US 7,149,533 B2 · Wireless virtual campus escort system

Abstract

A user selects a route between a starting point and a destination. A mobile handset monitors the user's progress along the route by monitoring the location and movement of the handset and, optionally, sensor data, and by comparing this information to rules that define permitted or prohibited locations or movements or threshold sensor values. The handset uses one or more positioning systems, such as GPS, to ascertain its location. A server provides the handset with information to correct errors in the location information. If a rule fires, possibly indicating that the user is in danger, the handset attempts to ascertain the user's wellbeing, warns the user to return to the prescribed route and begins sending the handset's location to a server, which displays the information to a dispatcher who dispatches safety or security personnel to the user's location. The handset and servers communicate via any available wireless channel(s).

Claims51

Dependent claims

A wireless handset for use with a server, the wireless handset comprising:

a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the wireless handset;
and
an application program configured to:
receive route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas;
use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times;
and
notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time and trigger generation of an alarm at said server if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

4 more elements

A wireless security escort system, comprising:

a server configured to provide route information describing a prescribed route, the route information including information defining a plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas;
and
a wireless handset comprising:
a positioning system operable to ascertain a location of the handset;
and
an application program operable to:
receive the route information from the server;
use the positioning system and the route information to determine if the handset location is within the prescribed route and if the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times;
and
notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time,
wherein the server is further operative to generate an alarm signal if the server fails to receive a notification from the application program by a due time calculated from the expected arrival time associated with one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless virtual campus escort system

Life of this patent

Wireless virtual campus escort system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51