Patent ID: 7974637
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: G06Q,H04W

Abstract:
1. A power efficient method for wireless remote health monitoring and tracking of items across multiple modes of transportation using existing wireless infrastructures; wherein the method comprises: registering a wireless radio tracking device located with tracked items using an application processor on a network through a base station to facilitate location and health determination; determining by the backend system of the network, utilizing appropriate software and accessing databases, the health and location of items tracked wherein progress information of the items tracked is stored in a database; and providing the progress information to authorized users, through an access point via at least one of the internet, web-service, email, SMS, or automated phone calls; wherein determining the health and location of tracked items comprises: obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items, comprising: retrieving from a network database or from stored cell-tower location information in the backend system a rough geographical position of the tracked items and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 1.5 miles or less, wherein the network comprises a cellular network; obtaining a finer geographical location resolution, when requested by the application processor on the wireless tracking device; wherein obtaining a finer location resolution comprises: augmenting the rough geographical location information by sending additional data about the surrounding base stations and recent historical base station information; wherein recent historical base station information comprises: the base stations or networks to which the wireless radio tracking device is connected, the radio networks or bases stations detected by the wireless radio tracking device and global positioning location data of the wireless radio tracking device; if the network comprises a WiFi network in combination with the cellular network, obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: determining of a geographical location by the wireless radio tracking device; sending one data packet to the backend system; retrieving by the backend system the access point location by looking up the IP address location of the access-point, or requesting the access point location from the operator or third party location provider; and providing a rough estimate of the location of the wireless radio tracking device within 3 miles or better accuracy; if the network comprises a LTE or VII network in combination with the cellular network, obtaining a rough geographical location of tracked items additionally comprises: requesting by the tracking unit location information of the local access point; sending an information package to the backend system including the location information; wherein determining the health and location of tracked items further comprises: retrieving, other information, which is not from the wireless radio tracking unit or the network, the other information comprising: fusing the other information with the geographical location of the tracked items; using the additional information and the geographical location to determine the health and location of items currently being tracked and future tracked items;