Method and system of providing location-based alerts for tracking personal items

1. A method comprising:

detecting a triggering event associated with tracking a personal item via a bearer tag coupled to the personal item;

initiating sensing of the bearer tag in response to the detection of the triggering event;

determining whether location or presence of the personal item satisfies a predetermined criterion;

generating a notification if the criterion is satisfied, wherein the criterion for generating the notification specifies that the personal item is outside of a predetermined range from a designated object, and the notification includes time of generating the notification;

generating a list of personal items to be tracked, the list including the personal item;

maintaining a record of the personal items, the record including the location and number of notifications generated for the corresponding personal items; and

determining statistical data about the tracked personal items including the location where most notifications have been generated, frequency of notifications, and the time when notifications are typically generated.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the designated object includes a mobile device, a stationary device, or a vehicle.

3. A method of claim 2 , wherein the triggering event includes either actuating the vehicle, moving the item within a predetermined area, moving the item away from the predetermined area, or changing location of the sensing of the bearer tag.

4. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting a prompt indicating a plurality of options for the notification; and

presenting the notification according to one of the options.

5. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting information about the location of the personal item; and

presenting directions to the determined location of the personal item.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the bearer tag includes either a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled device, or a near-field radio frequency transceiver.

7. A method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing is performed at either a mobile communication device, or within a wireless communication device coupled to a vehicle.

8. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a different notification when at least one bearer tag is out of range of the other bearer tags.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to detect a triggering event associated with tracking a personal item via a bearer tag coupled to the personal item,

wherein the processor is further configured:

to initiate sensing of the bearer tag in response to the detection of the triggering event,

to determine whether location or presence of the personal item satisfies a predetermined criterion,

to generate a notification if the criterion is satisfied, wherein the criterion to generate the notification specifies that the personal item is outside of a predetermined range from a designated object, and the notification includes time of generating the notification,

to generate a list of personal items to be tracked, the list including the personal item,

to maintain a record of the personal items, the record including the location and number of notifications generated for the corresponding personal items, and

to determine statistical data about the tracked personal items including the location where most notifications have been generated, frequency of notifications, and the time when notifications are typically generated.

10. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the designated object includes a mobile device, a stationary device, or a vehicle.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the triggering event includes either actuating the vehicle, moving the item within a predetermined area, moving the item away from the predetermined area, or changing location of the sensing of the bearer tag.

12. An apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a display configured to present a prompt indicating a plurality of options for the notification, and to present the notification according to one of the options.

13. An apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a display configured to present information about the location of the personal item, and to present directions to the determined location of the personal item.

14. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the bearer tag includes either a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a global positioning system (GPS)-enabled device, or a near-field radio frequency transceiver.

15. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sensing is performed at either a mobile communication device, or within a wireless communication device coupled to a vehicle.

16. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

generate a different notification when at least one bearer tag is out of range of the other bearer tags.