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 system for determining a user's path comprising:
 a server arranged to receive location data of a communication device associated with the user, the location data defining the detected position of the communication device at a number of different points in time, the location server further arranged to receive data associated with the location data indicative of the order in which the location data was determined; wherein the server is further arranged to compare the received location data and zone data defining a plurality of zones and to associate the received location data with one of the plurality of zones;   determining the user's path passing through a zone defined by the associated location data and the associated data;   storage for a plurality of user profiles wherein each user profile is defined by zone data defining an order in which a given type of user passes through the plurality of zones; and   comparing the determined path of the user passing through the of zones with the user profiles; wherein the server is further arranged to associate the user with a given user profile and to process the path of the user.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the server is further arranged to track the location of user at a point in time on the path based on real time or cached location data. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the server is configured to receive location data comprising timestamp data indicative of when the location of the device was determined. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the server is further configured to determine the user's dwell time at a particular location or within a zone based on the processed associated location data. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  in which the server is further configured to determine the number of points on the determined user path, and preferably to compare the determined number of points with a predetermined threshold stored in a storage means. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5  in which the server is further configured to determine the user dwell time only if the number points on the determined user path is greater than the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein each one of the plurality of coordinates define a shape of at least one zone, the shape of the zone is selectively a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, or trapezoid, non geometric or has irregular boundaries. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising regulating an entity by performing an action that comprises at least one of monitoring, controlling and visualizing the position the entity or movement or non-movement of the entity. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  said movable entity is controlled and monitored depending on the location of the movable entity relative to at least one zone. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  Including determining the location of a regulated transponder, and selectively determining whether the transponder is inside or outside the zone by obtaining positioning coordinates, and calculating whether or not the positioning coordinates are inside at least one waypoint of the plurality of waypoints defining at least one zone. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one zone is rectangular and is divided into a plurality of rectangles. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one zone is circular and is divided into a plurality of sections. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one zone has a user-defined shape other than circular or spherical, and selectively is a closed polygonal shape. 
     
     
         14 . A system for determining a user's path comprising:
 a server arranged to receive location data of a communication device associated with the user, the location data defining the detected position of the communication device at a number of different points in time, the location server further arranged to receive data associated with the location data indicative of the order in which the location data was determined,   the location date being transmitted between the server and the communication device by both WI-FI radio and Bluetooth;   the server being further arranged to compare the received location data and zone data defining a plurality of zones and to associate the received location data with one of the plurality of zones;   determining the user's path passing through a zone defined by the associated location data and the associated data;   storage for a plurality of user profiles wherein each user profile is defined by zone data defining an order in which a given type of user passes through the plurality of zones; and   comparing the determined path of the user passing through the of zones with the user profiles; wherein the server is further arranged to associate the user with a given user profile and to process the path of the user.   
     
     
         15 . A physical arrangement for determining a user's path comprising:
 a server and a communication device;   the server being arranged to receive location data of the communication device associated with the user, the location data defining the detected position of the communication device at a number of different points in time, the server being further arranged to receive associated data with the location data of the communication device indicative of the order in which the location data was determined;   the communication device including WI-Fl radio and Bluetooth systems whereby the location data is transmitted between the server and the communication device by both WI-FI radio and Bluetooth;   the server being further arranged to compare the received location data and zone data defining a plurality of zones and to associate the received location data with one of the plurality of zones;   the server determining the user's path passing through a zone defined by the location data and the associated data;   storage for a plurality of user profiles wherein each user profile is defined by zone data defining an order in which a user passes through the plurality of zones; and   comparing the determined path of the user passing through the of zones with the user profiles; wherein the server is further arranged to associate the user with a given user profile and to process the path of the user.