초록 ▼

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 locatio

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).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. 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 i

What is claimed is: 1. 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. 2. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to receive signals from at least one satellite and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the satellite signals. 3. The wireless handset of claim 2, wherein the handset is configured to receive location correction information and the positioning system is configured use the location correction information in conjunction with the satellite signals to ascertain the location of the handset. 4. The wireless handset of claim 3, wherein the handset is configured to receive the location correction information over at least one of a plurality of channels. 5. The wireless handset of claim 4, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel provided by a wireless telephone system, a wireless local area network and a signal from a satellite. 6. The wireless handset of claim 1, where in the handset is configured to receive location information from the server and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the positioning information. 7. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to receive location information from a wireless telephone system and the positioning system is configured to ascertain a location of the handset using at least the positioning information. 8. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the handset is configured to notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route by sending a message to the server over at least one of a plurality of channels. 9. The wireless handset of claim 8, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel of a wireless telephone system and a wireless local area network. 10. The wireless handset of claim 9, wherein the plurality of channels further comprises a wireless link through another wireless handset. 11. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein: the route information describing the prescribed route includes information about a plurality of geographic boundaries; and the determination of if the handset is within the prescribed route is based on a location of the handset relative to at least some of the geographic boundaries. 12. The wireless handset of claim 11, wherein the geographic boundaries define a plurality of route segments. 13. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is farther operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas. 14. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route. 15. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas. 16. The wireless security escort system of claim 1, wherein the application program is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route. 17. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein said signal is operative to trigger the generation of said alarm in said handset. 18. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein said handset is operative to communicate said signal to said server to trigger the generation of said alarm at said server. 19. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein said signal comprises a data message. 20. 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. 21. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to: receive a notification from the handset if the handset rails to follow the prescribed route; and display information about the prescribed route. 22. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to: receive a notification from the handset if the handset fails to arrive within the one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time; and display information about the prescribed route. 23. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to; receive location correction information from a satellite; and provide the location correction information to the handset. 24. The wireless security escort system of claim 23, wherein the server is operative to provide the location correction information over a wireless local area network. 25. The wireless security escort system of claim 23, wherein the server is operative to also provide the location correction information over a data channel of a wireless telephone system. 26. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to ascertain a location of the handset based on information about messages carried by a wireless local area network to or from the handset. 27. The wireless security escort system of claim 26, wherein the server is operative to ascertain the location of the handset based on information about messages carried by a wireless local area network to or from the handset and on information about the location of the handset from a wireless telephone system. 28. The wireless security escort system of claim 27, wherein: the server comprises a web server operative to accept a request to configure a prescribed route; and the server is operative to send information describing the prescribed route to the handset in response to receiving the request to configure the prescribed route. 29. The wireless security escort system of claim 28, wherein the server is operable to send the information describing the prescribed route via at least one of a plurality of channels. 30. The wireless security escort system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a data channel provided by a wireless telephone system and a wireless local area network. 31. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is operative to display information about the prescribed route if the server does not receive a message from the handset for a predetermined amount of time. 32. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset. 33. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset. 34. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset. 35. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas to the handset. 36. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas. 37. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route. 38. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas. 39. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the application program in the handset is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of discontiguous consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a rate of progress of the handset along the prescribed route. 40. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the route information provided by the server includes a plurality of overlapping route segments. 41. The wireless security escort system of claim 40, wherein: the route information provided by the server includes at least one prohibited area; and the application program in the handset is further operable to notify the server if the handset enters one of the at least one prohibited area. 42. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a GIS database. 43. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless telephone connections available to the handset at a plurality of locations along the route. 44. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless connections, over which the application program could notify the server, at a plurality of locations along the route. 45. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless navigation signals at a plurality of locations along the route. 46. The wireless security escort system of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on real-time data available to the server. 47. 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 consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of 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 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 consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time, wherein the server is further operative to calculate an expected arrival time of a successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas to the handset, and 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 consecutive check-in areas. 48. 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 consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of 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 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 consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time, wherein the server is further operative to calculate a location of a successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas based at least in part on a departure time from a previous one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas and to provide the calculated expected arrival time of the successive one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas to the handset, and 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 consecutive check-in areas. 49. 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 consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of 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 consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival times; notify the server when the handset arrives at successive ones of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas; and notify the server if the handset fails to follow the prescribed route or fails to arrive at one of the plurality of consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time; and 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 consecutive check-in areas. 50. 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 consecutive check-in areas and an expected arrival time associated with each of the plurality of 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 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 consecutive check-in areas by the respective associated expected arrival time, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information about the quality of a wireless connection, over which the application program could notify the server, and 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 consecutive check-in areas. 51. The wireless security escort system of claim 50, wherein the server is configured to select the prescribed route based at least in part on information in a database of expected quality of wireless connections, over which the application program could notify the server, at a plurality of locations along the route.