Patent · US Active

Personal locator and locating method

US8106820B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 2008
Grant dateJan 31, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S2205/006
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed are systems; apparatus and methods for tracking or locating a person that is lost or has an emergency. Personal locating apparatus is employed comprising a plurality of buttons, and/or a keypad and display, that define an on/off element, an OK element, a help element and a 911 emergency element, wherein the elements are used to select and deselect one of a predetermined number of operational modes. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the apparatus processes GPS signals received from GPS satellites to generate location data indicative of the location of the apparatus. A satellite transmitter is coupled to the processor that transmits the location data and a desired operational mode signal to a remotely located processing center via one or more communication satellites. A processor is coupled to the GPS receiver and the satellite transmitter that is programmed to respond to user selections to generate the desired operational mode signal, process the location signals from the GPS receiver, the desired operational mode signal, and optionally a user message, generate a signal for transmission to the processing center, and transmit the signal to the remotely located p…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.