Method and system for monitoring the position of an object

A system for automatically monitoring the position of an object, comprising:

• a data processing platform, and
• one or more monitoring devices which are constructed to be separate from the data processing platform, each of which are arranged to detect a current position of a respective object to be monitored;
• wherein the system is configured to carry out a method through the data processing platform and a respective one of the monitoring devices with division of tasks between the data processing platform and the monitoring devices, the method comprising the following set of steps, which are carried out iteratively:
• detecting a current position of the object;
• determining a spatial distance of the current position from a position previously specified as a central position;
• checking whether the spatial distance exceeds a predetermined distance threshold;
• and
• triggering a predefined functionality of at least one of the object and the position monitoring system and specifying the detected current position or a position derived therefrom as a central position for a subsequent iteration of the set of steps of the method, when the spatial distance exceeds the predetermined distance threshold,
• wherein the predefined functionality comprises blocking or removing at least one functionality of the object,
• wherein the predefined functionality further comprises issuing or transmitting at least one of a notification and a current position to a remote party,
• wherein within subsequent iterations of the steps, the method further comprises:
• suppressing outputting of a further notification when, in several prior iterations, it is determined during checking that the spatial distance that has been determined exceeds a predetermined distance threshold, and when, within one or more preceding iterations, a defined number N, with N≥1, of notifications have already been output in the prior iterations, each of which having indicated that the distance threshold has been exceeded, and
• wherein a triggering of a respective further iteration takes place when any condition from the following group or a predetermined subset thereof is detected:
• activation or deactivation of a power supply or of an operational mode of the object;
• expiry of a predetermined period of time since a defined reference point in time;
• a predetermined point in time;
• and
• occurrence of a handover to another mobile radio cell relating to a mobile radio connection with a mobile radio network existing in relation to the object or its associated monitoring device.

A computer program operatively associated with a system comprising a data processing platform and one or more monitoring devices which are constructed to be separate from the data processing platform, each of which are arranged to detect a current position of an object, the computer program operative to cause the system to carry out a method comprising the following set of steps, which are carried out iteratively:

• detecting a current position of the object;
• determining a spatial distance of the current position from a position previously specified as a central position;
• checking whether the spatial distance exceeds a predetermined distance threshold;
• and
• triggering a predefined functionality of at least one of the object and the position monitoring system and specifying the detected current position or a position derived therefrom as a central position for a subsequent iteration of the set of steps of the method, when the spatial distance exceeds the predetermined distance threshold,
• wherein the predefined functionality comprises blocking or removing at least one functionality of the object,
• wherein the predefined functionality further comprises issuing or transmitting at least one of a notification and a current position to a remote party,
• wherein within subsequent iterations of the steps, the method further comprises:
• suppressing outputting of a further notification when, in several prior iterations, it is determined during checking that the spatial distance that has been determined exceeds a predetermined distance threshold, and when, within one or more preceding iterations, a defined number N, with N≥1, of notifications have already been output in the prior iterations, each of which having indicated that the distance threshold has been exceeded, and
• wherein a triggering of a respective further iteration takes place when any condition from the following group or a predetermined subset thereof is detected:
• activation or deactivation of a power supply or of an operational mode of the object;
• expiry of a predetermined period of time since a defined reference point in time;
• a predetermined point in time;
• and
• occurrence of a handover to another mobile radio cell relating to a mobile radio connection with a mobile radio network existing in relation to the object or its associated monitoring device.