Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system
US5751246A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2205/002
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system is provided which includes a GPS receiver which determines its location as defined by three spatial coordinates and an associated time reference. The system includes a control logic unit which determines whether the location of GPS receiver is outside the permitted boundaries configured into an internal database in the system. The control logic unit is configured to transmit information related to the location of the GPS receiver to a remotely located interrogator apparatus which communicates back to the control logic unit, instructions regarding determination and reporting of the location of the GPS receiver. An interrogator, if included with a database, can be used as a shopping assistant to aid a shopper in locating desired items by polling a number of the GPS receiver, each associated with a different item, and informing the shopper of the floor, store, aisle or shelf where the item is located.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.