US6236358B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mobile object locator
Assignee: Pfizer Inc
•
Filing: 1999-07-28
•
Granted: 2001-05-22
•
Expires: 2019-07-28
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method and apparatus for an object locator system ( 10 ) for requesting and obtaining information about the location of a mobile object, having attached thereon a lightweight object locator ( 42 ), operable in a region served by a two-way paging system ( 12 ) and a global positioning satellite system ( 50 ). The object locator ( 42 ) may be selectively activated to conserve power or enabled to respond only when beyond or within a boundary. Further, the object locator system ( 10 ) may provide the location information in several forms including rectangular or polar coordinates referred to a base station ( 18 ) or origin, position on a map display, etc. In alternate embodiments the two-way paging system ( 12 ) may be substituted by a direct wireless link or a satellite relay communications link; the location information may be translated into human readable form either before or after transmission from the object locator; the location information may be presented at an output as selectable text, spoken message or graphic display including a map; the location information may have associated therewith other information such as time the location was determined, the status of the object locator, the condition of the battery, position of the object locator relative to a boundary or electronic fence or to indicate an alarm condition; or the location information may be accessed or delivered by dial-up or automatic means.
Inventors
- 👤 Jennifer Durst
- 👤 Eugene F. Fowler
- 👤 Joseph C. McAlexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/14; G01S19/16; G01S19/17; G01S19/34; G01S19/35; G01S19/36; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0018; G01S5/0027; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/001; G01S2205/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for locating or tracking an animal carrying a miniature mobile communication unit, the mobile communication unit including a GPS receiver coupled with a paging transceiver, comprising the steps of: providing a collar for attaching the mobile communication unit having at least a satellite antenna coupled thereto to the animal wherein the satellite antenna is disposed on the collar in a skyward orientation for reception of GPS signals; accessing transmissions of a GPS system from the mobile communications unit at select intervals to obtain location coordinates of the mobile communication unit; communicating the location coordinates from the mobile communication unit via a paging network to a base station; and outputting the location coordinates in human readable form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for locating or tracking an animal carrying a miniature mobile communication unit, the mobile communication unit including a GPS receiver coupled with a paging transceiver, comprising the steps of: providing a collar for attaching the mobile communication unit having at least a satellite antenna coupled thereto to the animal wherein the satellite antenna is disposed on the collar in a skyward orientation for reception of GPS signals; accessing transmissions of a GPS system from the mobile communications unit at select intervals to obtain location coordinates of the mobile communication unit; communicating the location coordinates from the mobile communication unit via a paging network to a base station; and outputting the location coordinates in human readable form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing comprises the steps of: disposing the mobile communication unit and the satellite antenna on diametrically opposite sides of the collar so that, when the collar is coupled around the body of the animal, the satellite antenna is oriented skyward and the mobile communication unit is positioned earthward according to its greater mass; and positioning a paging antenna coupled to the paging transceiver on the collar to maximize its radiation efficiency without unbalancing the collar with respect to the orientation of the satellite antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing comprises the step of providing a mechanism for adapting the mobile communication unit to a mobile object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing comprises the steps of: activating the GPS receiver for receiving a plurality of GPS transmissions in the mobile communication unit; and processing the plurality of received signals from the GPS transmissions to acquire the location coordinates of the mobile communications unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of activating comprises the step of: receiving an activating instruction transmitted via a paging network signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of activating comprises the step of: providing an activating instruction from a timing circuit in the mobile communication unit wherein the activating instruction is provided at periodic intervals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of activating comprises the step of: receiving the activating instruction relayed from the base station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of activating comprises the step of: receiving the activating instruction initiated from the base station and transmitted via the paging network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of activating comprises the step of: receiving the activating instruction transmitted by a monitoring service provider.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the GPS receiver activated in the step of activating is operable to receive differential GPS signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of processing comprises the steps of: converting the location coordinates to coordinate data for storage; storing the coordinate data in a memory in the mobile communication unit; and deactivating the GPS receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: retrieving the location coordinates from a memory in the mobile communication unit; enabling a paging transmitter in the mobile communication unit coupled to the paging antenna to transmit a carrier therefrom to the base station via the paging network; and modulating the carrier being transmitted from the paging antenna with the coordinate data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: receiving a carrier modulated with the location coordinates, transmitted from the mobile communication unit via the paging network; demodulating the location coordinates; translating the location coordinates to human readable form; and coupling the location coordinates to a readout device at the base station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: associating other data with the location coordinates being communicated, wherein the other data may be one or more selected from a group including data representing a time stamp, an operational status of the mobile communications unit, strength of transmitted signals, condition of signals, condition of a battery, whether a threshold is traversed, whether an electronic fence is crossed or an alarm signal; and communicating the other data with the location's coordinates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of associating other data comprises the steps of: determining the other data by selecting and measuring a parameter to be represented by the other data; and assembling the other data with the location coordinates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving occurs in the base station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving occurs in a paging center of the paging network capable of being accessed by the base station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: selecting a human readable form for translation of location coordinates from the group including alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message, alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message or location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting comprises the step of: coupling the location coordinates to a readout device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting comprises the step of: outputting the location coordinates automatically upon receipt by the base station.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting comprises the step of: dialing a phone number of the base station from a paging center to report the location coordinates of the mobile object to a user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting comprises the step of: outputting an alarm corresponding to receipt of the location coordinates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of outputting comprises the step of: forwarding the location coordinates via the base station to another remote device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the step of coupling comprises the step of: dialing a telephone number at the paging center for obtaining the location coordinates.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of converting comprises the step of: displaying the location coordinates on request as alpha-numeric text.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of converting comprises the step of: announcing the location coordinates on request as a spoken message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of converting comprises the step of: displaying the location coordinates on request by plotting them on a map.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of converting comprises the step of: determining manually a geographic address corresponding to the location of the mobile object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the step of converting comprises the step of: determining manually a geographic address corresponding to the location of the mobile object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: retrieving the location coordinates from the memory in the mobile communication unit; translating the location coordinates to human readable form; enabling a paging transmitter in the mobile communication unit coupled to the second antenna to transmit a carrier therefrom to the base station via a paging network; and modulating the carrier being transmitted from the second antenna with the location coordinates.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: receiving a carrier modulated with the location coordinates transmitted from the mobile communication unit via a paging network in the base station; demodulating the location coordinates; and outputting the location coordinates for readout in human readable form.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: selecting a human readable form for translation of location coordinates from the group including alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message, alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message or location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: retrieving the location coordinates from the memory in the mobile communication unit; enabling a transmitter in the mobile communication unit coupled to the second antenna to transmit a carrier therefrom to the base station; and modulating the carrier being transmitted from the second antenna with the location coordinates.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: receiving in the base station a carrier modulated with the location coordinates transmitted from the mobile communications unit; demodulating the location coordinates; translating the location coordinates to human readable form; and coupling the location coordinates to a readout device at the base station.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the step of enabling the transmitter in the mobile communications unit is operable to transmit a carrier from the second antenna via a satellite communications system.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of receiving is performed by a receiver operable in a satellite communications system.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: selecting a human readable form for translation of location coordinates from the group including alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message, alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message or location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the step of retrieving further comprises the step of: translating the location coordinates to human readable form prior to modulating the carrier.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the steps of: receiving in the base station a carrier modulated with the location coordinates transmitted from the mobile communications unit; demodulating the location coordinates; and coupling the location coordinates to a readout device at the base station.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates to alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: converting the location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein the step of translating comprises the step of: selecting a human readable form for translation of location coordinates from the group including alpha-numeric characters for output as a text message, alpha-numeric characters for output as a spoken message or location coordinates for output to be plotted on a map.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating the location coordinates comprises the step of: transmitting the location coordinates via the wireless link responsive to receiving activation instructions via the wireless link.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of associating other data comprises the step of: retrieving the other data from the memory in the mobile communication unit; and including the other data in a message with the location coordinates being communicated.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of associating other data comprises the step of: retrieving the data representing the condition of a battery from the memory in the mobile communication unit; and including the data representing the condition of the battery in a message with the location coordinates being communicated.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of: communicating data representing the condition of a battery in the mobile communications unit via the wireless link to the base station.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 56 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of: outputting an alarm byte corresponding to a low-battery condition.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of: communicating data representing the condition of signals received by the mobile communication unit with respect to a threshold via the wireless link to the base station.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 58 , wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of: outputting an alarm byte corresponding to an out-of-range condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |