Patent ID: 7940172
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: enabling pre-selection at a first device of one or more characteristics required to provide an alert of a movement towards a destination, wherein said enabling pre-selection includes: configuring a tracking system that includes the GPS device, a time keeping system, and a message sending system, wherein configuration of the tracking system includes: detecting, via the GPS device when the GPS device passes through two or more pre-selected locations in a pre-established sequential order during a pre-selected time window, wherein the locations are pre-selected in the pre-established sequential order to identify initiation of a movement towards the destination; retrieving an identification of at least one second device to which the alert is to be sent when the GPS device passes through the pre-selected locations during the pre-selected time window; dynamically selecting the alert mechanism and the method for transmitting the alert from the first device to the one or more second devices, based on the pre-selected time window and the preference order; and automatically sending the alert to the one or more second devices when the GPS device passes through at least two pre-selected locations, in the pre-established order, during the pre-selected time window, wherein the alert informs a user of the one or more second devices that a next user corresponding to the GPS device has commenced a journey to the destination; wherein said dynamically selecting and said automatically sending includes tailoring an alert type based on a selected second device to which the alert is being transmitted, wherein: