Multimode system and apparatus for locating lost items
OwnerJan R. Saperstein, Richard A. Willisinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for locating an item includes a mesh network communication device, a global positioning satellite chipset, a cellular telecommunications modem, a digital memory that stores a unique identification and a processor. The processor is programmed to determine the location of the item based on an input from the global positioning satellite chipset. If a mesh network connection is available, then processor transmits the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the mesh network, otherwise the processor registers with a wireless communication network with the cellular telecommunications modem and transmits the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the wireless communication network.
Claims10
An apparatus for locating an item, comprising:
- a. a mesh network communication device;
- b. a global positioning satellite chipset;
- c. a cellular telecommunications modem;
- d. a digital memory that stores a unique identification;
- and
- e. a processor in digital communication with the mesh network communication device, the global positioning satellite chipset, the cellular telecommunications modem and the memory, the processor programmed to execute the following steps:
- i. determine the location of the item based on an input from the global positioning satellite chipset;
- ii. if a mesh network connection is available, then transmit the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the mesh network;
- and
- iii. if a mesh network connection is not available, then register with a wireless communication network with the cellular telecommunications modem and transmit the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the wireless communication network.
A system for locating a piece of luggage, comprising:
- a. a luggage locating device disposed in the piece of luggage, including:
- i. a mesh network communication device;
- ii. a global positioning satellite chipset;
- iii. a cellular telecommunications modem;
- iv. a digital memory that stores a unique identification;
- and
- v. a processor in digital communication with the mesh network communication device, the global positioning satellite chipset, the cellular telecommunications modem and the memory;
- and
- b. a program stored in the digital memory, that causes the processor to execute the following steps:
- i. determine the location of the item based on an input from the global positioning satellite chipset;
- ii. if a mesh network connection is available, then transmit the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the mesh network;
- and
- iii. if a mesh network connection is not available, then register with a wireless communication network with the cellular telecommunications modem and transmit the unique identification and the location of the item to a requester via the wireless communication network.
A method of locating an item, using a locating apparatus that includes a processor that is in communication with a digital memory that stores a unique identification of the item, a mesh network communication device, a global positioning satellite chipset and a cellular telecommunications modem, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. determining whether the mesh network communication device is communicating with a mesh network;
- b. if the mesh network communication device is communicating with a mesh network and if a request identifying the item is received through the mesh network, then transmitting the unique identification of the item and an identification of a fixed mesh network node closest to the item through the mesh network to a requester;
- and
- c. registering with a cellular network using the cellular telecommunications modem if the mesh network communication device is not communicating with a mesh network and performing the following steps:
- i. determining a location of the item with the global positioning satellite chipset;
- and
- ii. responding to a request identifying the item and received through the cellular network by transmitting the unique identification of the item and the location of the item through the cellular network to a requester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.