GB2411795A

GB2411795A - Message transmission based upon position of mobile within geographical regions

Info

Publication number: GB2411795A
Application number: GB0404994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Worrell
Original assignee: APD COMM Ltd
Current assignee: APD COMM Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-05
Filing date: 2004-03-05
Publication date: 2005-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-05
Also published as: GB2411795B; GB0404994D0

Abstract

A mobile communication system 106 comprises a radio unit 110 for exchanging messages via a radio network 108 and storage 120 for storing data defining geographical regions 122. The stored data defining geographical regions 122 is used in conjunction with received position data to identify the current geographical location of the mobile system 106 and to take action accordingly, such as to generate messages for transmission to a receiver 104. The rate of message transmission may be progressively varied according to the position of the mobile system 106. The mobile system 106 may be used to track a vehicle wherein an alarm condition may be generated if the mobile system 106 is outside of a particular geographical region or an indication may be given to indicate any differences between a current position and an anticipated position.

Description

2411 795

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Fleld of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system.

Background to the Invention

Modern radio technology such as, for example, the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) allow relatively sophisticated data exchanges with mobile systems. These mobile terminals may be combined with tracking units that use, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) to allow mobile systems to report their current position to a central monitoring station.

For example, the mobile system may be carried by a courier, an ambulance, a police car or other emergency service vehicle to allow a central monitoring station to track the position of the a ssociated v chicle. T ypically, s uch tracking involves the GPS and GPRS systems co operating to provide regular, near real-time, position mformaton to a central momtorng station.

It will be appreciated that provdmg such n ear r eal-tme p Boston nformation r equates t he exchange of relatively large number of messages. While this might be acceptable for a single vehicle or a relatively small number of vehicles, it will be appreciated that the relatively large bandwidth or traffic carrying capacity would be required to support significant number of vehicles. Furthermore, for those vehicles that travel significant distances, in contrast to those that operate locally such as ambulances, fire engines and police cars, the radio environment 2 0 may c hange d ramati c al ly o ver t he r oute o f t he v em cle from s ourc e I oc ati on to a depot or destination location. These changes might include the need to hand-over between GPRS cells or to switch between different carrier frequencies. These changes increase the complexity of the radio communication system. Notwithstanding these increased complexities, courier services, for example, and other delivery services use GPRS and GPS to provide an indication to a central depot of the estimated time of arrival ofthe vehicle supporting that dehvery service. Agam, it will be appreciated that a sgnifcant amount of bandwidth would be required to support traffic associated with a large fleet of such vehicles supporting or providing such delivery services.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention at least to mitigate some of the

problems of the prior art.

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Summary of Invention

Accordingly, a first aspect of embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system comprising a transceiver for exchanging messages via a radio network; storage for storing data defining a geographical region; means for receiving position data from a position determining system; and means, responsive to the data defining the geographical region and the position data, for influencing at least one of generation of a message for transmission to a receiver and the operation of the communication system.

Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention allow a reduction m network traffic to be realsed while provdmg a comparable degree of service or information.

A further advantage of embodiments of the present invention allows a registered vehcle's movements to be tracked to detect when that vehicle has left a designated region or set of regions. It will be appreciated that authorization to leave a designated region or set of regions might be obtained or given m advance so that detection of the vehicle leaving a set of regions does not cause an alarm to be raised or cause the event to be drawn to the attention of a monitoring authority.

A further advantage of embodiments of the present invention allows the message transmission rate, that is, the traffic generated by or exchanged with the vehicle, to be moderated according to predetermined criteria to make efficient and cost effective use of the available radio bandwidth.

A further advantage of embodiments of the present inventions allows or supports automatic detection at marking at, for example, a central receiving station, of road anomalies such as queued traffic, accidents and other sources of traffic delay.

A still further advantage of embodiments of the present invention allows a comparison to be made between a mobile system's designated route, or, more accurately, a vehicle carrying that terminal, and a current position of the mobile system to identify any deviation from that route. Detection of such a deviation Is used, preferably, to inform the driver of the vehicle carrying the mobile system of that deviation or to inform a central receiving station of that deviation s o that c orrectve a ction c an b e taken. The corrective action might include, for example, transmitting a message to the mobile system comprising instructions for correcting the deviation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

# :: eee: . . ,, , , # Embodiments of the present mventon will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings In which: figure I shows a communication system according to an embodiment; figure 2 illustrates movement between regions that might cause corresponding events to be generated; figure 3 illustrates two preferred region shapes according to embodiments of the present Invention; figure 4 shows a number of preferred shaped regions overlaid on a road network leading to a depot; and figure 5 Illustrates, schematically, an event object according to an embodiment.

Detalled Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to figure I there is shown an embodiment of a communications system 100. The communication system comprises a transmitter 102 and receiver 104, which may be separate entities as illustrated or combined into a transceiver. The commumcation system 100 exchanges data between the transmitter and receiver 102 and 104 and a mobile system 106 via a radio network 108. In preferred embodiments, the transmitter 102 and receiver 104, radio commumcation network 108 and mobile system 106 exchange data usmg a communication channel. The communication channel might comprise, for example, a radio system and modem. For example, embodiments can use GSM, SMS, GPRS, Mobtex, Tetra or 3G communications standards to effect data exchange.

The mobile system 106 comprises a radio unit 110, such as, for example a radio unit conforming to one of the above standards, for exchanging, via the radio communication network 108, data messages with the transmitter 102 and receiver 104. In some embodiments, the radio unit might be, for example, a GPRS radio unit. The mobile system 106 also comprises a location unit 112 that provides an indication of the current location of the mobile system 106 using a corresponding location or locating system. For example, the location unit might comprise a location unit. The mobile system 106 comprises first, preferably non- volatile, storage 114 for storing at least one of event data 116 and rule data 118. Preferred embodiments comprise both event data 116 and rule data 118. A second, preferably non-volatile, storage 120 for storing boundary or region data 122 Is also provided .e c:. :e.

. . by the mobile system 106. Data generated by the radio unit 110 and the location umt 112 together with the event data 116, rule data 118 and boundary data 122 are used by a behavour engine 124 to respond to events and messages received, via the radio unit 110, from the transmitter 102 as well as to generate messages for transmission, via the radio unit 110, to the receiver 104.

The event data 116 comprises at least one event object and, preferably, more than one event object, that responds to an input message, that is, a trigger, to cause the behaviour engine 124 to act in a predeterminable manner. E vent objects are described within this specification with reference to figure S. The rule data 118 comprises at least one rule and, preferably, a number of such rules, used by the event objects in responding to triggers and m generating appropriate responses or actions.

In effect, the rule data 118 influences the behaviour of event objects in a manner that will be described later with reference to figure 5.

The boundary data 122 is used to define at least one geographical region, and, preferably, a number of geographical regions, used by the behavour engine 124 m conjunction with location unit data to identify the current geographical location of the mobile system 106, that is, to identify a mobile system's current geographical region relative to a geographical region and to take action accordingly.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment 200 of adjacent regions, that is, first 202 and second 204 regions that have a boundary 206 defining an interface between the two regions 202 and 204.

Referring to figure 3, there is shown two embodiments 302 and 304 of preferred shape regions. The first preferred shape region 302 is an elongate region. It can be thought of, in some embodiments, as bemg the shape resulting from the umon of two substantially circular end portions 306 and 308 joined by two tangential hues 310 and 312. The first preferred shape region 302 can be thought of having a length defined by the length of the tangential lmes 310 and 312. Furthermore, even though the elongate region 302 shown in figure 3 comprises substantially parallel linear lines, embodiments can be realised in which the elongate region comprises arcuate lines whether substantially parallel or otherwise. The second preferred shape region 304 is substantially circular. The second preferred shape region 304 can be thought of as a specific embodiment of the first preferred shape 302 in which the t angential I ines 3 10 and 3 12 b oth have zero I ength. The two preferred shaped regions 302 and 304 are used to define a number of contiguous geographical regions over :.e.. e. e.e:.e.c.e ë which or within which the mobile system 106 might roam. In a preferred embodiment, the boundary data 122 can be changed or updated dynamically or in real-time in response to the transmitter 102 transmitting updates or changes to the boundary data 122 or In response to the transmitter initializing the mobile system by transmitting boundary data for installation in the mobile system.

In a preferred embodiment, the boundary data 122 is stored in the form of a table. For example, the boundary of a region or regions might be defined as follows. Any given defined region has an associated name. Preferably, each name is 8-bytes long but could equally well comprise or be represented using some other number o f b ytes o r d ata u nits. E ach n ame, preferably, has at least one of an associated category, a radius, a point count, and position data. In preferred embodiments the position data comprises eight latitude and longitude pomts, which are each expressed usmg, for example, 4 bytes but could equally well be represented by some other number of data units. The category, radius and point count are expressed using 2-bytes each. Similarly, a number of data units other than 2-bytes can be used to represent each of the category, radius and point count. It will be appreciated that the point count can comprise more or less than eight points, according to the value associated with the point count. The b oundary d ata d efines a n umber o f c onnected o r d isconnected regions.

In a preferred embodiment, the boundary data defines, or at least overlays, possible routes between a source location and a destination location.

Referring to figure 4, there Is shown an embodiment 400 of boundary data 122 as it relates to possible routes between a source location 402 and a destination location 404. It can be appreciated that a schematic representation of a road network 406 is shown, which is overlaid by a number of boundary regions 408 to 414. The boundary regions 408 to 414 represent, for example, roads that a vehicle containing the mobile system 106 might take to travel between the source location 402 and the destination location 404.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the regions 408 to 418 have associated radio operational characteristics or parameters that define, for example, transmission and reception frequencies to be used withy that region for exchanging data with the transmitter 102 and receiver 104.

Preferably, each defined region 408 to 418 has an associated behavour that defines for example the rate of message transmission, that is, timing of the exchange of messages between the mobile system 106 and the transmitter 102 and receiver 104. In an embodiment, e. .:. :. ::e ' . the message exchange rates are arranged so that the exchange rate increases as the mobile system 106 gets closes to the destination location 404. In preferred embodiments, the message exchange rate varies between regions. Preferably, the message exchange rate increases according to the proximity of a given region to a destination.

Alternatively, or additionally, the data describing the message exchange rate for a given region might be arranged to vary the message exchange rate as the position of the mobile system varies within the region. For example, it can be appreciated that region 418 is relatively long and that it leads or is connected to the destination location 404. Therefore, it may be preferable to arrange for the message exchange rate to increase progressively as the mobile system 106 travels along the road for 420 associated with that region 418.

Figure 5 depicts, schematically, an event object 500, which forms part of the event data 116 used by the behaviour engine 124 m controlling the operation of the mobile system 106. The event object 500 comprises a trigger object 502 for processing an input message 504. The input message 504 can be, for example, a message indicating the receipt of data via the location umt 112, the radio unit 110 or the generation of an output message by the behavior engine 124 or any element thereof. For example, in an embodiment the behaviour engine, in processing data received from the location unit 112, might determine that the mobile system 106 has crossed an interface 424 between a first region 408 and a second region 422 of the regions 4 08 t o 4 22 s hown i n figure 4. It will be appreciated that the terms "region" and '[fence" are used synonymously. The trigger object 502 creates a message 506 for processing by a conditions object 508. The trigger object may, as a minimum, forward an indication of receipt of the mput message 504 either together with or without data classfymg that mput message to the conditions object 508 or the trigger object 502 may perform some processing on the mput message 504 to generate an associated, but separate, output message 506. The conditions object 508 uses appropriate rules as described in the rule data 118 to determine if any rules or conditions have been met or satisfied by the message 506. The conditions object 508, in response to processing the message 506, may generate a further message 510 that is output to an actions object 512. The actions object 512, in response to receiving or processing the message 510, produces an output message 514 that influences the operation of the mobile system 106. Preferably, the conditions object 508 also outputs a second message 516 to a parameters object 518. The parameters object 518 is arranged to respond to the message 516 to provide data to at least one of the conditions object 508 and the actions object 512 to allow or support those objects, or either one of those objects, m performing their function.

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Table 1 below provides an example of the relationship between triggers, conditions, parameters and actions for an embodiment.

Trigger Conditions Parameters Actions Entering category n Position Send immediately fence Leaving category n Postion/speed Log fence Speed > 40 mph In category n fence Position/speed Send to secondary second timer In category n fence Position Send immediately second timer Not in category n Position Sendmmedately fence Input activated In category n fence Positon/IO Store internally 1: cam n Fence FoshioLD Sow aD loom Entered depot Send all logged

TABLE 1

The first trigger, "Entering category n Fence activate output", is arranged to send position data Immediately to the central monitoring station. The second trigger, "Leaving category n Fence", upon detection, causes a message containing at least one of current position and speed data to be logged and stored in an associated system memory (not shown). The third trigger, "Speed > 40 mph, in the depot", causes a message containing at least one of position and s peed i nformation t o b e s ent t o t he c entral m ontormg s tation i f t he s peed w ithin the depot is greater than 40 mph subject to the vehicle being within a category n fence. The speedof40mphhasbeenusedforillustrativepurposesonly. Any other speed could be . : ce c: A. c, be: :: et: . selected as the trigger for the corresponding action The fourth trigger, "30 second timer", causes position nformation to be send to the montormg station immediately every 30 seconds when the timer times-out subject to the vehicle being within a category n fence. The fifth trigger, "45 second timer", causes position information to be send immediately to the monitoring station immediately every hme the 45 timer times-out, when it is active, subject to the vehicle not being in a category n fence The sixth trigger, "input activated", causes position data and any data Input via a user interface, while the vehicle Is w'.thm a category n fence, to be stored internally using the system memory The seventh tagger, "input activated information", causes, preferably all, position data and input information to be sent to the central monitoring station when the associated vehicle is within a category n fence T he eighth trigger, "Entered depot", causes all logged information to be sent to the central monitoring station The above categories of fence or region have been described as "category n fenced*". It will be appreciated that embodiments can be realised in which each fence or trigger can have a respective category fence or region.

For example, the input message 504 may contain data indicating that the interface 424 between regions 408 and 422 has been crossed This message may cause the trigger object to generate a message 506 containing data reflecting the receipt of the input message 504 for processing by the conditions object 508 Such data might comprise, for example, an enumerated type "crossed_interface". The condit ons object may subject the enumerated type "crossed_interface" to a rule that which causes the conditions object to output the message 516 requesting, from the parameters object 518, data identifying the new region into which the mobile system has moved and data containing an indication of an associated message exchange rate for that new region This data is returned to the conditions object for subsequent processing or Is output, v ia an appropriate o utput m essage 5 20, t o t he a ctions objection 512 for subsequent processing In this example, it will be appreciated that the rule data 110 associated with this condit on m ght have the form "if input message = "crossed_interface" then "request_region_identif er_and_message_rate" and the actions object 512 might, in response to receiving data from the parameters object 518 or the conditions object 510, produce an output message 514 that is directed to, for example, a timer (not s hown) a ssocated w ith the b ehaviour e ngine 1 24 w h ch, upon tommy out, acts as an Interrupt that causes the behaviour engine 124 to read, from the location unit 112, current position data and to output that current position data in the form of a message via the radio unit 110 for subsequent processing by the receiver 104 Another example of the processing undertaken by an event object s as follows The input :. tile '.:. ë a.e message might be, again, data provdmg an education that the mobile system 106 has crossed the boundary 424 between a first region 408 and another region 414. As before, the output message 506 produced by the trigger object 502 contains data to that effect. However, in the present example, the conditions object 508 is arranged to determine whether or not the mobile system 106 is allowed or is authorised to leave the first region 408 by requesting, from the parameters object 518, a list of regions within which the mobile system 106 is constrained to roam. The parameters object 518 provides such a fist to the conditions object for use in processing the message forwarded by the trigger object. The message 506 forwarded by the trigger object 502 also contains an indication of the current region of the mobile system 106. If the data indcatmg the current region of the mobile object 106 does not match any of the data representing the hst of authorsed regions forwarded by the parameters object 518, the conditions object 508 produces an output message 510 containing an indication to that effect. In this embodiment, it will be appreciated that the rules data 118 contains at least one rule for supporting such a comparison. Receipt of such an output message 510 by the actions object 5 12 causes the actions object 5 12 to output an "alarm condition recognised message". In response to such a message, the behaviour engine 124 generates an alarm message for transmission to the receiver 104, which contains an mdcaton of the current position of the mobile system 106 together with an indication that the mobile system has roamed beyond or roamed outside of its list or set of authorised regions.

A further indication of the input message 504 might be that a particular radio bearer has been detected and is available for use within a respective region. The trigger object 502 might be arranged to produce an indication to that effect, which Is forwarded as a data message 506 to the conditions object 508. The condtionsobjectteststhestrengthorRSSIofthenewly available radio bearer message, for example, to compare it with the corresponding strength of a current radio bearer message. The strength of a current radio bearer message might have been obtained from the parameters object. If the comparison shows that the strength of the newly detected radio bearer message is greater than that of a current radio bearer message, the conditions object 508 outputs a data message 510 to the action object 512 contammg an indication that the strength of the newly detected radio bearer message is greater than that of the current radio bearer message. In response to receiving such a data message 510, the actions object 512 outputs a command that causes the behaviour engme 124 to instruct the radio unit 110 to switch to the newly detected radio bearer message.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this app]cahon and which are open :e el's :.. ase..e to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined In any combnahon, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise,each feature disclosed Is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The Invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

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1. A mobile system comprising a transceiver for exchanging messages via a radio network; storage for storing data defining a geographical region; means for recevmg position data from a position determining system; and means, responsive to the data definmg the geographical region and the position data, for Influencing at least one of generation of a message for transmission to a receiver and the operation of the mobile system.

2. A mobile system as claimed in claim I comprising means for receiving, via the transceiver, the data defining at least one geographical region.

3. A mobile system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for receiving, via the transceiver, at least one rule to be applied in response to generation of an event.

4. A mobile system as claimed In any preceding claim in which the means for influencing at least one of the generation of a message for transmission to the received and the operation of the mobile system comprises means for varying at least a message generation and transmission rate according to a comparison between the data defining the geographical region and the position data.

5. A mobile system as claimed in claim 4 in which the message comprises at least one of identification data identifying the mobile system and location data derived from the position data.

6. A m obile s ystem a s c [aimed n a ny p receding c laim further comprising means for determmmg whether the position data identifies a position outside the geographical region and means for generating an event associated with the determination.

7. A mobile system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprsmg means to receive event data, via the transceiver, for influencing at least one of the operation of the mobile system and the generation of the message.

8. A mobile system comprising means for progressively varying a message transmission rate of a message generator for transmitting a message according to position data associated with the mobile system.

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9. A mobile system as claimed in claim 8 in which the message comprises at least one of identification data identifying the mobile system and the position data.

10. A mobile system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an alarm system for generating an alarm condition in response to a comparison between the position data and the data representing the geographical region showing the position data to be outside of the geographical region.

11. A mobile system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising means for generating a plurahty of messages providing current position data at regular intervals to assist m tracking a vehicle associated with the mobile system.

12. A m oboe s ystem a s c [aimed n a ny p receding c laim further comprising means for recording a duration at a position or withm at least a portion ofthe geographical region and outputting a message reporting that duration at that position or within at least that portion of the geographical region.

13. A mobile system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising means to compare current position data within anticipated or guidance position data and to output a message comprising an indication of any difference therebetween.

14. A mobile system as claimed m claim 13 in which the message Is output via at least one of the transceiver and a display of the mobile system.

15. A mobile system substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A computer program comprising code for implementing a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

17. A computer program product comprising storage storing a computer program as claimed in claim 16.