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US 6,975,941 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for intelligent acquisition of position information
OwnerChung Lau, C. Douglass Thomasinventors
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Abstract
Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.
Claims29
A portable position acquisition apparatus, comprising:
- a position detection unit that detects position information pertaining to said position acquisition apparatus;
- a memory that stores the position information;
- a motion monitoring unit that monitors motion of said position acquisition apparatus;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said position detection unit, said memory and said motion monitoring unit, said controller determines how frequent the position information is reacquired by said position detection unit based on at least the motion identified by said motion monitoring unit as compared to a first threshold amount, the first threshold amount being adjustable while or after said position acquisition apparatus is placed in use by an interested party.
2 more elements
A portable position acquisition apparatus, comprising:
- a position detection unit that detects position information pertaining to a position of said position acquisition apparatus;
- a memory that stores the position information;
- a communication interface that enables said position acquisition apparatus to transmit the position information to a remote device;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said position detection unit, said memory and said communication interface, said controller determines whether the position information acquired by said position detection unit is to be transmitted to the remote device via said communication interface based on whether the position differs from a prior position by at least a threshold amount that is more than just the fact that the apparatus is moving,
- wherein said communication interface has at least a normal power state and a low-power state, and
- wherein, when the position differs from the prior position by at least the threshold amount, said communication interface transitions to the normal power state and then transmits the position information to the remote device.
4 more elements
A portable position acquisition apparatus, comprising:
- a battery for providing power to said position acquisition apparatus;
- a solar panel operatively connected to said battery to provide electrical change to said battery;
- a position detection unit that detects position information pertaining to said position acquisition apparatus;
- a memory that stores the position information;
- a communication interface that enables said position acquisition apparatus to transmit the position information to a remote device;
- and
- a controller operatively connected said position detection unit, said memory and said communication interface, said controller controls acquisition of the position information via said position detection unit in accordance with a first threshold as well as transmission of the position information to the remote device via said communication interface in accordance with a second threshold.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.