# US 7,940,173 B2 · Dynamically configurable wireless device

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- Number: US 7,940,173 B2
- Document ID: US7940173B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/453,195
- Filed: 2009-05-01
- Published: 2009-11-05
- Granted: 2011-05-10
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-01
- Assignees: Webtech Wireless Inc.
- Inventors: Robert John Koen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7940173B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A wireless device for facilitating for GPS-based asset tracking via a wireless communications network and a centralized management system. The wireless device includes dynamically configurable event profiles which allow the wireless device to be dynamically reconfigured and to perform certain actions based on a dynamically configurable combination of received events.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of dynamically operating a locator device, comprising the steps of:
a. defining a plurality of events where each of said events represents an operational condition of said locator device;
b. defining a plurality of triggers where each of said triggers is a dynamically configurable contemporaneously occurring combination of said events;
c. defining a plurality of event profiles where each of said event profiles is a user-configurable dynamic association between
i. one of said triggers; and
ii. a dynamically configurable set of device commands;
d. responding to a contemporaneously occurring subset of said events by evaluating said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events against said triggers of each of said event profiles;
e. activating one of said event profiles by processing said set of device commands corresponding to said event profile whenever said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events corresponds to said trigger of said event profile;
wherein said set of device commands changes a configuration parameter of said locator device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said set of device commands also causes said locator device to perform an action.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said user-configurable dynamic association is implemented using Boolean logic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said user-configurable dynamic association is implemented using any form of combinatorial, sequential or associative logic.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein one of said events represents said locator device being located relative to a defined geographical area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein one of said events represents said locator device successfully receiving location information from GPS satellites.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said trigger is implemented by a combination of a trigger word and a trigger mask, wherein:
a. said trigger word represents a subset of said events against which said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events is evaluated; and
b. said trigger mask represents which of said subset of events is sufficient for causing the activating of said one event profile and which of said subset of events is necessary for causing the activating of said one event profile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said responding further includes performing Boolean operations between said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events and said trigger word and said trigger mask which comprise said trigger.

### Claim 9

A dynamically operable locator device comprising:
a) a definition of a plurality of events where each of said events represents an operational condition of said locator device;
b) a definition of a plurality of triggers where each of said triggers is a dynamically configurable contemporaneously occurring combination of said events;
c) a definition of a plurality of event profiles where each of said event profiles is a user-configurable dynamic association between:
i) one of said triggers; and
ii) a dynamically configurable set of device commands;
d) means for responding to a contemporaneously occurring subset of said events by evaluating said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events against said triggers of each of said event profiles;
e) means for activating one of said event profiles by processing said set of device commands corresponding to said event profile whenever said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events corresponds to said trigger of said event profile;
wherein said set of device commands changes a configuration parameter of said dynamically operable locator device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said set of device commands causes said dynamically operable locator device to perform an action.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said set of device commands causes said dynamically operable locator device to change one or more of said configuration parameters and perform one or more actions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said user-configurable dynamic association is implemented using Boolean logic.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said user-configurable dynamic association is implemented using any form of combinatorial, sequential or associative logic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein one of said events represents said dynamically operable locator device being located relative to a defined geographical area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein one of said events represents said dynamically operable locator device successfully receiving location information from GPS satellites.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said trigger is implemented by a combination of a trigger word and a trigger mask, wherein:
a. said trigger word represents a subset of said events against which said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events is evaluated; and
b. said trigger mask represents which of said subset of events is sufficient for causing the activating of said one event profile and which of said subset of events is necessary for causing the activating of said one event profile.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The dynamically operable locator device of claim 9, wherein said responding further includes performing Boolean operations between said contemporaneously occurring subset of said events and said trigger word and said trigger mask which comprise said trigger.

### Claim 18

A method of dynamically operating a locator device associated with a vehicle, where the operation of the locator device is configurable and is used in conjunction with a GPS system, comprising the steps of:
a) defining a plurality of events wherein each event represents an operational condition of said locator device;
b) defining a plurality of triggers wherein each trigger is a dynamically configurable contemporaneously occurring combination of a subset of said events and wherein said combination is implemented by
i) defining the occurrence of a sufficient event to be an event for which, upon detection, causes the locator device to perform an action or to change its configuration;
ii) defining the occurrence of necessary events to be two or more events which, upon detection of their simultaneous occurrence, causes the locator device to perform an action or to change its configuration;
c) defining a plurality of event profiles wherein each event profiles is a user-configurable dynamic association between:
i) one said trigger; and
ii) a dynamically configurable plurality of device commands wherein each device command instructs the locator device to perform an action or to change the locator device configuration;
d) detecting the occurrence of one said trigger and responding thereto by activating the associated event profile.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 performed in conjunction with a geofence, comprising the steps of:
a) defining a “crossing geofence” event to be the crossing of the geofence boundary by the vehicle;
b) defining a first “speed event” profile with a first speed limit;
c) defining a second “speed event” profile with a second speed limit that is higher than said first speed limit;
d) defining the sufficient event as the occurrence of said crossing event;
e) defining a “speed change” trigger to be the occurrence of said sufficient event;
f) detecting said “speed change” trigger; and
g) activating, upon the detection of said “speed change” trigger, said second event profile.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, in conjunction with a storage geofence boundary and an alarm system associated the vehicle, comprising:
a) defining an “alarm system armed” event to be the arming of an alarm system;
b) defining a “within storage yard geofence” event to be the crossing of the storage yard geofence boundary by the vehicle;
c) defining a “trailer connected” event to be the connecting of a trailer to the vehicle;
d) defining a trigger to be the occurrence of the sufficient event of “alarm system armed” event or the occurrence of two required events of {“within storage geofence” event and ‘trailer connected” event};
e) defining the “sleep mode” action to be placing of the locator device into an energy-saving mode.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, in conjunction with a geofence boundary, comprising:
a) defining a “parked” event profile to be the condition of the vehicle having the ignition off and the establishment of a GPS fix;
b) defining a “towed” even” profile to be the condition of the vehicle being towed;
c) defining a “crossing geofence” event to be the crossing of the geofence boundary by the vehicle;
c) defining a “towed” trigger to be the occurrence of all required events of “parked” event and “crossing geofence” event.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, comprising:
a) defining a “satellite” event profile to be the condition of changing GPS satellite links;
b) defining a “PPP link down” event;
c) defining a “PPP link up but only SMS” event;
b) defining a trigger to be the occurrence of one sufficient event from {“PPP link down” event, a “PPP link up but only SMS” event}.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein one said trigger is defined in terms of detecting a virtual input from a diagnostic system of the vehicle.