System and method for tracking the relative location of mobile stations belonging to a pre-defined group of mobile stations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a method and apparatus for determining whether each mobile station in a pre-defined group of two or more mobile stations is in compliance with acceptable location criteria. A group tracking server receives mobile station tracking information including a mobile station identifier for each mobile station. The server also receives current location coordinates corresponding to the mobile station identifier for each mobile station from a locator device. A relative location of each mobile station relative to one or more pre-determined targets is calculated. The acceptable location criteria for each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets is retrieved from a location criteria database. The calculated relative location of each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets compared with the retrieved location criteria to determine whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria. A subscriber is then notified if the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria.

1 . A group tracking server for determining whether each mobile station in a predefined group is in compliance with an acceptable location criteria, comprising:
 an input interface connected for receiving current location coordinates corresponding to each mobile station;   a location criteria database containing the acceptable location criteria for each mobile station relative to at least one pre-determined target;   a processor/comparator connected to the database and the input interface, the processor/comparator containing executable instructions for calculating a relative location of each mobile station relative to the at least one pre-determined target, and for comparing the calculated relative location of each mobile station relative to the one pre-determined target, with the acceptable location criteria to determine whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria; and   an output interface connected to the processor/comparator for alerting the subscriber for each mobile station whose calculated relative location is not in compliance with the acceptable location criteria.   
   
   
       2 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the one pre-determined target is another mobile station. 
   
   
       3 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the one pre-determined target is a fixed location coordinate. 
   
   
       4 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for determining whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria by determining whether the calculated relative location of the one mobile station exceeds a maximum distance requirement relative to another mobile station. 
   
   
       5 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 determining updated location coordinates for each mobile station that is not in compliance with the acceptable location criteria, wherein an updated relative location based on the updated location coordinates will make the mobile station comply with the acceptable location criteria; and   causing the output interface to transmit the updated location coordinates to a user of the mobile station.   
   
   
       6 . The group tracking server of  claim 5 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 providing detailed directions to the user for relocating to the updated location coordinates.   
   
   
       7 . The group tracking server of  claim 5 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 monitoring the user's mobile station to confirm whether the user relocates to the updated location coordinates.   
   
   
       8 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the acceptable location criteria is based on distance. 
   
   
       9 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the acceptable location criteria is based on travel time. 
   
   
       10 . A group tracking server for providing a group tracking service wherein it is determined whether each mobile station in a predefined group is in compliance with an acceptable location criteria, the server comprising:
 an input interface connected for receiving current location coordinates corresponding to each mobile station;   a location criteria database containing the acceptable location criteria for each mobile station relative to at least one pre-determined target;   a processor/comparator connected to the database and the input interface, the processor/comparator containing executable instructions for calculating a relative location of each mobile station relative to the at least one pre-determined target, and for comparing the calculated relative location of each mobile station relative to the one pre-determined target, with the acceptable location criteria to determine whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria; and   an output interface connected to the processor/comparator for alerting a subscriber of the group tracking service when a calculated relative location of a mobile station is not in compliance with the acceptable location criteria.   
   
   
       11 . The group tracking server of  claim 10 , wherein the one pre-determined target is another mobile station. 
   
   
       12 . The group tracking server of  claim 10 , wherein the one pre-determined target is a fixed location coordinate. 
   
   
       13 . The group tracking server of  claim 10 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for determining whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria by determining whether the calculated relative location of the one mobile station exceeds a maximum distance requirement relative to another mobile station. 
   
   
       14 . The group tracking server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 determining updated location coordinates for each mobile station that is not in compliance with the acceptable location criteria, wherein an updated relative location based on the updated location coordinates will make the mobile station comply with the acceptable location criteria; and   causing the output interface to transmit the updated location coordinates to a user of the mobile station.   
   
   
       15 . The group tracking server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 providing detailed directions to the user for relocating to the updated location coordinates.   
   
   
       16 . The group tracking server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor/comparator further contains executable instructions for:
 monitoring the user's mobile station to confirm whether the user relocates to the updated location coordinates.   
   
   
       17 . The group tracking server of  claim 10 , wherein the acceptable location criteria is based on distance. 
   
   
       18 . The group tracking server of  claim 10 , wherein the acceptable location criteria is based on travel time.