Personal locator system

A method of locating a portable locator unit (PLU) in a communications system comprising the steps of:

• a) monitoring by the PLU for a remote activation signal;
• b) receiving the remote activation signal by the PLU;
• c) transmitting a location signal including a PLU identification by the PLU;
• d) receiving the location signal at a first node of the communications system, and forwarding the PLU identification and a first node identification to a location processor in the communication system;
• e) determining PLU location information by the location processor from the PLU identification and node identification;
• f) storing the PLU location information in a location memory;
• and
• g) providing the location information to an authorized recipient,

A method of locating an object bearing a portable locator unit (PLU) in a communications system comprising the steps of:

• a) monitoring by the PLU for an activation signal;
• b) receiving the activation signal by the PLU;
• c) transmitting a location signal including a PLU identification by the PLU;
• d) receiving the location signal at a node of the communication system, and forwarding the PLU identification and a node identification to a location processor coupled to the node;
• e) determining PLU location information at the location processor from the PLU identification and node identification;
• f) storing the PLU location information in a location memory;
• and
• g) providing the PLU location information about the PLU's location to an authorized subscriber in communication with the communications system.

A method of locating a portable device in a communications network comprising the steps of:

• a) sending a node identification signal from each of a plural nodes of the communications network;
• b) receiving at least one node identification signal at the device and determining a node coverage area corresponding to a first of the plural nodes in which the portable device is located from the received at least one node identification signal;
• c) determining by the device, from a second node identification signal, when the device moves into a second node coverage area, and sending a registration signal, including a device identification in response to the determined change in coverage area;
• d) receiving the registration signal at the second node, and forwarding the device identification and a node identification to a network location processor;
• and
• e) determining a current location of the device from the device identification and node identification of the second node;
• and
• f) storing the location information indicative of the determined current location in a location register.

A communications system for locating a portable locator unit (PLU) and informing a subscriber of the location, comprising:

• means for accessing the communications system and requesting location of the PLU to be sent to a receiving device;
• means for sending a signal from the communications system to the PLU;
• means for sending a response, including a PLU identifier, from the PLU;
• means for receiving the response at a first node of the communications system, said first node having a node identifier;
• means for providing location information within the communication system indicative of the location of the PLU based on analysis of the node identifier;
• means for determining a desired format for the location information based on the PLU identifier;
• and
• means for providing the location information of the PLU in the desired format to the receiving device.

A communications system for locating a person bearing a locator unit via a communications channel using a wireless link to the locator unit, and for forwarding the location to a subscriber unit, comprising:

• a home location memory having stored locator unit subscriber information and location information about the locator unit;
• a first wireless communication node serving a first coverage area in which the locator unit is located and operable for receiving a location signal from the locator unit;
• a first node location determining processor coupled to the first node and operable for determining the location of the locator unit from the location signal received at the first node, and transmitting further location information about the locator unit;
• and
• a subscriber call processor coupled to the first node location determining processor operable for receiving the transmitted further location information, and coupled to the home location memory operable for updating location information based on the further location information and generating a subscribed call, based on the stored locator unit subscriber information, containing the further location information.

A communications system for locating a person bearing a locator unit via a communications channel using a wireless link to the locator unit, and for forwarding the location to a subscriber unit, comprising:

• a first wireless communication node serving a first coverage area in which the locator unit is located and operable for receiving a location signal from the locator unit;
• a home location memory having stored locator unit subscriber information and location information about the locator unit;
• a subscriber request processor coupled to the home location memory and operable for processing a subscriber location request about the location of the locator unit and transmitting a further location request including the locator unit identifier information to the first wireless communication node;
• a first node location request processor coupled to the first node and operable for receiving the further location request and controlling the first node to send a location activation signal to and receive the location signal from the locator unit;
• a first node location determining processor coupled to the first node and operable for determining the location of the locator unit from the location signal received at the first node, and transmitting further location information about the locator unit;
• and
• a subscriber call processor coupled to the first node location determining processor operable for receiving the transmitted further location information, and coupled to the home location memory operable for updating the location information, based on the further location information, and generating a subscriber call, based on the stored locator unit subscriber information, containing the further location information.