US006049718A
`6,049,718
`(11) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 15
`Stewart
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Apr. 11, 2000
`
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[54] TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH
`BACKGROUND LOCATION RESPONSE
`CAPABILITY
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Gordon M. Stewart, 10 Kalleston Dr.,
`Pittsford, N.Y. 14534-2920
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/902,090
`“
`oo
`”
`[22]
`Filed:
`Jul. 29, 1997
`"
`_
`Tint, C1 cece ceseeneenesseneeneessencesees H04Q 7/06
`[SL]
`[52] US. Cl.
`Seen cereeeeee tee ere cen eees 455/456; 455/457; 455/461
`[58] Field of Search oo...eee 455/456, 457,
`455/461
`
`.
`A portable telephone capable of background location trans-
`mission response, and methods which can be executed by
`such a telephone or a system using such a telephone. In one
`such portable telephone,
`a position locator which,
`in
`response to a location request signal, can determine the
`location of the portable telephone and generate a corre-
`sponding location signal. A receiver receives an incoming
`call signal and an incoming location request signal. A user
`interface has: an audio or visual user oulput device which
`can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming
`eall signal asa corresponding audio or visual display; and an
`audio user input device which generates an audio output
`signal corresponding to a user’s voice. An alert generator
`which,
`in response to a received incoming call signal,
`[56] generatesafirst physical characteristic to indicate an incom-References Cited
`ing call to a user ofthe portable telephone. A location request
`detector which, in response to a received location request
`signal, can direct the location request signal to the position
`locator without activating the alert generator. A transmitter
`(© wansmit a location signal generated by the position
`locator in response to a received location requestsignal, and
`io iransmnit the audi oulpuisignel,
`10 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`.
`ti095 ieBlane s a srrsreeeeneseeecenenees teate
`een,
`
`6/1998 LeBlane et al. 455/313
`5,768,686
`7
`Primary Examiner—David R. Hudspeth
`Assistant Examiner—Daniel Abebe
`
`Alert
`
`
`Audio/ Dialing||Audio Switch
`Visual
`Pad
`Input
`Display
`Indicator
`36
`
`43
`
`37
`
`38
`
`GPS
`Location
`Detector
`40
`
`
`
`
`Transmiutter/
`Receiver
`46
`
`Timer
`
`52
`
`Call Alert
`
`34
`
`User
`Location
`Alert
`
`Mai
`Storage
`
`Location
`Code
`Storage
`
`35 48
`50
`
`Google Exhibit 1056
`Google Exhibit 1056
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.11, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`6,049,718
`
`
`
`29
`
`36a
`
`Transmitter/
`Receiver
`
`
`
`
`Voice
`Synthesizer
`19
`
`
`
`Caller ID
`
`
`Database
`
`17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 11, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`6,049,718
`
`Alert
`Dialing||Audio
`Switch
`Pad
`Input
`Indicator
`
`38
`
`37
`
`
`
`43
`
`GPS
`Location
`Detector
`
`46
`
`Transmitter/
`Receiver
`
`Timer
`
`52
`
`Mai
`Storage
`S
`
`48
`
`FIG, 2
`
`
`
`User
`Location
`Alert
`
`35
`
`Location
`Code
`Storage
`50
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 11, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`6,049,718
`
`Incoming Call
`Data
`From Caller
`at Sub-Station
`
`200
`
` Location Request
`
`Code Received in
`Call Data Within
`Preset Time?
`
`
`
` Determine Caller
`
` Receive
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ID
`
`
`Determine
`
`
`Caller Location
`From Caller ID
`Database
`
`
`Determine Caller
`Location Coordinates
`
`from Map Database
`
`Data to Portable Unit
`
`Transmit Incoming Call
`
`FIG.3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.11, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`6,049,718
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`.
`:
`Receive Incoming Call
`Data at Portable Unit
`
`212
`
`214
`
`226
`
`Incoming Call
`No
`Data Includes
`
`Location
`
`
`Activate User
`Call Alert
`
`15
`
`Yes
`
`228
`
`
`Request Code?
`Detector Portable Unit
`Answers?
`
`to Portable Unit
`
`Send Location
`Request Signal to
`GPSLocation
`
`Location from GPS
`Location Detector
`Transmitted to
`Sub-station
`
`Connect Caller
`
`216
`
`730
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.11, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`6,049,718
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`232 Yes/Predetermined
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Determine Portable Unit
`Address from Map
`Database / Determine
`Difference in
`Distance Between
`Caller and Portable
`Unit
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`218
`
`
`
`Forward to Caller
`Remote Unit Address
`
`
`and Difference in Distance
`
`
`Between Caller and
`Portable Unit
`
`
`
`222
`
`Caller Disconnected
`
`224
`
`
`Automatic
`Re-location Code?
`
`
`
`
`
`No
`
`234
`
`Wait for Preset
`
`Time Interval
`
`No
`
`220
`
`
`
`
`Elapsed Time
`or Location
`
`Reached?
`
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`

`

`6,049,718
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`2
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`1
`TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH
`BACKGROUND LOCATION RESPONSE
`CAPABILITY
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to apparatus, systems and
`methods, which allow a location of a portable telephone to
`be obtained from a remote location in a background opera-
`tion mode.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
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`Portable telephones, particularly in the form of current
`cellular telephones, are well known. In addition, several
`companies have disclosed and are proceeding with plans for
`a network of low-orbiting satellites which will allow com-
`munication from portable telephones from almost anywhere
`in the world, without relying on the multiple call regions or
`“cells” in a cellular telephone system. Portable devices
`which allow a user to determine their location particularly
`based on varioussatellite positioning systems, are also now
`known. Such systems are generally referred to as Global
`Positioning Systems (“GPS”), These systems use signals
`from a series of satellites which allow a portable receiver
`(i.e. a GPS receiver) on earth to determine its position with
`a fairly high degree of accuracy.
`It
`is often desirable for one individual
`
`c) a user interface having:
`an audio or visual user output device which can repro-
`duce audio or visual information in an incomingcall
`signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
`and
`an audio user input device which generates an audio
`output signal corresponding to a user’s voice;
`d) an alert generator which, in response to a received
`incoming call signal, generates a first physical charac-
`teristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the
`portable telephone,
`e) a location request detector which, in response to a
`received location request signal, can direct the location
`request signalto the position locator without activating
`the alert generator;
`f) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by
`the position locator in response to a received location
`request signal, and to transmit the audio output signal.
`In another aspect of the present invention, there is pro-
`vided a telephone system capable of providing data com-
`munication between anyof a plurality offirst telephones and
`a remote portable telephone, and capable of location
`response, comprising:
`a) a portable telephone having:
`(i) a position locator which can determine the location
`of the portable telephone and generate a correspond-
`ing location signal;
`(ii) a receiver to receive an incoming location request
`location of another. It would be desirable if a first person can
`signal;
`conveniently find the location of a second person who might
`(iii) a user interface having:
`be carrying a portable telephone, without the first person
`an audio or visual output device which can reproduce
`having to call the second person on the portable telephone
`audio or visual information in an incoming call
`and interrupt the second person. For example, the second
`signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;
`person might be in a meeting and would not consider it
`and
`convenient to even have a first person call them just to ask
`an audio user input device which generates an audio
`where they are, although they mightstill like to receive on
`output signal corresponding to a user’s voice;
`their portable telephone calls for other purposes. Of course,
`(iv) a location request detector which, in response to a
`the second person would have no way of knowing whether
`received location request signal, can direct the loca-
`a call to their portable telephone was for some important
`tion request signal to the position locator; and
`reason(e.g. a business call) or just a call fromarelative or
`40
`(v) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated
`friend to ask where they are and when they might be home.
`by the position locator in response to a received
`location request signal;
`b) a centralized base station having:
`The present invention provides a means by which indi-
`(i) means for receiving from any calling one of the
`viduals can obtain the location of a portable telephone user
`plurality of first telephones, an incoming location
`by providing the portable telephone with a position locator,
`request signal;
`such as GPSreceiver. The present invention further recog-
`(ii) a transceiver to transmit an incoming location
`nizes that in manysituationsit is desirable that the portable
`request signal
`to the portable telephone, and to
`telephone user not be disturbed to answeracall just to report
`receive a location signal from the portable telephone;
`their location to a spouse, friend, or the like. Therefore, the
`(iii) a location identification means for determining the
`present invention provides a means by which the portable
`location of the calling one of the first telephones
`telephone user can continue to receive other calls to their
`from a caller identification carried by the incoming
`portable telephone as usual. Further, the present invention
`signal;
`provides a means by whichcalls for location requests only
`(iv) a comparator for determining the distance between
`can be directly routed to a position locator on the portable
`the location received from the portable telephone and
`telephone, and the location information automatically sup-
`the location of the calling one ofthe first telephones,
`plied to the caller from the position locator on the portable
`and generating a resulting distance signal or esti-
`telephone,all without disturbing the portable telephone user.
`mated travel time signal; and
`In accordance with one aspect of the invention then, there
`(v) means for forwarding the distance signal or esti-
`is provided a portable telephone capable of background
`mated travel time signal to the calling one ofthefirst
`location transmission response, comprising:
`telephones or the portable telephone.
`a) a position locator which, in response to a location
`In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
`request signal, can determine the location of the por-
`provided a method of communicating with a portable tele-
`table telephone and generate a corresponding location
`phone and obtaining a background location transmission
`signal;
`response from the portable telephone, comprising:
`b) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an
`a) communicating a call signal fromafirst telephone to a
`incoming location request signal;
`centralized base station througha first network through
`
`to know the
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`

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`6,049,718
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`c)
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`4
`3
`inpul (in particular, a voice inpul). A keypad 14 provides a
`which anyof a plurality of first telephones can com-
`municate with the centralized base station;
`means for dialing in the usual fashion. First telephone can
`communicate over a line 2 to a telephone exchange 16.
`b) transmitting an incoming call signal received from a
`Other lines 4 and 6 allow other telephones the same or
`first telephone at the base station, from the centralized
`similar to first
`telephone 10,
`to communicate with the
`base station to the portable telephone;
`exchange 16. Line 18 allows communication between the
`c) activating an alert generator on the portable telephone
`telephone exchange 16 and a centralized base station 17.
`1n response to the received incomingcall signal, so as
`Lines 2, 4, 6, 8 and exchange 16 formafirst network through
`to generate a first physical characteristic to indicate an
`which multiple first telephones can communicate with the
`incoming call to a user of the portable telephone;
`centralized base station 17. While the particular first tele-
`c) transmitting an audio output signal corresponding to a
`phone 10 is shown connected by a line 2,
`it will be
`user’s voice, form the portable telephone to the cen-
`understood that one or more of lines 2, 4, 6, or 8 could
`instead be cableless connections such as radio orsatellite
`tralized base station;
`connections. For example, first telephone 10 itself could be
`d) communicating a location request signal froma first
`a portable telephone. At the exchange 16, any particularfirst
`telephone throughthe first network to the centralized
`base station;
`telephone communicating with the exchange 16is identified
`by its connection and a caller identification code (“caller ID
`transmitting an incoming location request signal
`code”),
`in the form of a first network address (e.g.
`the
`received from a first telephone at the base station, from
`telephone numberof that phone) is added to a calling signal
`the centralized base station to the portable telephone;
`routed through exchange 16. Alternatively, the caller ID
`f) receiving the location request signal at the portable
`code could be entered into keypad 14 offirst telephone or
`telephone;
`spoken into handset 12 (and interpreted by suitable voice
`to a position
`g) directing the location request signal
`recognition software on processor 20).
`locator on the portable telephone withoutactivating the
`With the standard keypad 10, a first telephone can com-
`alert generator, which position locator can determine
`municate through the first network with other phones, both
`the location of the portable telephone and generate a
`portable and stationary. For the sake of simplicity only one
`corresponding location signal;
`exchange 16 is shown betweenfirst phone 10 and central-
`transmitting the location signal from the portable
`ized base station 17, but others could be present. In the
`telephone to the centralized base station;
`present invention, when a userat first phone 10 wishes to
`d) communicating location information corresponding to
`reach a portable telephone,
`they enter in keypad 14 the
`network address(that is, the phone number)of that portable
`the location signal, from the centralized base station to
`the first telephone which communicated the location
`telephone in the usual manner. Exchange 16 is programmed
`request to the base station.
`to recognize the class of phone numbers to which a dialed
`The present invention then, provides a convenient means
`portable phone belongs, as one which is to be routed to
`by which an individual can obtain the location of a user of
`centralized base station 17. This can be accomplished by
`a portable telephone automatically and without disturbing
`having all such portable phone numbers start with a given
`that user by requiring them to answer a call just for their
`numerical sequence, such as “222”. In addition, oncea first
`location. The alert generator on the portable telephone which
`telephone is connected to centralized base station 17, but
`signals a user of a normal
`incoming telephone call,
`is
`before centralized base station 17 contacts the portable
`40
`
`bypassed automatically upon detection of a location request phone whose number was dialed byafirst telephone, the
`signal and the position locator communicates the position
`keypad 14 can be used to enter a predetermined location
`information also automatically to the caller. Further,
`the
`request signal in the form of a further code, such as “**” or
`present invention additionally provides means by which a
`any other preselected alphanumeric combination on keypad
`street location and/or the distance betweenthe caller and the
`portable telephone user can also be automatically reported to
`the caller, rather than just other location information (such as
`geographic location only) which might be generated by the
`position locator on the portable telephone.
`DRAWINGS
`
`45
`
`Centralized base station 17 includes a router 18 which
`
`50
`
`Embodiments of the invention will now be described with
`
`reference to the drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a centralized base station
`and a portable telephone which can execute a method of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagramillustrating the components of
`a portable telephone of the present invention, such as the
`portable telephone of FIG. 1; and
`FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a flowchart illustrating a method
`of the present invention, as might be executed by an appa-
`ratus such as that of FIG. 1.
`
`EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`Referring first to FIG. 1, the apparatus shown includes a
`first telephone 10, having a typical handset 12 with both an
`carphonefor audio output and a microphonefor a user audio
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`receives incoming calls and incoming location request sig-
`nals from any phone on the first network. Router 18 is
`capable of waiting a preselected time following receipt of an
`incoming call from a first telephone,
`to ascertain whether
`there is also a received location request signal. If no location
`request signal is received, router 18 will connect the caller
`through transmitter/receiver the portable telephone 28
`whose number wasdialed at a first telephone. If a location
`request signal is received within the preselected time, router
`18 will first direct the received caller identification to a
`
`suitably programmed processor 20, which has access to a
`caller ID database 22 and a map database 24. Caller ID
`database 22 contains data correlating phone numbers of
`fixed telephones(that is, telephones which are not portable
`and tend to remain in a fixed location) in a given geographic
`region (for example, within a fixed radius ofbase station 17)
`with geographic locations. Map database contains a street
`map correlated with geographic co-ordinates. Router 18 and
`processor 20 are further suitably programmedto execute the
`steps of the methods disclosed below.
`A typical portable telephone 28 has a housing 29 within
`which are provided the necessary electronics, as well as a
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`6,049,718
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`5
`to hold a battery. Such
`power supply compartment
`telephones,
`including battery are typically less than 10
`pounds in weight, and often less than 5 or even 2 pounds,
`and currently even less than 1 pounds. The battery itself is
`usually less than 2 or 1 pounds, or currently Jess than 0.5
`pounds. Further, they are usually less than 6 inches by 3
`inches in length and width andless than 1 inch in thickness.
`Portable telephone 28 also has an audio input device 38 in
`the form of a microphone, a keypad 37 similar in operation
`to keypad 14 of first
`telephone 10, and an audio-visual
`display device 36 which includes an audio output in the form
`of earphone 366 and liquid crystal display (“LCD display”)
`36a. An antenna 30 allows transmission and reception with
`remote locations suchas centralized base station 17, and also
`receives signals for a GPS location detector 40. A usercall
`alert 34 in the form of small speaker and associated driver
`circuitry, provides a user with a first physical characteristic
`in the form of an audiblefirst alert indicating an incoming
`call signal. A user location alert 35 in the form of a light
`(such as an LED) andassociated circuitry, illuminates to
`provide a user with a second physical characteristic prefer-
`ably different
`from the first physical characteristic,
`for
`example in the form of a visible indication of an incoming
`location request signal, and remains illuminated while a
`location request
`is being processed and transmitted.
`Alternatively, user location alert 35 could be a vibrator
`whichalerts a user by meansofa vibration of portable phone
`28 when it is near the user’s body. By a user entering an
`appropriate sequence of characters on keypad 37 (such as
`“H##’) the keypad 37 can also act as a bypass switch 42
`which in one position causes an incoming location request
`signal to not only illuminate the light of user location alert
`35, but also causes call alert 34 to sound. Re-entry of the
`same character sequence on keypad 37 causes bypass switch
`42 to return to its normal setting in which an incoming
`location request signal activates only the light of user
`location alert 35, and not the audible alarm provided by the
`speakerof user call alert 34. An alert switch indicator 43, in
`the form another LED (“light emitting diode”) indicates
`which position bypass switch 42 is in.
`Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic of the components of
`portable telephone 28 is provided. Most of the functions of
`portable telephone 32 are executed by processor 32. Pro-
`cessor 32 is a digital microprocessor suitably programmed to
`execute the methods performed by portable telephone 32 as
`described herein. However,it will be appreciated throughout
`this application that processor 32 or any hardware or soft-
`ware described in any of the components of the present
`application, can be replaced by equivalent hardware and/or
`software to perform the necessary functions. Processor 32
`uses a main storage 48 in which the necessary programming
`code is stored and for purposes described below. Main
`storage 48 and any other storage device, can be a magnetic
`or optical disk drive, but is preferably a solid state storage
`device. A location code storage 50, which may or may not
`be the same device as main storage 48, stores the data
`identifying a received sequence of alphanumeric characters
`as a location request signal. A timer 52 provides a timing
`signal to processor 32 to obtain the necessary timing func-
`tions described herein. Portable telephone 28 further
`includes a transmitter/receiver combination (“transceiver”)
`46 connected to antenna 390.
`
`As mentioned, portable telephone 28 includes a GPS
`location detector 40. GPS location detector uscs signals
`from any series of positioning satellites,
`to ascertain the
`geographical location of portable telephone 28, and gener-
`ates a corresponding location signal for transmission.
`
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`6
`The operation of the telephone system of FIGS. 1 and 2
`will now be described, particularly with reference to the
`flowchart of FIG. 3. First, it will be assumed that portable
`telephone 28 is not in use (ie. it is not being used for any
`type of communication). An individual ata first telephone 10
`can communicate with portable telephone 28 or any other
`similar portable telephone, by dialing the network access
`code (specifically, the pre-assigned telephone number) of
`that portable telephone on keypad 14after lifting handset 12.
`The exchange 16 of the first network will then direct the call
`to centralized base station 17. Router 17 of centralized base
`station will receive (200) the incoming call data from the
`caller at first telephone 10. The caller ID (telephone number
`of calling first telephone 10) is also received by router 18
`and held temporarily in a memory. Router 18 is programmed
`to wait a preset time (such as 1 to 2 seconds, or less than 10
`or 30 seconds) after connecting withfirst telephone 10 to see
`if a location request code (such as the “**” mentioned
`earlier) is then received (202). If no location request codeis
`received within the preset time, the incoming call data (in
`the form of a normal incomingcall alert) is transmitted (210)
`through transceiver 26 to the portable telephone 28 whose
`telephone number was dialed by the individual at
`first
`telephone 10. If the user of portable telephone 28 choosesto
`answerthat call by pressing an appropriate button on keypad
`37, the individual at the calling first telephone 10 and the
`user at portable telephone 28 (the “caller’) can then be
`connected to engage in an audio conversation in the normal
`manner. That is,
`the user will be able to hear the audio
`information from caller through earphone 36b and respond
`to speaking into microphone38. In addition oralternatively,
`the user can see data sent from a caller on LCD screen 36a.
`
`Alternatively, when router 18 receives an incoming call
`from first telephone 10, a voice synthesizer 10 under control
`of processor 20, may transmit to the calling first telephone
`10, a synthesized voice messageto the effect that if only the
`called number’s current location is required,
`the location
`request code should now be entered (which the voice
`synthesizer will state is “**”, for example) and that the call
`will otherwise be transmitted to the dialed portable tele-
`phone if no such code is entered within the predetermined
`time. Router 18 then waits to see if the location request code
`is then entered with the predetermined time (202) and
`proceeds to transmit the call (210) as before, if the location
`request code is not received within the predetermined time.
`In either of the foregoing situations, the caller can either
`self-initiate entry of a re-location request code or the caller
`can be given such option with appropriate instructions,
`acting through processor 20 and voice synthesizer. A
`re-location request code allows the caller to automatically
`receive updates on the portable telephone’s location. These
`can beat fixed time intervals or at time intervals determined
`
`by the caller by entering further data on keypad 14 offirst
`telephone 10 preferably under voice synthesized instructions
`from processor 20 and voice synthesizer 19. For example,
`the re-location request code would be a “#’ sign entered on
`keypad 14 followed by a numberindicating the time interval
`(e.g. every 20 minutes) and total elapsed time (e.g. three
`hours) during which automatic re-location is requested.
`Alternatively, the caller can request that they be notified
`when portable telephone 28 reaches a destination location
`either identified by the caller through keypad 14 or by voice
`through handset 12, in which case appropriate voice recog-
`nition software will be executed by processor 20.
`If router 18 does receive a location request code within the
`predetermine time,
`then processor 20 is notified which
`determinesthe caller ID (that is, the telephone numberof the
`
`

`

`6,049,718
`
`request code transmitted from centralized hub 17 need not
`be the same code received from calling first telephone 10.
`However, for simplicity of discussion, it will be assumed
`below that they are the samc.
`Whenan incoming call signal is received by transceiver
`46 of portable telephone 28 (212) it is checked by processor
`32 (214) to see if the data in the call signal (that is, the
`incoming call data) contains a location request code and, if
`so, doesit also contain a re-location request code. If there is
`no location request code, the user call alert 34 is activated
`(226). Processor 32 then waits a predetermined time while
`maintaining user call alert 34 active, to see if the user of
`portable telephone 28 chooses to answer the incoming call
`(228). If the user of portable telephone 28 then chooses to
`answerthe call by pressing an appropriate key on keypad 37,
`within the predetermined time, the caller is connected to
`portable telephone 28 for two-way communication (230) as
`described above. If the user does not answer the incoming
`call within the predeterminedtimeor, after connection either
`the user or the caller terminates the communication, the
`caller is disconnected (222). If either of these two events
`occurs, router 18 at centralized base station 17 also discon-
`nects the caller from base station 17. Since there was no
`
`8
`7
`course, each timethe location is communicated (216)to base
`calling first telephone 10) from router 20 (204). Processor 20
`uses caller ID database 22 to then determine the location of
`station 17, communication with base station 17 can then be
`the individual (the “caller”) at the calling first telephone 10
`terminated until the predetermined time interval has again
`
`(206). This location is stored in caller ID databaseasastreet elapses (or until there is another incoming or outgoing call
`al portable telephone 38). Alternatively, if the re-location
`address. By a “street address” is meant information identi-
`request signal as determined by processor 32, contained a
`fying a caller’s location by reference to one or more objects
`request for further location reports until a specified destina-
`(whethernatural, or artificial such as a street, city, county or
`tion location is reached, processor 32 will determine from
`the like name), such as one or more street names and
`GPS location detector when that specified location is
`optionally a house number, or the like. Processor 20 uses
`reached (232) and the cycle will END at that time, rather
`map database 24 to determine (208) the geographic location
`than a predetermined total elapsed time.
`(that
`is,
`the latitude and longitude co-ordinates) of the
`calling first telephone 10. ‘The incoming call, in particular
`Meanwhile, back at base station 17, a first location signal
`is received within at most, one or two seconds after the
`the incoming call data in the form of an incoming location
`request code and optionally a re-location request code, is
`corresponding location request data was transmitted from
`transceiver 26. Using the location information in this first
`then transmitted (210)to the called portable telephone 28. It
`should be noted that it
`is not essential that the location
`location signal, which will specify a geographic location,
`processor 20 at base station 17 can execute one or more of
`a numberof alternatives (218) depending on how it has been
`programmed and/or instructed from calling first telephone
`10. For cxample, processor 20 can usc the location infor-
`mation and map database 24 to determinea street address of
`a called portable telephone 28 from which a location signal
`has been received. Alternatively, the geographic location of
`portable telephone 28 and the previously determined geo-
`graphic location of calling first
`telephone 10 (based on
`received caller ID, as discussed above) can be used by
`processor 20 to calculate the distance between called por-
`table telephone 28 and calling first
`telephone 10. This
`distance can be a straight line distance or the distance based
`on the shortest road route using map database 24. Further
`travel time can be estimated between the location of called
`portable telephone 28 and callingfirst telephone 10. Any or
`all of these items of information can be forwarded (220) to
`the calling first telephone 10 from processor 20 to appear as
`data on a suitable LCD display screen onfirst telephone 10
`(not shown) or using voice synthesizer 19 to provide the
`information as an audio outputto calling first telephone 10.
`When the information has been forwarded, router 18 can
`disconnect (222) the calling first telephone. If further loca-
`tion signals are received automatically from called portable
`telephone 28 as a result of a re-location request code from
`calling first telephone 10, router 18 can uponreceipt of such
`signals automatically dial
`the calling first
`telephone 10,
`perform the necessary distance/street address determinations
`discussed above (218) and forward (220) any of the same
`foregoing informationitems for the new received location of
`called portable telephone 28.
`It will be appreciated that instead of a called portable
`telephone 28 keeping track of re-location requests
`automatically, as described in detail above in connection
`with the drawings, this can be done instead at processor 20
`of centralized base station 17. In this variation, each time a
`location signal is received from called portable telephone
`28, communication is then terminated until
`the elapsed
`interval has passed, at which point base station 17 calls the
`called portable telephone 28 again and a newlocation
`request code is sent from base station 17 to the called
`portable telephone 28. Thus in the drawings, following step
`(234) (which occurs at centralized base station 17 in this
`variation), step (210) is executed at the base station and the
`cycle is from there to END.
`Thus, it will be seen that the present invention enables
`retrieval of a portable phone’s location from any other
`telephone, withoutdisturbing the portable phone’s user(this
`is sometimes referenced as a background operation mode).
`Further, the invention allows automatic updates of locations
`to be sent to a caller all again without disturbing the portable
`
`location request code, processor 32 assumes that there can
`be no automatic re-location activated (224) and the method
`has reachedit’s end until another incoming call is received.
`If the processor 32 determines (214) that the incoming
`call signal received by transceiver 46 does contain a location
`request code, processor 32 then sends (215) a location
`request signal to GPSlocation detector 40 withoutactivating
`usercall alert 34. A first location signal, correspondingto the
`geographical location of portable telephone 38 as deter-
`mined by GPSlocation detector 40, is forwarded to proces-
`sor 32 for transmitting by transceiver 46 back to the cen-
`tralized base station 17 from whichthe location request code
`was received (216). No further communication is required
`between portable telephone 28 and centralized base station
`17 at this time and their connection can be terminated.If no
`
`re-location request code was found in the incomingcall data
`by processor 32, no automatic re-location is activated (224)
`and another