Patent ID: 6351221
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: G08B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A method of distance-based notification in a two-way wireless communication system serving a plurality of portable subscriber units which send and receive messages to and from a controller through a base station, the method comprising in the controller the steps of:defining a group selected from said plurality of portable subscriber units, wherein said defining step comprises the step of defining a group comprising members A, B, and C, selected from said plurality of portable subscriber units; cooperating with said base station and said group to identify a plurality of locations corresponding to members of said group; determining from said plurality of locations a plurality of distances between selected ones of said members, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining a first distance between members A and B, and a second distance between members B and C; and sending a notification when said plurality of distances satisfies a predetermined set of rules concerning said first distance and said second distance of said plurality of distances, wherein said sending step comprises the step of sending said notification to at least one of members A, B, and C in response to satisfying a rule dependent upon said first and second distances.