Systems and methods for monitoring and tracking
The present invention generally relates to systems, methods and applications utilizing the convergence of any combination of the following three technologies: wireless positioning or localization technology, wireless communications technology and sensor technology. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a remote device that includes a sensor for determining or measuring a desired parameter, a receiver for receiving position data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system, a processor for determining whether or not alert conditions are present and a wireless transceiver for transmitting the measured parameter data and the position data to a central station, such as an application service provider (ASP). The ASP, in turn, may communicate the measured data, position data and notification of any alerts to an end user via an alert device. The present invention also relates to various applications and systems utilizing the capabilities of such a device.
1. A system comprising:
at least one remote device, each of which being associated with at least one object and including:
memory configured to store a respective alert threshold value for each object of the at least one object associated with the remote device; and
at least one processor configured to receive, from each object of the at least one object associated with the remote device, data relating to the object, to compare a value of the received data to the respective alert threshold value stored in the memory, in accordance with comparison criteria, and to generate an alert in response to a determination that the value of the received data and the respective alert threshold value satisfies the comparison criteria;
a plurality of alert devices;
at least one user interface device, each user interface device configured to receive as input, and to communicate, a user-indicated alert threshold value for a designated remote device of the at least one remote device; and
an application service provider (ASP) including:
a database configured to store information associating the at least one remote device, the at least one object, each respective alert threshold value, and the plurality of alert devices; and
at least one processor-based computing device configured to receive each user-indicated alert threshold value from the at least one user interface device, to communicate each received user-indicated alert threshold value to the respective designated remote device, and to communicate an alert generated by a remote device of the at least one remote device to at least one of plural alert devices associated with the remote device and respective object, in accordance with predetermined priority criteria, wherein the predetermined priority criteria includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with a single user.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of alert devices is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a wireless device, a computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert to a first alert device associated with the single user and, after a predetermined amount of time, to communicate the alert to a second alert device associated with the single user in the prioritized order.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, within the prioritized order, the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert simultaneously to at least two of the plural alert devices.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined priority criteria further includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with respective users.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a first alert device associated with a first user is a different type than a second alert device associated with a second user.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert to a first alert device associated with a first user and, after a predetermined amount of time, to communicate the alert to a second alert device associated with a second user.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein, in the prioritized order, the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert simultaneously to a first alert device associated with a first user and a second alert device associated with a second user.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one user interface device is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone, a wireless device, a computer, a cellular telephone, and a personal digital assistant.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone call, an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a voice message, and a message transmitted to a call management center.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective alert threshold value is selected from the group consisting of: a geographical boundary, a geographical distance, speed, and time.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein, for a first remote device and associated object, the database is configured to store information associating different threshold values with respective different alert devices associated with the first remote device and associated object.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein plural objects are associated with a first remote device, and wherein the memory of the first remote device is configured to store a respective alert threshold value for each of the plural objects.
14. A system comprising:
a database storing infoimation associating
at least one remote device,
each object associated with the at least one remote device, wherein each remote device is associated with at least one object,
a respective alert threshold value for each object associated with the at least one remote device, and
a plurality of alert devices,
and storing localizing data received from the at least one remote device; and
at least one-processor-based computing device configured to
compare a value of the localizing data received from the at least one remote device to the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with comparison criteria,
generate an alert in response to a determination that the value of the received localizing data and the respective alert threshold value satisfies the comparison criteria, and
communicate the alert, via a communications link, to at least one alert device of plural alert devices associated with the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with predetermined priority criteria, wherein the predetermined priority criteria includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with a single user.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert to a first alert device associated with the single user and, after a predetermined amount of time, to communicate the alert to a second alert device associated with the single user in the prioritized order.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein, within the prioritized order, the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert simultaneously to at least two of the plural alert devices.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined priority criteria further includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with respective users.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein a first alert device associated with a first user is a different type than a second alert device associated with a second user.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert to a first alert device associated with a first user and, after a predetermined amount of time, to communicate the alert to a second alert device associated with a second user.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein, within the prioritized order, the at least one processor-based computing device is further configured to communicate the alert simultaneously to a first alert device associated with a first user and a second alert device associated with a second user.
21. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a server configured to provide an interface between at least one user and the database, and to allow the at least one user access to the localizing data.
22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communications link includes communications via the web and/or via electronic mail.
23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the alert is selected from the group consisting of: an electronic mail message, a voice mail message, a telephone call, and a message transmitted to a call management center.
24. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one alert device is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone, a wireless device, a pager, a computer, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a device configured to receive electronic mail.
25. The system of claim 14 , wherein the localizing data is a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal.
26. The system of claim 14 , wherein, for a first remote device and associated object, the database is configured to store information associating different threshold values with respective different alert devices associated with the first remote device and associated object.
27. The system of claim 14 , wherein the database is configured to store information associating
a first remote device of the at least one remote device,
each of plural objects associated with the first remote device,
a respective alert threshold value for each of the plural objects associated with the first remote device, and
a plurality of alert devices associated with the first remote device and the associated plural objects.
28. A system comprising:
a database storing information associating
at least one remote device,
each object associated with the at least one remote device, wherein each remote device is associated with at least one object,
a respective alert threshold value for each object associated with the at least one remote device, and
a plurality of alert devices,
and storing detected parameter data received from the at least one-remote device; and
at least one processor-based computing device configured to
compare a value of the detected parameter data received from the at least one remote device to the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with comparison criteria,
generate an alert in response to a determination that the value of the detected parameter data and the respective alert threshold value satisfies the comparison criteria, and
communicate the alert, via a communications link, to at least one alert device of a plurality of alert devices associated with the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with predetermined priority criteria, wherein the predetermined priority criteria includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with a single user.
29. A system comprising:
means for storing information associating
at least one remote device,
each object associated with the at least one remote device, wherein each remote device is associated with at least one object,
a respective alert threshold value for each object associated with the at least one remote device, and
a plurality of alert devices,
and for storing localizing data received from the at least one remote device;
means for comparing a value of the localizing data received from the at least one remote device to the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with comparison criteria;
means for generating an alert in response to a determination that the value of the received localizing data and the respective alert threshold value satisfies the comparison criteria; and
means for communicating the alert, via a communications link, to at least one alert device of plural alert devices associated with the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with predetermined priority criteria, wherein the predetermined priority criteria includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with a single user.
30. A system comprising:
means for storing information associating
at least one remote device,
each object associated with the at least one remote device, wherein each remote device is associated with at least one object,
a respective alert threshold value for each object associated with the at least one remote device, and
a plurality of alert devices,
and for storing detected parameter data received from the at least one remote device;
means for comparing a value of the detected parameter data received from the at least one remote device to the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with comparison criteria;
means for generating an alert in response to a determination that the value of the detected parameter data and the respective alert threshold value satisfies the comparison criteria, and
means for communicating the alert, via a communications link, to at least one alert device of a plurality of alert devices associated with the respective alert threshold value, in accordance with predetermined priority criteria, wherein the predetermined priority criteria includes a prioritized order of plural alert devices associated with a single user.