephonic unit, e.g. a physical
`position location system (PLS)or data base and (2) a system
`for message transmission. While various systems of each
`type may be used,
`the invention will be illustrated and
`exemplified herein by use of a PLS system such as those
`which use global positioning satellites (GPS), and radio-
`telephone transmission through a network of communica-
`tions satellites (CS).
`In this location-based communications system, a phoneis
`located and called by its geographic location, or a limited
`area or space having boundaries which enclose the specific
`geographic location of the called phone. This is contrary to
`the current system using a conventionally assigned tele-
`phone numberfor example havingat least some of a country
`A communications system for alleviating the aboveindi-
`code, an area code, a local prefix and a plural-digit number
`cated shortcomings has been discovered. The present inven-
`(four digits in the United States) which identify the particu-
`tion comprises a communication system which may be
`lar telephone unit.
`integrated with current telephonic systems, e.g. hard-wired,
`In a location-based communications system of the inven-
`cellular, and/or satellite, or may be used as a partial or
`tion, each mobile unit has apparatus for determining its earth
`complete replacement for current methods of initiating and
`location in a matrix of at least two dimensions, e.g. latitude
`maintaining telephonic (voice, facsimile, data, e-mail, etc.)
`and longitude, and preferably including a third dimension,
`communications between parties. The basic concepts and
`e.g. altitude. To initiate a call fromafirst telephone unit to
`45
`hardware of the invention may be adapted for use with any
`a second telephone unit,
`the geographic earth location
`methodof electronic communication known to the inventor,
`(called G# herein) of the second telephone unit
`(more
`including radio or sonic underwater communications. The
`precisely, the PLS antenna of the unit) may be identified in
`apparatus of the invention may be considered as a call
`the call initiating process. While it is generally preferred that
`origination communications unit (such as a telephone or
`the PLS antenna is physically attached to a telephone unit,
`computer), at least one call receiving communications unit
`it may optionally be located remotely from the unit, par-
`(again, as a telephone or computer) and an intermediary
`ticularly where the location of the telephone unit prevents
`processing system which provides the apparatus and soft-
`good reception of its earth location. Some units may be
`ware for handling thecall initiation, communications main-
`assigned a specific G#, even though the unit itself is not at
`that
`location. Earth location or communication matrices
`tenance, memory, disconnection, accounting and the like.
`The communications may “ride” on an EMF(electromag-
`netic force, frequency or wave) such as radio, and sonic
`forward progression molecular compression waves. The
`transmission medium may be any wave which may be
`adapted to carry a transmission between distant locations
`including a machine-receivable message.
`In its simplest embodiment, the invention comprises a
`method and apparatus for initiating and continuing commu-
`nication,
`including conversation, between distant parties
`though neither party knowsthat the other party even exists.
`In the broadest sense, the invention requires a matrix for
`identifying any particular location in three dimensional
`space for the particular region to which the inventionis to be
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`other than altitude-longitude-elevation may be used, as will
`be discussed, infra.
`Preferably, the initiating call from the first telephone unit
`is directed (e.g. through a communications transceiver on a
`satellite or cellular system) to include a two-dimensional
`area or a three-dimensional space having boundaries within
`which the G# (i.e. location) of the second telephone unitis
`located. This area or space is called herein a Geographic
`Zone or GZ for short, and has a brief numeric or alpha-
`numeric electronically transmittable code defining the limits
`of the GZ. The call-initiating telephone unit may be con-
`ventionally hard-wired or wireless, and the location based
`communications system may include ground lines between
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`US 7,233,795 B1
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`5
`individual telephoneunits, satellite gateways, cellular gate-
`ways, and other gateways e.g. to an underwater communi-
`cations system.
`An initiating telephonecall will preferably include the G#
`of the calling telephone unit, a billing number, e.g. a
`conventional telephone number, and a definition of the area
`within which a desired called telephone unitis located, e.g.
`a GZ#. Theinitiating call is transmitted to an intermediary
`communications system including for example, a direct
`telephone system, a communicationssatellite, cellulartele-
`phonic system, underwater communications system or local
`cellular (mini-cell) system, for example, and rebroadcast to
`an area or three-dimensional space which, at minimum,
`encloses the G# of the desired called telephone unit The
`called telephone unit receives the initiating call, compares
`the called geographic definition with its own location. If
`there is agreement, the called telephone unit will signal that
`it has received a call, and an ANSWER command may be
`entered by its user (or an automatic response may initiated
`by the unit) to complete the connection and begin commu-
`nication. A call signal to a user may be by a soundsignal
`(e.g. ringer), a lighted lamp, vibrator, or other attention-
`getting devices which interrupt personal radio or television
`programming, for example.
`The location G#sofall existing stationary telephone units
`(or the building entry boxes therefor) are currently known
`(in the United Statesat least), or may be readily determined
`by use of a GPSreceiver, for example. Since a telephone unit
`is identified by its location, stationary telephone units will
`have permanent G#s in the system’s memory. On the other
`hand, the G# of a mobile telephone unit will vary as the
`location of the unit changes. The current location of a mobile
`telephone may be determined using any available method
`which may be incorporated into a practical mobile phone,
`but preferably uses global position signals from a PLS
`satellite(s) or a cellular telephone system. A preferred
`embodiment will be capable of receiving position signals
`from an orbiting PLSsatellite system, as well as voice, data
`and/or facsimile signals and the like to/from an orbiting
`communications satellite system. Any type of digital or
`analog-coded message which is capable of wireless trans-
`mission may be used in this invention.
`The invention also encompasses methods and apparatus
`for operating the location based communication system,
`particularly in marine communications and the like. Meth-
`ods and apparatus for calling a sighted (but unidentified)
`ship(s) in a marine emergency are disclosed Methods for
`discriminating between a plurality of telephone units within
`a called GZ are presented. Also, methods for issuing tele-
`phonic warnings or other messages to all persons with
`communications units in a specified area or space of any
`definable size e.g. a building, city block, city, county,
`specified airspace, etc. are described. The communications
`units may include “telephonic” units, LAN computers, Web-
`attached computers, and various other devices which are
`capable of receiving and respondingto signals. Applications
`of the invention to correct traffic problems and for law
`enforcementare described. In addition, use of the concept to
`maintain a knowledge of the location of another person (a
`child for example) is noted. Many other applications will be
`evident from the following drawings and description.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG.1 is a figurative illustration of an exemplary location-
`based communications system which is constructed and
`operated in accordance with the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the components of an
`exemplary telephone unit in accordance with the present
`invention;
`FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a mobile telephone unit
`operable in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a top view of a calling telephone unit and a
`called telephone unit, the latter having a geographical zone
`surrounding the telephone unit and useful for initiating a call
`to the called telephoneunit in accordance with the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a top view of another geographical zone having
`a different shape, in accordance with the invention;
`FIG.6 is a top view of a further geographical zone having
`another shape, in accordance with the invention;
`FIG.7 is a top view of a user defined geographical zone
`for calling a telephone unit estimated to be within the
`geographical zone, in accordance with the invention;
`FIG.8 is an elevational view of a mobile telephone unit
`operable in accordance with another embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 9 is a figurative illustration of the earth’s surface
`within the service area of a communicationssatellite, and
`depicting a method ofcalling for assistance in accordance
`with an embodiment ofthe invention;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart of exemplary preliminary steps for
`initiating a telephone call in accordance with the methods
`and apparatus of the invention;
`FIG. 11 is a flowchart of exemplary secondary steps for
`completing a telephonecall in accordance with one embodi-
`ment of the invention;
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart of exemplary secondary steps for
`completing a telephone call
`in accordance with another
`embodimentof the invention;
`FIG. 13 is a flowchart of exemplary secondary steps for
`completing a telephonecall in the event of an emergency,in
`accordance with a further embodimentof the invention;
`FIG. 14 is a flowchart of exemplary steps taken by a
`location based communications system in response to an
`emergency call in accordance with an embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 15 is an illustration of typical parts of a call
`origination message of the invention;
`FIG. 16 is a top view of a user-defined expandable
`geographical zone for calling a distant telephone unit with-
`out knowingits position, in accordance with the invention;
`and
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`FIG. 17 is a plan view of a hypothetical matrix of
`locations superimposed on a road mapto illustrate various
`applications of the present inventionto safety, rescue, traflic
`control and law enforcement.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention will now be described more fully
`hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
`which examples and preferred embodiments of the invention
`are shown. However, this invention may be embodied in
`many different forms and should not be construedas limited
`to the exemplary embodimentsset forth herein. Rather, these
`embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
`thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the
`invention, including equivalents, to those skilled in theart.
`Like numbersrefer to like or equivalent elements through-
`out.
`
`In this application, the term “physical location system”or
`“PLS”9A is used in a generic sense to denote any method
`for rapid determination of the earth or space position G# 30
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`US 7,233,795 B1
`
`7
`of a telephone unit 10. The PLS 9A may comprisea satellite
`9 orfleet of satellites which emit radio signals usable by a
`receiving unit to determine its position G# 30. e.g. latitude
`34 and longitude 36 and preferably altitude 38 (or radial
`distance abovethe earth’s center) as well (such asofairplane
`22). A PLSsatellite is denoted in FIG. 1 by the numeral 9.
`The system known as Global Positioning Satellite System
`(GPS) is a particular PLS system 9A in wide use by USS.
`customers and the U.S. military, and covers a large portion
`of the earth’s surface 25. The invention will be described
`
`herein as utilizing a GPS system denoted by the numeral 9A.
`Alternatively, the PLS 9A may comprise a location deter-
`mining system 80 using differential transmission timesto a
`plurality of earth-bound cellular towers (not shown) as
`currently known, to pinpoint the location of a communica-
`tions unit 10, e.g. wireless telephone. Furthermore, the PLS
`9A may determine a “relative” position,
`i.e. a position
`encompassing or relative to an object other than the earth.
`For example, a PLS 9A may be designed to comprise a
`location G# 30 within or on, for example a building, a ship,
`a municipality, etc., and the location may be specified in any
`type of three-dimensional matrix 31. One (or even two) of
`the dimensions 34, 36, 38 may be a default location such as
`sea level, groundlevel, etc. In any case, the location G# 30
`of a communications unit 10 will be expressed in terms of
`a matrix 31 encompassing the object or surface of interest,
`whetherit is the entire universe, the earth’s surface, the earth
`and its surrounding space, a city, a building or a ship for
`example. A matrix 31 encompassing underwater environs
`may be formed throughthe use of sonic signals (not shown)
`transmitted by a communications unit 10 and detected by
`two or more sensors stationed underwater or suspended from
`a ship. In the former case, the matrix 31 will be relative to
`the sensors, while in the latter case,
`the matrix will be
`relative to the ship, which may be continuously in motion.
`The term “communications satellite” or “CS” 7 denotes
`
`one or moreearth satellites which act as transceivers to relay
`telephone calls 23 between individual telephone units 10 or
`between a telephone unit and a gateway station 12 or another
`satellite by “handing-off’28. A communicationssatellite CS
`will be identified herein by the numeral 7 or 7A.It should
`be noted that for at least land-based communications, a
`cellular system (not shown) may be used in lieu of commu-
`nications satellites CS 7, 7A.
`In a communications system 50 of the invention, a single
`satellite system may provide both the PLS 9A and commu-
`nications functionsof satellites 7, 7A, whereby only a single
`antenna 62 is required on each telephone unit 10 (see FIGS.
`2, 3 and 8).
`The term “communications unit” or “telephone unit” is
`used to describe a terminal apparatus by which a user may
`access a communications system, and may transmit and
`receive voice, electronic data, e-mail, facsimile information
`and the like. As known in the art, the messages may be
`encoded and transmitted at various wavelengths appropriate
`to the particular system and to deter interception by other
`than the intended party. Prior art telephone units will be
`identified herein by the numeral 11 for stationary phones and
`13 for mobile wireless cellular phones. A communications
`unit or telephoneunit of this invention is generally identified
`herein by the numeral 10 with suffixes thereto representing
`specific units. Thus, the numeral 10 with alphabetic suffixes
`such as 10A, 10B, 10C, etc. will denote different telephone
`units or units being operated in a particular way. A telephone
`unit 10 may be configured as a desk or wall-mounted
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`“hand-set” 10A, a mobile unit 10B, vehicle mounted tele-
`phone unit
`(not shown), a computer terminal or other
`apparatus.
`The term “gateway station” identified by the numeral 12
`refers to a communications station which handles the trans-
`fer of communications between a communicationssatellite
`7 and a telephone unit 10 on earth. Typically, a large number
`of earthbound telephone units 10A maybelinked, typically
`hard-wired, within a telephone system having a gateway
`station 12 for accessing a satellite communications system 7.
`The invention may be broadly summarized as comprising
`methods and apparatus for connecting telephone units (com-
`munications units) 10 for unidirectional or bidirectional
`communication e.g. calls 23 on the basis of the particular
`location G# 30 of the calling telephone unit 10C and/or of
`called telephone units 10D, rather than on the basis of a
`conventional assigned telephone numbers. Apparatus for
`communicatively connecting the telephone units 10 com-
`prises an intermediary system 15 which includes apparatus
`for receiving a call initiation signal 40 from a calling unit
`10C, determining locations of calling and called units (10C
`AND 10D), prompting a call to a specified three-dimen-
`sional space or cell 56 of a defined callable universe, and
`initiating, maintaining, and terminating communications
`between the units. The intermediary system 15 includes
`gateway stations 12 where appropriate.
`An exemplary system of one embodimentof the present
`invention is depicted generally in FIG. 1, and relates to a
`wireless communications system 50 using com