Mobile station-based locator system

Abstract

A locator system including a GPS-enabled mobile station is disclosed. The mobile station is in communication with a E911-enabled wireless network and a subscriber. The mobile station is configured to send location information to said subscriber and sense and automatically utilize a secondary location method when GPS signals are unavailable.

1 . A locator system comprising: 
 a GPS-enabled mobile station in communication with a E911-enabled wireless network;    a subscriber in network communication with said wireless network;    said mobile station being configured to send location information to said subscriber; and    said mobile station being configured to sense and automatically utilize a secondary location method when GPS signals are unavailable.    
     
     
         2 . The locator system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary location method comprises assisted-GPS location technology.  
     
     
         3 . The locator system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary location method comprises an RF-based system.  
     
     
         4 . The locator system of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary location method comprises a network-based location system.  
     
     
         5 . The locator system of  claim 1 , wherein said mobile station further comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and said SIM card is configured to sense and automatically utilize a secondary location method when GPS signals are unavailable.  
     
     
         6 . The locator system of  claim 5 , wherein said SIM card is further configured to transmit location data to a subscriber when nearing forbidden zones as pre-defined by the subscriber.  
     
     
         7 . The locator system of  claim 3 , wherein said mobile station is further configured to generate and transmit said location information without intervention from the user of said mobile station.  
     
     
         8 . A locator system comprising: 
 GPS-enabled mobile station means in communication with a E911-enabled wireless network;    subscriber terminal means in network communication with said wireless network;    said mobile station comprising means for sending location information to said subscriber terminal means; and    said mobile station comprising means for automatically utilizing a secondary location means when GPS signals are unavailable.    
     
     
         9 . The locator system of  claim 8 , wherein said secondary location means comprises assisted-GPS location technology means.  
     
     
         10 . The locator system of  claim 8 , wherein said secondary location means comprises an RF-based means.  
     
     
         11 . The locator system of  claim 8 , wherein said secondary location means comprises a network-based location system means.  
     
     
         12 . The locator system of  claim 8 , wherein said mobile station further comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, and said SIM card comprises means for sensing and automatically utilizing secondary location means when GPS signals are unavailable.  
     
     
         13 . The locator system of  claim 12 , wherein said SIM card comprises means for transmit location data to said subscriber means when nearing forbidden zones as pre-defined by the subscriber.  
     
     
         14 . The locator system of  claim 13 , wherein said mobile station comprises means for generating and transmitting said location information without intervention from the user of said mobile station.