US 5,751,246 A · Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system

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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring and reporting the location of an object, comprising:

GPS receiver means for receiving radio signals from a Global Positioning System which are indicative of a current spatial position of said GPS receiver means;
database means for storing data indicative of said current spatial position of the GPS receiver means, said database means being responsive to said GPS receiver means;
control logic means coupled to said database means for processing the data in said database means;
and
communication means for communicating information related to the data in said database means, to a remote location and receiving a response back from said remote location for said control logic means regarding the data in said database means, said communication means automatically communicating the data to the remote location without receiving a polling message therefrom;
wherein said GPS receiver means, said database means, said control logic means and said communication means are carried as a unit by the object and wherein said current spatial position comprises the object's spatial position.

3 more elements

A system for monitoring and reporting the location an object, comprising:

GPS receiver means for receiving radio signals from a Global Positioning System which are indicative of a current spatial position of said GPS receiver means;
database means for storing data indicative of said current spatial position of said GPS receiver means, said database means being responsive to said GPS receiver means;
communication means for transmitting the stored data in said database means to a remote location, said communication means being responsive to said database means, said communication means automatically transmitting the data to the remote location without receiving a polling message therefrom;
control logic means for selectively controlling said communication means to transmit predetermined data from said database means to the remote location, wherein said GPS receiver means, said database means, said communication means and said control logic means are carried as a unit by the object and wherein said current spatial position comprises the object's spatial position;
and
interrogation means at the remote location, for accountability of said unit, said interrogation means including a processor for selectively communicating with said communication means, said processor coupled to input and display means, for interfacing said interrogation means with operators seeking accountability from said unit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system

Life of this patent

Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20