US 6,885,874 B2
`(io) Patent No.
`az) United States Patent
`
` Grubeetal. (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 26, 2005
`
`
`US006885874B2
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Barrington, IL (US);
`Leslie Gabor Seymour, Barrington, IL
`US(US)
`(73) Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`
`*)
`
`Notice:
`
`J
`y
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`US.C. 154(b) by 36 days.
`
`Crocker, Diacakis, Mazzoldi, Huitema, Klyne, Rose, Rosen-
`(54) GROUP LOCATION AND ROUTE SHARING
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION UNITSIN berg, Sparks, Sugano, A Common Profile for Instant Mes-
`A TRUNKED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`saging (CPIM), Internet Draft, Nov., 2000, 33 pages, Fujitsu
`Laboratories, Ltd.
`Alex Hopmann, Minutes from IETF BoF, Monday Mar. 30,
`1998, 5 pages
`Wang, Bahl, Russell, The SIMBA User Alert Service Archi-
`tecture for Dependable Alert Delivery, Technical Report,
`Mar. 26, 2001, 11 pages, Microsoft Research, Microsoft
`Corporation, Redmond, Va.
`Boulton, Handset Makers Forge Instant Messaging Alliance,
`Apr. 26, 2001, 4 pages, Internet News.
`Meloan, Leading the Way: MapInfo Location Information
`Systems Powered by Java™ Technology, Jun. 6, 2001, 7
`pages, 2001 JaveOne®™ Conference.
`(Continued)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/995,231
`(22)
`Filed:
`Nov. 27, 2001
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0100326 Al May 29, 2003
`
`Int. CH? ciceccccccscteceeeeceeee H04Q 7/20; HO4B 7/00
`(51)
`(52) US. Ch woe 455/520; 455/404.2; 455/456.1;
`455/519; 455/518
`(58) Field of Search oe 455/515, 41, 518,
`455/519, 507, 414, 566, 456.1, 456.2, 456.3,
`456.5, 456.6, 457, 404.1, 404.2, 520
`.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`6/1996 McPheters .......0 455/518
`5,530,914 A *
`11/1997 Grubeet al.
`5,689,809 A
`........ 455/456
`7/1999 Alperovich et al.
`5,924,041 A =
`6,167,255 A * 12/2000 Kennedy et al. vs... 455/414
`6.204.844 BL *
`3/2001 Fumarolo etal
`345/736
`6,240,069 Bl *
`5/2001 Alperovich et al. ....... 370/260
`
`9/2001 Sharma... 463/40
`6,287,200 Bl *
`6,662,016 Bil * 12/2003 Buckham etal. ........... 455/457
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Peretz, Sr. Editor, allNetDevices.com, Interoperable Wire-
`less Instant Messaging Platform Released, May 31, 2001, 2
`pages.
`
`.
`.
`Primary Examiner—Lee Nguyen
`Assistant Examiner—Lewis West
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Steven R. Santema; Terri S.
`Hughes; Indira Saladi
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Methods are disclosed for sharing location and route infor-
`mation between communication units (e.g.,
`talkgroup
`members) that are subscribed to a group location sharing
`service. The group location sharing service is event-based,
`such that the communication units may form a subset of a
`talkgroup desiring to actively participate or monitor an
`event. Communication units de-subscribe from the group
`location sharing
`service or talkgroup when they
`no longer
`ing
`group
`ney
`8
`desire to participate or monitor the event. Service levels may
`be determined for various subscribers to the group location
`Sharing service. The service levels may include,
`for
`example, an information tansmission service level and
`information reception service level
`that determine an
`amount, type, and/or timing of information to be sent or
`received by particular subscribers.
`
`22 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`USE CU SELECTION ELEMENT TO REQUEST LOCATION SHARING}
`
`307
`
`BUILD LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST MESSAGEFOR THE EVENT IN THE CU WEMORY
`
`TRANSMIT LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST
`WESSAGE FROM THE INITIATING CU
`
`03
`
`05
`
` Google Exhibit 1017
`
`Google Exhibit 1017
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`JO THE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE FOR THE EVENT
`USE SELECTION ELEWENT OF THE RECEIVING Cls TO SUBSCRIBE
`
`REGISTER THE SUBSCRIPTIONS FRON THE CUs SELECTING THE
`PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE
`
`09
`
`344
`
`NEW LOCATION INFORMATION FOR THE S0_|
`EVENT _IS_AVAILABLE
`3
`vitS
`SUBSCRIBER CUs FOR THE EVENT
`NO
`ARE_REGISTERED
`315
`¥YES
`TRANSMIT NEW LOCATION INFORMATION TO
`REGISTERED SUBSCRIBER CUs Cw)
`i
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION INFORMATION BYREGISTERED SUBSCRIBER CUs
`19
`
`3S
`
`
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST|557
`MESSAGE IN POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBING CUs
`
`

`

`US 6,885,874 B2
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Day, Aggarwal, Mohr, Vincent, Instant Messaging/Presence
`Protocol Requirements, Feb., 2000, 23 pages, Internet Draft,
`The Internet Society (2000).
`Li, Godefroid, Herbsleb, Jategaonkar-Jagadeesan, Engi-
`neering Collaborative Applications: A Framework for Mod-
`eling and Verifying Data Access Policies, 3 pages, Depart-
`ment of Computer Science, University of California, LA and
`Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, Naperville, IL.
`MessageVine Introduces New Instant Messaging Platform
`with Unparalleled Privacy Features, posted in TECS Mar.
`16, 2001, 2 pages, New York.
`Santa Ynez Valley Amateur Radio APRS (Automatic Posi-
`tion Reporting System) http://ariel.syv.com/hams/si/ap, May
`31, 2000, 3 pages.
`Reardon, The OVMRC Rambler, Comments From Our
`President, VE3GUU,vol. 42, No. 8, Apr., 1998, 9 pages,
`Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, Inc.
`
`McCarthy, Meidel, ActiveMap: A Visualization Tool for
`Location Awareness to Support Informal Interactions, Cen-
`ter for Strategic Technology Research (CSTaR), North-
`brook, IL, 13 pages.
`
`Harter, Hopper, A Distributed Location System for the
`Active Office, Nov., 1993, 17 pages, Olivetti Research Ltd,
`Cambridge, UK, and University of Cambridge Computer
`Laboratory, Cambridge, UK.
`
`Othelius, Lindberg, & Heine, mobilePosition, a SignalSoft
`company,
`launches friendPosition® to Swedish mobile
`operator, Nov. 14, 2001, Boulder, CO, Press Release, 2
`pages.
`
`iCUC™ Instant Messaging Services Website, http://ww-
`w.icuc.com/, 4 pages.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`100
`
`
`|
`SELECTION
`ELEMENT
`:
`INTERFACE
`:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATOR
`
`LOCATION
`DETERMINATION
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`WIRELESS
`INFRASTRUCTURE
`
`
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`
`a
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`MOBILE GROUP LOCATION WAP DISPLAY
`
`
`
`[Dy UNTITLED ROUTE-SHEET
`File View Wap
`Trip Plon Help
`
`&tod—_d—_taaSac
`
`=z
`
`. = 4
`
`=
`
`ISAT HILLCREST BLVD,
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`START
`
`USE CU SELECTION ELEMENT TO REQUEST LOCATION SHARING}
`
`30]
`
`BUILD LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST MESSAGE
`FOR THE EVENT IN THE CU MEMORY
`
`TRANSMIT LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST
`MESSAGE FROM THE INITIATING CU
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE INITIATION REQUEST
`MESSAGE_IN POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBING CUs
`
`USE SELECTION ELEMENT OF THE RECEIVING CUs T0 SUBSCRIBE
`TO THE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE FOR THE EVENT
`
`REGISTER THE SUBSCRIPTIONS FRON THE CUs SELECTING THE
`PARTICIPATION IN THE LOCATION SHARING SERVICE
`
`303
`
`305
`
`307
`
`509
`
`iN
`
`NEW LOCATION INFORMATION FOR THE NO
`EVENT IS AVAILABLE
`343
`YES
`SUBSCRIBER CUs FOR THE EVENT
`NO
`ARE_REGISTERED
`315
`TRANSMIT NEW LOCATION INFORMATION 10
`REGISTERED SUBSCRIBER CUs
`CN)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION INFORMATION BY
`REGISTERED SUBSCRIBER CUs
`
`317
`
`319
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`“4
`REQUEST GLSS
`DE-SUBSCRIPTION
`
`
`443
`
`
`
`GLSS STATUS
`INITIATED OR
`
`
`SUBSCRIBED 10 ?
`
`TRANSMIT
`E-SUBSCRIPTION
`
`REQUEST
`
`
`
`
`
`REQUEST LOCATION SHARING}
`
`401
`
`REQUEST VOICE CHANNEL
`
`}--403
`
`}-405
`407
`
`409
`YES
`
`413
`
`REQUEST LOCATION
`YES
`GLSS ALREADY INITIATED 2
`
`
`NO
`LSS ALREADY SUBSCRIBED
`10?
`
`
`NO
`SET GLSS
`SET_GLSS_INITIATION PENDING STATUS]
`lounorerpre STATUS
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT NEW UNIT STATUS OF
`INITIATING OR SUBSCRIBING
`
`RELEASE VOICE CHANNEL
`
`429
`
`
`
`END
`
`FIG. &
`
`

`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr
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`885,874 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.26, 2005
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`GLSS STATUS
`
`INITIATED OR
`
`SUBSCRIBED 10?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DETERMINE CHANGES IN SPEED, ROUTE
`AND/OR ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL IF ANY
`
`
`
`DETERMINE IF CHANGES IN SPEED, ROUTE
`
`AND/OR ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL ARE SIGNIFICIANT
`
`
`
`
` ANY CHANGES
`SIGNIFICANT?
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT LOCATION AND/OR
`OTHER CHANGES 10 GLSS
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`1
`GROUP LOCATION AND ROUTE SHARING
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION UNITSIN
`A TRUNKED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to trunked com-
`munication systems and, in particular, to a group location
`and route sharing service for communication units in a
`trunked communication system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Trunked communication systems are knownto include a
`wireless infrastructure and a plurality of communication
`units, such as mobile or portable two-way radios or mobile
`data terminals. Some communication systems, such as those
`used for public safety, also include a dispatch console and a
`so-called “computer aided dispatch (CAD) system” that
`includes a display-based terminal to control communica-
`tions between the communication units. The CAD terminal
`typically displays categorized tables of information to the
`terminal user (typically referred to as a “dispatcher” or
`“dispatch operator”). For example, the CAD terminal may
`display queues of currently pending incidents and/ora list of
`communication units that are currently available.
`In
`addition, some CAD terminals include an integrated map-
`ping program that enables the CAD terminal to display
`locations of communication units on a map that represents a
`geographic area supported by the dispatch system. The
`locations of the communication units are typically provided
`to the CAD system on a periodic basis by an automatic
`vehicle location (AVL) system that is coupled to the CAD
`system via a dedicated communication link.
`location
`In addition to receiving communication unit
`information,
`the CAD system may also receive incident
`information from a 911 system that is coupled to the CAD
`system. For example, the map may display the origination
`point of a 911 telephone call to the dispatcher as an icon on
`the map. By viewing communication unit location, commu-
`nication unit status, and incident location on the map, the
`dispatcher can determine which communication unit users
`(e.g., policemen, firemen, paramedics, and so forth) would
`be in the best situation to respond to the incident. As an
`incident is attended to by users of the communication units,
`the status of the communication units associated with such
`
`users is updated either manually by the dispatcher or auto-
`matically by the CAD system responsive to messaging from
`the wireless infrastructure. In the latter case, the wireless
`infrastructure receives status updates over a wireless com-
`munication channel from the communication units that are
`
`participating in the handling of the incident. Changes in
`communication unit status are typically indicated to the
`dispatcher by some type of visual change, such as a color
`change or icon update, to the participating unit’s represen-
`tation on the map.
`A map display, with icons representing the incidents and
`the communication units with their current status, gives a
`dispatcher a useful tool for evaluating an emergencysitua-
`tion. By using standard graphical user interface (GUI) cursor
`interaction (e.g., point and click or drag and drop),
`the
`dispatcher can manipulate the screen icons to assign units to
`incidents. Thereafter,
`the dispatcher may communicate
`information to the assigned units such as, for example, the
`incident location and other details. As one may appreciate,
`such systems place a heavy burden upon the dispatch
`operator, particularly where events and details are rapidly
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`changing. It is possible that a dispatcher might assign units
`to an incident that are not in the best position to respond or
`conversely, fail to assign units that otherwise would wish to
`respond or at least monitor the event. Perhaps even more
`problematic is the difficulty in determining the type, extent
`and timing of information to be provided to the assigned
`units. The problem is exacerbated when one considers that
`certain units may wish to changetheir level of participation
`as the incident progresses.
`For example, consider a police chase scenario involving
`multiple police cars pursuing a fleeing vehicle. It would be
`desirable for all of the pursuing police cars to receive real
`time location and/or route information to determine what
`they each will do to help stop the wanted vehicle. In most
`instances, the police chase scenario relies upon the lead car
`broadcasting cross-street references directly to the other
`assisting vehicles or to the dispatch center for re-broadcast.
`The dispatch operator is burdened with determining which
`of the field units are involved in the event, relaying the
`cross-street references and team member location informa-
`
`tion to the team. However, this verbal method is prone to
`errors and it distracts the lead unit from the primary task of
`the high-speed chase. In addition, the lead car or assisting
`cars may notreally know whatotherunits are assisting in the
`chase and where they are. Knowing the total “team” of
`assisting units and where they are, what routes they have
`followed and what routes they are planning to follow can
`help determine a chasestrategy.
`Even if the team member location could be conveyed
`correctly from the dispatcherto all participating vehicles, the
`comprehension of the spatial relations of these vehicle
`locations to other important and relevant events, temporary
`and potentially moving objects may be severely impaired if
`not completely impossible. Such temporal objects could
`include injured persons, pockets of activities of accidents
`and violence, etc. On the other hand, the continuoustrans-
`mission of location information to a remote site where it may
`be displayed also in non-emergency situations may pose an
`additional problem of the perceived intrusion of work-place
`privacy or even a security risk. As one can imagine, the
`current location methods are very error-prone, untimely,
`limited both in the completeness of location information to
`be conveyed and in the desired access control.
`Current methods are also are deficient in terms of route
`
`information, such as the visualization of the spatial context
`of traversed trajectories, planned routes of the work-team
`members and the moving objects related to an event. Route
`information (e.g., knowing which routes are to be followed,
`or which routes have already been visited by other respond-
`ing vehicles) and the timeliness of the route information is
`also important, particularly in assignments whereterritorial
`coverage optimization is needed or desired. Examples of
`such missions are neighborhood-patrolling, search for per-
`sons and/or for objects, public works for snow removal, road
`inspections, utility readings, delivery drop-off/pick-up
`routes, on-demand car-pooling, etc. Particularly for larger
`work groups, up-to-date route information would have been
`impossible to convey only verbally, especially when the
`routes are changing based on real-time events. In reallife
`situations, a compounded problem is the need for a real-
`time, on-going optimization of the set of routes for all group
`members as a whole, which makes the use of a verbal only
`communication with no visualization support even less
`effective.
`
`Accordingly, there is a need for a group location and/or
`route sharing service whereby participating communication
`units share location and/or route information for a particular
`
`

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`US 6,885,874 B2
`
`3
`event. It would be desirable for field units themselves, or a
`third party on behalf of the field units,
`to subscribe for
`participation in an event based on the communication units’
`ability or desire to respond. Advantageously, the subscribing
`units may comprise a talkgroup or subset of a talkgroup
`assigned to an event. There is further a need for such a group
`location and/or route sharing service to provide for different
`levels of participation and/or service levels for the subscrib-
`ing units. The service levels may include, for example, an
`information transmission service level and information
`reception service level
`that determine an amount,
`type,
`and/or timing of information to be sent or received by
`particular subscribers. The present invention is directed to
`addressing or at least partially addressing these needs.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`According to one embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided a method for a communication unit
`engaged in a group dispatch voice call to participate in a
`location sharing service. The communication unit receives a
`messageinitiating a location sharing service associated with
`an event. Responsive to receiving the message, the commu-
`nication unit, or a third party (¢.g., controller) on behalf of
`the communication unit, subscribes to the location sharing
`service so as to receive location information associated with
`
`the communication unit may send
`the event. Optionally,
`location information associated with the event. The location
`
`information may comprise, for example, the location of the
`communication unit and/or the location of an incident the
`resolution of which requires the location sharing service.
`According to another embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a method for groups of com-
`munication units engaged in dispatch voice calls to partici-
`pate in a location sharing service according to different
`service levels. A group of communication units, such as a
`talkgroup or subset of a talkgroup, subscribes to the location
`sharing service, yielding a plurality of subscriptions. The
`subscriptions are associated with respective service levels
`which are based, for example, on the amount or type of
`information to be transmitted or received by the various
`subscribers. Thereafter, location information is exchanged
`between the subscribers based on the service levels. The
`
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`operable to participate in a location sharing service. The
`communication unit includes a radio frequency transceiver,
`operable to send and receive messages initiating an event-
`based location sharing service; a selection element enabling
`an operator to selectively subscribe to the event-based
`location sharing service,
`thereby enabling the radio fre-
`quency transceiver to receive location information associ-
`ated with an event; and an operator interface for communi-
`cating at least a portion of the location information to the
`operator.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a communication
`system in accordance with one embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary map displayedto a user of
`a communication unit;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a high-level location
`sharing service algorithm according to the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a GLSSclient algorithm for
`processing user input from a group voice call talkgroup
`member;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps performed by a
`GLSS controller to implement a group location sharing
`service;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a client algorithm for
`processing GLSSupdate notifications from a GLSScontrol-
`ler;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for processing
`periodic location updates from GLSSclients; and
`FIG. 8 is a message sequence chart showing example
`GLSSservice initiation, subscription and location update
`notifications.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
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`Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to
`FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a communication
`system 100 in accordance with the present invention. The
`communication system 100 includes a plurality of commu-
`nication units 105-113 that communicate with a wireless
`infrastructure 103 and/or each other over one or more
`service levels may be based on the level of participation of
`communication resources 114 (one shown). The communi-
`the subscribers for a particular event, for example, active
`cation system 100 maybe either a conventional system or a
`units or monitoring units. The location information mayalso
`trunked system and each communication resource 114 may
`be exchanged in response to triggering events such as, for
`example, change(s) in location or speed, expiration of a time
`comprise a frequency carrier, one or more time slots of a
`frequency carrier, or an orthogonal code implemented by a
`period since the last location information exchange, devia-
`tions in route ortravel time of certain subscriber(s), or upon
`respective frequency hopping pattern or by a pseudo-random
`noise sequence spread over a wide bandwidth(e.g., 3 MHz).
`certain subscriber(s) entering or being within a particular
`geographic reference area.
`The communication units 105-113 comprise two-way
`mobile radios, two-way portable radios, or two-way wireless
`According to still another embodiment of the present
`data terminals. The wireless infrastructure 103 supports the
`invention, there is provided a method for communication
`particular communication system 100 and, therefore, com-
`units engaged in a group dispatch call that are distributed
`prises one or more base stations (e.g., in a conventional
`among a plurality of locations to participate in a location
`system) or one or morebasestations and one or more system
`sharing service, whereby the communication units are eli-
`controllers (e.g., in a trunking system). Typically, the wire-
`gible for movement causing changes in the plurality of
`
`locations. The method comprisesafirst communication unit less infrastructure 103 also includes one or more dispatch
`consoles comprising fixed computer-aided dispatch (CAD)
`sending a messageinitiating a group location sharing service
`to one or more receiving communication units. ‘The receiv-
`terminals, which may be coupled to an automated vehicle
`location (AVL) system and an emergency 911 system (not
`ing units or a subset of the receiving units subscribe to the
`shown). The AVL system and the 911 system are well
`location sharing service, forming a group of participating
`units. Thereafter, a first plurality of the participating units
`known;thus, no further discussion of them will be presented
`receive periodic location update information associated with
`except to facilitate an understanding of the present inven-
`tion.
`a second plurality of the participating units.
`According to yet another embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a wireless communication unit
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`The wireless infrastructure 103 includes or is coupled to
`a group location sharing service (GLSS)serveror controller
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`US 6,885,874 B2
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`5
`101. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the
`GLSScontroller 101 is adapted to coordinate and manage
`group location sharing service(s) between participating
`communication units and/or infrastructure devices. As will
`be appreciated,
`the GLSS controller 101 is a functional
`element that may reside in one or more physical devices. For
`example, the GLSS controller may reside within a personal
`computer or functional equivalent, a dispatch console or
`server,
`the AVL system or 911 system or,
`in a trunking
`system, may reside within one or more system controllers.
`Alternatively or additionally, the GLSS controller may be
`distributed among the various communication units
`105-113.
`As depicted in FIG. 1 in block view (only communication
`unit 105 shown), the communication units 105-113 include
`an antenna 115,
`radio transceiver 116, processor 118,
`memory 120, selection element 122, operator interface 124
`and location determination element 126. As will be
`appreciated, the various elements are functional elements
`that may reside in one or more physical devices and, in some
`implementations, may be operated remotely from the
`vehicle associated with the communication unit 105. For
`example, ergonomic efficiency may be realized by incorpo-
`rating someorall of the elements into a mobile or portable
`dispatch radio or phone that may be operated inside or
`outside of a vehicle.
`
`The radio transceiver 116 is coupled to the processor 118
`and antenna 115 to enable the communication unit 105 to
`exchange information (e.g., voice, video, data, text, etc.)
`with the wircless infrastructure 103 and/or other communi-
`cation units via an RF channel(i.e., communication resource
`114). In the preferred embodiment, the transceiver 116 is
`used to exchange messages with the GLSScontroller 101 to
`initiate and/or subscribe to a location sharing service and, for
`those communications units having initiated or subscribed to
`the location sharing service (hereinafter, “subscribers” or
`“subscriber units”),
`to send location information to or
`receive location information from the GLSS controller 101.
`In the former case, the location information (or a portion
`thereof) may be forwarded from the GLSS controller to
`various subscribers whereas in the latter case, the location
`information may have been received by the GLSScontroller
`from various subscribers. Alternatively or additionally, the
`transceiver 116 may be used to exchange messages and/or
`location information directly with other communication
`units.
`
`The processor 118 comprises a microprocessor and a
`digital signal processor for controlling the various elements
`of the communication unit 105 and for communicating with
`the wireless infrastructure 103. The memory 120 comprises
`a random access memory (RAM),
`read only memory
`(ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), and/or
`a floppy disk to store software algorithms and data, such as
`communication information, used by the processor 118
`during operation of the communication unit 105. The pro-
`cessor 118 and memory 120 enable computational process-
`ing necessary for executing wireless transmissions, and
`communication services such as two-way radio voice com-
`munication services, including dispatch or talkgroup call
`services. The processor and memoryalso enable execution
`of location or route sharing services, separately or in com-
`bination with the talkgroup call services. The processor and
`memory further enable certain location-based data applica-
`tions such as, for example, map-based location tracking and
`routing applications that track the location and manage the
`route of the communication unit 105.
`
`The selection element 122 comprises a user input device
`such as, for example, a push-to-talk (PTT) activator or push
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`button of a mobile or portable dispatch radio/phone, foot
`switch, panel microphone, computer mouse or equivalent
`(e.g., trackball or touchpad), keyboard or touchscreen, voice
`activated device, voice recognition device, or some combi-
`nation thereof to enable the operator of the communication
`unit 105 to initiate a location sharing service or subscribe to
`an already-initiated service. That is, the operator uses the
`selection element 122 to express a desire to initiate or
`subscribe to the location sharing service, which desire is
`communicated, via the transceiver 116 and wireless
`infrastructure,
`to the GLSS controller 101. The selection
`element may similarly be used by the operator
`to
`de-subscribe to the location sharing service.
`The operator interface 124 comprises an input device,
`incorporating (or separate from) the selection element 122,
`that permits a user to input information other than initiation
`of or subscription to a location sharing service for transmis-
`sion to one or more of the communication units 105-113 or
`
`the wireless infrastructure 103; and output device such as a
`display having speaker(s) for communicating voice, video
`and/or data to the operator of the communication unit 105.
`In the preferred embodiment,
`the operator interface 124
`comprises a display window adapted for displaying location
`information, such as a map including street information,
`landmarks, locations and/or status of communication units
`105-113 in a particular geographic area. An example of such
`a display is shown at FIG. 2. Alternatively or additionally,
`text messages, graphical icons or synthesized voice may be
`employed to communicate location information to the user.
`In either case, the location information is adapted for peri-
`odic updates through exchanges of information with the
`GLSScontroller 101.
`
`The location determination element 126 comprises a
`location sensor and associated hardware and software for
`determining the location of the communication unit 105.
`Typically,
`the location determination is performed by an
`in-vehicle navigation unit, utilizing a Global Positioning
`System (GPS) receiver connected to a GPS antenna. The
`navigation unit and the rest of the communication unit 105
`(e.g., mobile dispatch phone) are connected througha serial
`connection. Alternatively,
`the two devices have wireless
`connection, such as BlueTooth, that would enable the use of
`the phoneoutside of the vehicle for other purposes, as well.
`This connection is used for sharing location data between
`the navigation device and the mobile phone. Alternatively or
`additionally, assisted GPS, time-of-arrival, enhanced time-
`of-arrival, dead-reckoning sensors or any other suitable
`technology that enables the location determination element
`126 to accurately determine the location of the communi-
`cation unit 105 may be used. Examples of commercially
`available brands of in-vehicle navigation units include
`Garmin and Alpine. In any case, the resulting location is
`communicated via the transceiver 116 to the GLSScontrol-
`ler 101 where it may be forwarded to other participating
`subscribers 106-110 and/or infrastructure devices.
`In
`addition, the location information maybe usedto filter and
`interpret the location information received from other sub-
`scribers.
`
`FIG. 2 shows an ex