Method and system to configure and utilize geographical zones

Abstract

A method to define a geographical zone is disclosed. The geographical zone can be utilized to regulate a movable entity and the actions within the geographical zone. The geographical zone can be defined by allowing a user to define and load to a transponder a plurality of waypoints, each waypoint defined by a geographical coordinate and a radius originating from the geographical coordinate. The geographical zone can also be defined by selecting a plurality of coordinates that are loaded to a transponder and mapped on a pixilated image.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method to define a geographical zone utilized to regulate a movable entity that has an attached transponder, comprising: 
 loading from a computing device to a memory in a transponder a plurality of coordinates;    mapping the coordinates on a pixilated image so as to assign one pixel to each coordinate of the plurality of coordinates, wherein the distance between each assigned pixel is configurable;    connecting the plurality of assigned pixels with lines forming a contiguous and connected line that encloses an area in the pixilated image; and    activating the pixels that lie on the lines in order to form a contiguous array of pixels that enclose a shape in the pixilated image.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the entity comprises at least one of monitoring, controlling and visualizing the movement of the entity.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein regulating the entity comprises at least one of monitoring, controlling and visualizing the non-movement of the entity.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of monitoring, controlling and visualizing the position of the entity.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coordinates are entered by a user of a computer device and transmitted to the transponder.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user is allowed to enter geographical coordinates by: 
 allowing a user to select points in a map in a computer by clicking on the map; and    calculating the geographical coordinates of each selected point in the map.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user is allowed to enter geographical coordinates by typing on the computer the longitude and latitude.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the entity in relation to the geographical zone is determined by the steps of: 
 locating the transponder within the pixilated image by activating a pixel corresponding to the geographical coordinates where the transponder is located;    extending two vertical lines in opposite direction and originating from the pixel;    extending two horizontal lines in opposite direction and originating from the pixel;    determining the a number of times each line crosses the boundary of the geographical zone;    assigning an outside status to each line that crosses the boundary an even number of times;    assigning an inside status to each line that crosses the boundary an odd number of times; and    identifying the transponder as being inside the boundary if the status of three out of four lines indicate an inside status.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transponder has a ground positioning system receiver that calculates position coordinates, further locating the vehicle transponder position in the pixilated image as one pixel in the computer image.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of geographical coordinates are represented by a latitude and longitude.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of geographical coordinates are Mercator coordinates.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the geographical area is a geometrical shape such as a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, or trapezoid.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein shape of the geographical area is the shape of a non-geometrical shape.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the geographical area is the shape of the border delimiting a street route, a state, a city, a county, or a country.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said movable entity is controlled and monitored depending on the location of the movable entity relative to said geographical zone.  
     
     
         16 . A method of determining a geographical area for use in a transponder attached to a movable entity comprising: 
 loading into a computing device a plurality of coordinates defining a boundary in a geographical zone;    mapping the coordinates of the boundary onto a pixilated computer image of the geographical zone;    activating the pixels in the pixilated computer image within the boundary to define the geographical area; and    loading the pixilated image to a memory in a transponder.    
     
     
         17 . A method comprising: 
 loading into a computing device a plurality of coordinates defining a boundary within a geographical zone;    mapping the coordinates onto a pixilated computer image of the geographical boundary within the geographical zone;    activating each pixel in the pixilated computer image within the boundary to define a geographical area; and    loading the pixilated computer image to a memory in a transponder;    querying a receiver in the transponder for its location;    receiving location signals in a location coordinate receiver;    determining a set of transponder location coordinates within the coordinate receiver, and    determining in the transponder whether an activated pixel corresponds to the location coordinates.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising transmitting the transponder location coordinates in response to the query.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising performing a predetermined action if the activated pixel corresponds to the location coordinates.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the transponder is attached to a movable entity.  
     
     
         21 . A transponder adapted to be attached to a movable entity, wherein the transponder comprises: 
 a geographical location coordinate receiver; and    microprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the memory has stored therein a pixilated computer image of a geographical area generated from a plurality of geographical coordinates defining a boundary of the geographical area by mapping the plurality of coordinates defining the boundary of the geographical area onto the pixilated computer image and activating each pixel within the boundary in the pixilated computer image.    
     
     
         22 . The transponder according to  claim 21  wherein the location coordinate receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.  
     
     
         23 . The transponder according to  claim 21  wherein the microprocessor is programmed to perform a predetermined action upon detection of the transponder being at a position corresponding to an non-activated pixel in the pixilated computer image stored in the transponder memory.  
     
     
         24 . The transponder according to  claim 21  further comprising a communications transceiver in the transponder operable to receive a query for transponder location and respond to the query.  
     
     
         25 . The transponder according to  claim 24  wherein the transceiver is operable to transmit a predetermined signal if the transponder is within the geographical area.