a2) United States Patent
`US 7,366,522 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`
` Thomas (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 29, 2008
`
`
`US007366522B2
`
`5,528,247 A *
`5,528,518 A
`5,539,748 A
`pen ‘
`Inventor: C. Douglass Thomas, 1193 Capri Dr.,
`550,
`5,568,119 A
`Campbell, CA (US) 95008
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis a A
`576,
`.
`,
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`5597.173 A
`US.C. 154(b) by 272 days.
`5,623,260 A
`5,629,678 A
`5,652,570 A
`5,673,692 A
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION
`TRACKING
`
`(76)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/797,517
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 28, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2003/0060212 Al
`Mar. 27, 2003
`
`EP
`
`340/457
`
`6/1996 Nonami............000 342/357.1
`6/1996 Bradshawetal.
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`ytose ma
`Cr(0
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`.
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0 874 529 A2
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`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/185,480,filed on Feb.
`28, 2000.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. CL.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/20
`(52) US. Ch.cece 455/456.1; 455/404.2;
`455/414.2; 455/440; 340/539.13; 340/825.49;
`340/988; 342/357.01; 342/457; 701/213
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 455/440,
`455/456.1, 456.2, 456.3, 404.2, 414.2, 457;
`340/539.13, 825.49, 988; 701/213, 214,
`701/215; 342/357.06, 357.07, 357.01, 357.13,
`342/457
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`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
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`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner—Nghi H. Ly
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and
`dissemination and managementof location information are
`disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodi-
`ment
`includes at
`least a plurality of mobile computing
`devices supported by a wireless network, and a web server
`coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples
`to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing
`devices are associated with and proximate to an object
`whoselocation is being monitored. The web server stores
`the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the
`objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users
`to obtain access the locations via the wired network.
`
`20 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`MOBILE
`| UNIT
`104
`
`
`WIRELESS
`NETWORK
`
`LOCATION
`
`MONITORING
`SERVER
`
`LOCATION
`DATABASE
`
`
`
`
`INTERNET
`
`x MOBILE
`UNIT 1
`
`104
`
`j—
`
`iO
`
`
`
`
`COMPUTER
`A
`
`COMPUTER
`B
`
`
`
`112
`114
`
`Google Exhibit 1019
`Google Exhibit 1019
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`Page 2
`
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`
`..... 342/463
`
`

`

`US 7,366,522 B2
`Page 3
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`
`

`

`US 7,366,522 B2
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`“What is “3G” technology?,” CNN.com/SCI-TECH,Oct. 22, 2001,
`pp. 1-3.
`“Devices for Text Messages in Deutsche Telekom’s fixed network
`have already found their way into many households,” Deutsche
`Telekom AG, Press Release, Mar. 13, 2002, pp. 1-2.
`“FunMail Launches on the NIT DoCoMo i-mode network,”
`FunMail, Press Release, May 1, 2001, pp. 1-2.
`“Send images to i-mode phones,” Mobile Media Japan, 2001, pp.
`1-3.
`“Introduction to SMS,”by C. Tull ofAnywhere YouGo.com,pp. 1-4
`(downloaded:
`www.devx.com/wireless/articles/SMS/SMSintro-
`asp), no date.
`“The Always on Network,” Position Paper, Nortel Networks, 2002.
`“Mobile Location Based Services: Cell Tracking Devices of People
`& Thongs... ,” pp. 1-2, (downloaded Aug. 10, 2002: http://
`3glocate.com).
`. only with Location Based
`.
`.
`“3G Mobile Internet Revolution,
`Services!” pp.
`1, (downloaded Aug. 10, 2002: http://webhome.
`idirect.com/~dental/3glocator/home.htm).
`
`for
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`“Whatare Instant Messages?” Yahoo! Messenger Help, Yahoo! Inc.,
`2002, pp.
`lL.
`“What is a Friend List?” Yahoo! Messenger Help, Yahoo!
`2002, pp.
`lL.
`“Status Icons/Messages,” Yahoo! Messenger Help, Yahoo!
`2002, pp. 1-2.
`“Yahoo! Messenger for WAP,” Yahoo Messenger, Yahoo! Inc., 2002
`(tours 1-9), pp. 1-17 (downloaded Oct. 27, 2002: www.messenger.
`yahoo.com/messenger/wireless/wap/tourl html
`(through
`/tour9.
`html)).
`Inc., 2002, pp. 1-12
`IMVironment, Yahoo! Meseanger, Yahoo!
`(downloaded (including) Oct. 27, 2002: http://help.yahoo.com/help/
`us/mesg/imv/imv-01-html (through /indexS html).
`“Yahoo! Messenger
`for Text Messaging,” Yahoo! Messenger,
`Yahoo! Inc., 2002, pp. 1-10 (downloaded Oct. 27, 2002: http://
`messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/wireless/smsmsgr/tour! html
`(through /tour7.html)).
`“Yahoo! Messenger—Sending Messages to a Mobile Phone,”
`Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Inc., 2002, pp. 1-7 (downloaded Oct. 27,
`2002:
`http: //messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/wireless/pc2sms/
`tourl.html (through /tour7 html)).
`LoadTrak, pp. 1-2 (downloaded Jun. 4, 2002: www.load-trak.com).
`“pulver.com’s Location Based. Services Report,” pulver.com, Inc.,
`Oct. 2001, pp. 1-17 (downloaded Jun. 4, 2002: www.pulver.com/
`Ibsreport/lastbsreport.02/oct0 1.txt).
`“Wherify Wireless GPS Locator for Kids User Guide,” Wherify
`Wireless, Inc., 2003, pp. 1-106.
`“Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),” Case Study, RJI Incor-
`porated, webpage, p.
`| (downloaded Mar. 16, 2002: www.rji.cc/
`technology/rfid.html).
`“MoniTrack,” Case Study, RJI Incorporated, webpages, pp. 1-2
`(downloaded Mar.
`16, 2002: wwwa.rji.cc/technology/telematic.
`html).
`the First Amusement Visitor
`“Parkwatch and Wherenet Unveil
`Locating System,” Park Watch, Press Release, Jun. 27, 2000.
`Real Time Locating System, Exccutive Summary, Technology Sys-
`tems International, Inc., no date.
`“Locate Networks: Our Service,” Locate Networks, webpages, pp.
`1-7 (downloaded Sep. 26, 2002: www.locatenetworks.cony).
`“Technical Applications Of Our Current Technology,” Aetherwire,
`webpages, pp. 1-4 (downloaded Mar. 16, 2002: www.aetherwire.
`com/CDROM/General/appl1 -html).
`Bickers, “Eyes in the sky,” SafeTzone Technology Corporation,
`webpages, 2001, pp.
`1-3
`(downloaded: www.safetzone.com/
`newsKiosk.asp).
`“IO Data Develops GPS Adapter
`AsiaBizTech, Sep. 17, 2002, pp. 1-2.
`“Pakhound: Your Watchdog In The Shipping Industry,” website
`pages, pp. 1-3 (downloaded Jun. 9, 2002: www.pakhound.com/fact.
`asp).
`“Guide to Tracking Info.,” Nippon Express, website page, p.
`(downloaded. Jun. 9, 2002: www.nittsu.co.ip/edoc/howtoe.htm).
`My.Roadway!, Roadway Express, Inc., webpages, pp. 1-2, (down-
`loaded Jun. 9, 2002: www.quiktrak.roadway.com/cgi-bin/quiktrak).
`Packtrack™, PackTrack.com, webpages, pp. 1-2 (downloaded. Jun.
`9, 2002: www.packtrack.com).
`“Welcome to Traker Systems,” Tracker Systems, webpages, pp. 1-2
`(downloaded. Jun. 9, 2002: www.trakersystems.com).
`“Welcome to Iship, Inc.,” iShip, Inc., webpages, pp. 1-2, (down-
`loaded Jun. 9, 2002: www.iship.com/).
`“Tuming Position Into Knowledge,” SkyBitz, webpage, p.
`(downloaded Nov. 15, 2002: www.skybitz.com).
`“News,” SkyBitz, webpages, pp. 1-8, (downloaded Nov. 15, 2002:
`www.skybitz.com/about/news.html).
`
`1-Mode Mobile,”
`
`Inc.,
`
`Inc.,
`
`|
`
`1,
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`MOBILE
`MM UNIT 1
`
`
`
`
`LOCATION
`MONITORING
`8
`
`
`104
`
`MOBILE
`UNIT 1
`
`104
`
`100
`
`WIRELESS
`NETWORK
`
`SERVER
`
`
`
`LOCATION
`cance
`INTERNET
`
`
`110
`
`COMPUTER
`A
`
`112
`
`COMPUTER
`B
`
`114
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`Gary
`
`202
`
`POWER UP LOCATION DETECTION HARDWARE
`
`204
`
`DETERMINE CURRENT LOCATION OF MOBILE
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`208
`
`210
`
`212
`
`‘ 206
`
`SEND CURRENT LOCATION TO LOCATION
`MONITORING SERVER
`
`SET PREVIOUS LOCATION EQUAL TO CURRENT
`LOCATION
`
`
`
`
`
`<<
`
`POWER DOWN LOCATION DETECTION HARDWARE
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`
`
`PERFORM SERVER-SIDE
`
`
`LOCATION PROCESSING \
`
`“304
`
`
`
`
`
`LOCATION
`
`MONITORING
`
`YES
`REQUEST
`
`NO
`
`PERFORM SERVER-SIDE
`LOCATION MONITORING
`PROCESSING
`
`308
`
`a
`
`
`
`REGISTRATIO
`
`REQUEST
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`PERFORM SERVER-SIDE
`REGISTRATION
`PROCESSING
`
`
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`<a
`
`402
`
`RECEIVE LOCATION INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`DETERMINE LOCATION OF MOBILE
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE BASED ON AT LEAST THE
`
`LOCATION INFORMATION
`
`STORE LOCATION IN LOCATION DATABASE
`
`404
`
`406
`
`A10
`
`412
`
`408
`
` IS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NOTIFICATION
`NEEDED
`?
`
`PREPARE NOTIFICATION MESSAGE
`
`SEND NOTIFICATION MESSAGE TO REGISTERED
`VIEWER
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`
`
`500oa
`
`MD USER {SUPERVISOR |PASSWORD|LOGGED_IN
`
`
`4
`
`2
`
`John
`
`Jane
`
`Barb
`
`Bill
`
`1234
`
`5678
`
`i
`
`0
`
`
`
`FIG. 5A
`
`7
`MD CURRENT LOCATION|PREVIOUS LOCATION
`
`WWW
`
`1
`
`XXX
`
`YYY
`
`FIG. 5B
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`600
`
`SEND LOGIN PAGE TO REQUESTING VIEWER
`
`
`LOGIN
`RESPONSE
`
`
`
`610
`
`———
`_.| RETRIEVE LOCATION FOR ASSOCIATED MOBILE
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`~|
`
`612
`
`FORM LOCATION PAGE USING THE RETRIEVED
`LOCATION
`
`x
`
`
`
`a
`
`
`
`614 A SEND LOCATION PAGE TO REQUESTING VIEWER
`
`
`
`
`
`(END)
`
`FIG. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`CSTART>y
`
`702
`
`SEND VIEWER REGISTRATION FORM
`
`104 > SUBMITTED
`
` NO
`?
`
`YES
`
`706 ~
`
`IDENTIFY MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`TO BE MONITORED
`
`
`
`
`IS
`MONITORING
` ES
`PRE-AUTH.
`
`?
`
`NO
`
`708
`
`PREPARE MONITORING REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`SEND MONITORING REQUEST MESSAGE TO
`IDENTIFIED MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`714%
`\
`
`710
`
`712
`
`718
`?
`
`SEND MONITORING
`DENIED MESSAGE/PAGE
`
`TO VIEWER
`
`NO
`AUTHORIZED
`
`
`
`
`MONITORING
`
`YES
`
`(a)
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.29, 2008
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`SEND MONITORING AUTHORIZED
`MESSAGE/PAGE TO VIEWER
`
`
`722 —~
`
`STORE REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR
`
`REGISTERED VIEWER
`
` 720
`
`
`
`728
`
`SEND OPTIONS FORM TO REGISTERED VIEWER
`
`STORE OPTIONS INFORMATION FOR REGISTERED
`VIEWER
`
`FIG. 7B
`
`

`

`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION
`TRACKING
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application No. 60/185,480, filed Feb. 28, 2000, and
`entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION
`
`TRACKING”, and which is hereby incorporated by refer-
`ence herein.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to computing or communi-
`cation devices and, more particularly, to location tracking of
`computing or communication devices.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Today, various types of or computing devices having
`communication capabilities (e.g., wireless communication
`devices) are available. Examples of computing devices
`having communication capabilities include pagers, mobile
`phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), palm-top com-
`puters, and electronic schedulers.
`Recently, computing devices have been able to detect
`their location though Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) or
`with the assistance of a network(e.g., cellular network). As
`an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,557 describes a system in
`which a GPSreceiver is used to measure a position of a
`mobile unit (i.e., vehicle), and reports the position on a map.
`However, such conventional approaches do not allow for
`control and general utilization of the position information.
`Thus, there is a need for waysto utilize position infor-
`mation of mobile computing devices.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Broadly speaking, the invention relates to techniques for
`location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and
`managementof location information.
`The invention can be implemented in numerous ways
`including, a method, system, device, and a computer read-
`able medium. Several embodiments of the invention are
`discussed below.
`
`Asa location monitoring system, one embodimentof the
`invention includesat least: a plurality of mobile computing
`devices supported by a wireless network, each of the mobile
`computing devices being associated with and proximate to
`an object whose location is being monitored; and a web
`server coupled to a wired network that couples to the
`wireless network, the web server stores a plurality of loca-
`tions of each of the mobile computing device and enables
`authorized users to access the locations of each of the mobile
`
`computing devices via the wired network.
`As a method for monitoring position of objects, one
`embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of:
`affixing a mobile computing device to an object
`to be
`monitored; periodically activating at least a portion of the
`mobile computing device to determine its location; subse-
`quently transmitting the location to a web server through at
`least in part a wireless network; and displaying the location
`of the object to a monitoring party via the monitoring parties
`access to the web server.
`
`As a method for monitoring position of a plurality of
`objects, each of the objects being or having a mobile
`computing device proximate thereto, one embodimentof the
`
`2
`invention includesat least the acts of: obtaining locations for
`the mobile computing devices and thus the objects proxi-
`mate thereto;
`receiving a request
`to view the location
`pertaining to a particular one or more of the objects; and
`delivering a response to the request, the response including
`the location pertaining to the particular one or more of the
`objects.
`As a method for monitoring position of a plurality of
`objects, each of the objects being or having a mobile
`computing device proximate thereto, one embodimentofthe
`invention includesat least the acts of: obtaining locations for
`the mobile computing devices and thus the objects proxi-
`mate thereto; comparing the locations against at least one
`predetermined location criteria; and sending an electronic
`notification to a predetermined destination based on the
`comparing.
`Other aspects and advantages of the invention will
`become apparent from the following detailed description
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which
`illustrate, by way of example,the principles of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention will be readily understood by the following
`detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like
`structural elements, and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of location monitoring system
`according to one embodiment of the invention;
`FIG.2 is a flow diagram ofclient-side location processing
`according to one embodimentof the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of server-side location manage-
`ment processing according to one embodimentofthe inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of server-side location process-
`ing according to one embodimentof the invention;
`FIG. 5A is a diagram of an exemplary authorization table
`in a location database;
`FIG. 5B is a diagram of an exemplary location table in a
`location database;
`FIG.6 is a flow diagram of server-side location monitor-
`ing processing; and
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow diagrams of server-side reg-
`istration processing.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`The invention pertains to techniquesfor location tracking,
`location utilization, and dissemination and management of
`location information.
`
`55
`
`Embodiments of this aspect of the invention are discussed
`below with reference to FIGS. 1-7B. However, those skilled
`in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description
`given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory
`purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited
`embodiments.
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of location monitoring system
`100 according to one embodiment of the invention. A
`location monitoring server 102 manages location informa-
`tion pertaining to a plurality of mobile units 104. The mobile
`units are typically attached to objects, such as people,
`vehicles, or containers. A wireless network 106 enables the
`mobile units 104 to communicate with the location monitor
`server 102. In one embodiment, the wireless network 106
`couples to the Internet 108 (or other data network). The
`location monitoring server 102 also couples to the Internet
`
`

`

`US 7,366,522 B2
`
`10
`
`40
`
`45
`
`3
`108. Location information associated with the mobile units
`
`104 is thus able to be delivered to the location monitoring
`server 102 through the wireless network 106 and the Internet
`108. A location database 110 coupled to the location moni-
`toring server 102 can store the location information for the
`mobile units 104. The location monitoring server 102 is then
`able to utilize the location information by accessing the data
`stored in the location database 110. The location database
`
`110 can reside on the location monitoring server or a
`separate local or remote computer.
`The location monitoring system 100 can also include
`remote computers 112 and 114 that can couple to the Internet
`108 through various means. Once coupled to the Internet
`108,
`the remote computers 112 and 114 can access the
`location monitoring server 102 to receive location related
`services or to otherwise makeuse of the location informa-
`tion.
`Each mobile unit can obtain location information on its
`location and forward the location information to the location
`
`monitoring server (web server). The location information
`can be forwarded to the location monitoring server by a
`variety of ways. One wayis through use of a Short Message
`Service (SMS) message. The location information can also
`be obtained by a variety of methods. One method is to
`provide a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device within
`the mobile units. With GPS,
`the location information
`obtained can be distances to a plurality of global positioning
`satellites or can be a determined location from processing of
`the distances. Whenonly the distances are provided, then the
`mobile unit merely sends the distances and need not perform
`processing to determine the location from the distances
`(instead a server can do so). Another method is to use
`location information obtained from a wireless network. With
`
`the wireless network can provide location
`this method,
`information on someorall of said mobile computing devices
`to the location monitoring server. In this case, the mobile
`units need not participate in obtaining the location informa-
`tion. As yet another method, a combination of these or other
`methods can be used to gather an accurate location for the
`mobile devices. For example, the location monitoring server
`could be provided with location information provided from
`the wireless network as well as location information pro-
`vided by the mobile units themselves. By using the location
`information from both sources, more accurate and reliable
`location determination is able to be performed.
`FIG.2 is a flow diagram ofclient-side location processin