Patent Publication Number: US-2016249171-A1

Title: Object distance determination system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a positioning system and, more particularly, to an object distance determination system employing a GPS enabled accessory and a GPS enable tracking transceiver. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of conventional measuring tools, such as a tape measure or measuring wheel, to measure distances is well known. A problem which still exists, however, is that tools, such as tape measures and measuring wheels are generally best suited for relatively smaller distances and are prone to inaccuracies when measuring relatively larger distances. Compounding this issue is the fact that conventional tools that are more suited to measure larger distances are often impractical for measuring small distances. Thus, there remains a need for an object distance determination system that enables a user to measure accurately measure both smaller distances and larger distances. It would be helpful if such an object distance determination system employed satellite positioning technology to for identifying reference points in measurements. It would be additionally desirable for such an object distance determination system to be operable through a software application on a GPS enabled computer, such as a smartphone. 
     The Applicant&#39;s invention described herein provides for an object distance determination system adapted to allow a user to measure the distance between two reference points that have been associated with the components of the system. The primary components in Applicant&#39;s object distance determination system are a base station and a reference device. When in operation, the object distance determination system provides more effective and efficient measurements between two objects at that have been selectively positioned at desired reference points. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object distance determination system for measuring the linear distance between two objects. The object distance determination system comprises a smartphone configured as a base station in the preferred embodiment and a reference device. Through a reference distance determination software application, the reference device transmits GPS positioning information, along with a unique identifier associated with it over a wireless networking interface to the base station. The base station includes an object distance determination software application that configures it to retrieve its positioning information and receive over a wireless networking interface identification and positioning information from the reference device. Using this information, the object distance determination software application calculates the linear distance from the reference device to the base station and causes the display of the reference device and the calculated linear distance on the display of the base station. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an object distance determination system that enables a user to measure accurately measure both smaller distances and larger distances. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an object distance determination system that employs satellite positioning technology to for identifying reference points in measurements. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an object distance determination system to be operable through a software application on a GPS enabled computer, such as a smartphone. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a base station of an object distance determination system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front elevational view of a reference device of an object distance determination system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side elevational view of a reference device of an object distance determination system built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a reference device of an object distance determination system built in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B , an object distance determination system includes a base station  10  and a reference device  20 . The base station  10  defines a computer system or mobile computer, such as a smartphone in the preferred embodiment, that includes a controller, non-volatile memory, a display, a GPS receiver, a wireless networking interface, an input interface, and a power source, with the controller configured to execute instructions from software programs stored in the memory. In the preferred embodiment, the base station&#39;s  10  wireless networking interface defines a local area network wireless (Wi-Fi in the preferred embodiment) antenna and a personal area network wireless (Bluetooth in the preferred embodiment) antenna. The reference device  20  defines a device housing  21  that includes a conventional flash light  22 , a conventional charging port  23  (a USB interface in the preferred embodiment), a momentary connect button  24 , and an attachment clip  25 . The device housing  21  houses the operative electronic components, including a controller, non-volatile memory, a GPS receiver, a wireless networking interface, and a power source, with the controller configured to execute instructions from software programs stored in the memory. In the preferred embodiment, the reference device&#39;s  20  wireless networking interface defines a local area network wireless (Wi-Fi in the preferred embodiment) antenna and a personal area network wireless (Bluetooth in the preferred embodiment) antenna. It is appreciated that the connect button  24  is operative to cause the reference device  20  to initiate a bonding authentication process to form a Bluetooth connection connect to a wireless and, if no device is available to pair with, connect to a wireless LAN. 
     The reference device  20  includes a reference distance determination software application loaded into its memory. The reference distance determination software application allows the reference device to retrieve positioning information related to its present location from the reference device&#39;s  20  GPS receiver and transmit this positioning information, along with a unique identifier associated with the reference device  20 , through the wireless networking interface. Through its wireless networking interface, the reference device communicates its current position to a selected base station  10  through over a wireless LAN, either directly on the same LAN or over the Internet between discrete wireless LANs, or to a paired base station  10  through an Bluetooth connection, depending on what type of connection is available. In the preferred embodiment, the reference device  20  seeks to utilize a Bluetooth connection first. 
     A smartphone or other computer is configured to operate as a base station  10  in accordance with the present invention through an object distance determination software application loaded in its memory. The object distance determination software application is operative to enable the base station  10  to retrieve positioning information related to its present location from the base station&#39;s  10  GPS receiver, receive over its wireless networking interface a transmission from a reference device  20  that identifies the reference device  20  and positioning information concerning the identified reference device&#39;s  20  present location. Using this information, the object distance determination software application calculates the linear distance from the reference device  20  to the base station  10  and causes the display of the reference device  20  and the calculated linear distance on the display of the base station  10 . 
     It is contemplated that a single base station  10  may be used to measure the distance between one reference device  20  or a plurality of reference devices  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the reference device  30  defines a wearable bracelet with an electronics housing  31  that includes a conventional flash light  32 , a conventional charging port  33  (a USB interface in the preferred embodiment), a momentary connect button  34 , as well as all of the operative electronic components that enable the reference device  30  to operate as the reference device described in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.