Footwear with GPS

Abstract

The invention discloses a locator unit contained within footwear providing a method for GPS position determination and transmission of said location determination data to a central monitoring station which disseminates the data through the use of proprietary software, wireless communications, land based wire systems and the Internet.

1. Footwear in combination with location determination means comprising:
 a) footwear having a sole with a midsole;    b) receiving means for receiving broadcasted location determination signals transmitted by a Global Positioning System and for receiving a transmission from a central station;    c) means for computationally processing location determination signals;    d) transmission means for bradcasting the results of said computational processing; and    e) a socket formed in said midsole for receiving a module containing said receiving means, processing means and transmission means, said module slidable in and out of said midsole so that said module has an outer surface forming part of the sole of said footwear when inserted into said socket, and clips on an outside of said footwear adjacent said socket to prevent said module from coming out of said socket when said footwear is in use.    
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said transmission means is wireless. 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said wireless transmission is intended for receipt by a central station. 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said wireless transmission uses cellular technology to transmit said transmission to said central station. 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said wireless transmission uses satellite technology to transmit said transmission to said central station. 
     
     
       6. The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said wireless transmission uses radio waves to transmit said transmission to said central station. 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said module is assigned a unique and addressable identifier. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said system is passive requiring receipt of a transmission from said central station to activate said system. 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said central station can generate a response request for said module using said unique identification. 
     
     
       10. The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said central station response request energizes said location determination module to computationally formulate location determination data. 
     
     
       11. The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said central station response request causes said location determination module to transmit said location determination data. 
     
     
       12. The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said transmitted data forms a response reply further comprising a central station identifier. 
     
     
       13. The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said central station identifier provides means for said transmission to be routed to said central station. 
     
     
       14. The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said system comprises a subscriber service for a user or guardian of an individual wearing said footwear. 
     
     
       15. The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the subscriber service provides the subscriber with a unique subscriber identifier. 
     
     
       16. The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said subscriber having a unique subscriber identification can initiate a location request sequence. 
     
     
       17. The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber using wireless technology. 
     
     
       18. The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber through the Internet. 
     
     
       19. The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber through land based wire technology. 
     
     
       20. Footwear in combination with location detection means comprising:
 a) footwear having a tongue;    b) receiving means for receiving broadcasted location determination signals transmitted by a Global Positioning System and for receiving a transmission from a central station;    c) means for computationally processing location determination signals;    d) transmission means for broadcasting the results of said computational processing;    e) said tongue incorporating a module containing said receiving means, processing means, and said transmission means; and    f) an antenna for said module mounted visibly on said tongue forming a logo for said footwear.    
     
     
       21. Footwear for locating its wearer, said footwear comprising:
   a sole defining a socket;        an upper portion fixed to said sole;        a locator unit removably disposed in said socket and operative to      receive location signals from a positioning system and        computationally process said location signals into position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said wearer; and          a transmitter electrically coupled to said locator unit, said transmitter operative to transmit said position determination data; and wherein        said locator unit is operative to receive new location signals from said positioning system;        said locator unit is operative to calculate new position determination data based on said new location signals; and        said transmitter is operative to transmit said new position determination data without requiring a separate location request.     
     
     
       22. Footwear for locating its wearer, said footwear comprising:
   a sole defining a socket;        an upper portion fixed to said sole;        a locator unit removably disposed in said socket and operative to receive location signals from a positioning system and to computationally process said location signals into position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said wearer; and        means for transmitting said position determination data to an intended receiver without requiring a location request from said intended receiver.     
     
     
       23. A method for tracking footwear, said method comprising:
   providing footwear including a sole and an upper portion, said sole defining a socket;        providing a locator unit removably disposable in said socket and operative to receive location signals from a positioning system and to computationally process said location signals into position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said wearer;        providing a transmitter electrically coupled to said locator unit, said transmitter operative to transmit said position determination data to an intended recipient;        receiving a series of location signals from said Global Positioning System with said locator unit;        calculating new position determination data based on said series of location signals with said locator unit; and        transmitting said new position determination data calculated from said series of location signals to said intended recipient without requiring a separate location request from said intended recipient.     
     
     
       24. A tracking system comprising:
   a locator unit interface operative to receive position determination data from a locator unit removably disposed in a socket defined in a footwear sole, said position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said locator unit;        data storage for accumulating said received position determination data; and        a subscriber interface operative to provide said accumulated position determination data to a subscriber; and        wherein said system is operative to receive multiple position determination data transmissions from said locator unit without sending a separate location request to said locator unit for each position determination data transmission.     
     
     
       25. A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said subscriber interface is further operative to receive a subscriber identifier associated with said subscriber. 
     
     
       26. A system according to  claim 25 , wherein said subscriber interface is further operative to:
   receive a location request command from said subscriber; and        provide said position determination data to said subscriber associated with said subscriber identifier.     
     
     
       27. A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said locator unit interface communicates with said locator unit via a wireless network. 
     
     
       28. A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said subscriber interface communicates with said subscriber via the Internet. 
     
     
       29. A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said subscriber interface communicates with said subscriber via a wireless network. 
     
     
       30. A system according to  claim 24 , wherein said subscriber interface communicates with said subscriber via a land- based wire network.   
     
     
       31. A system for tracking a locator unit, said system comprising:
   means for receiving and accumulating a series of position determination data from said locator unit, said locator unit being removably disposed in a socket defined in a footwear sole, said position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said locator unit; and        means for providing at least a portion of said series of position determination data to subscriber communication equipment associated with a subscriber; and        wherein said system is operative to receive multiple position determination data transmissions from said locator unit without sending a separate location request to said locator unit for each position determination data transmission.     
     
     
       32. A method for tracking a locator unit, said method comprising:
   receiving position determination data from a locator unit removably disposed in a socket defined in a footwear sole, said position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said locator unit;        accumulating said position determination data; and        providing said accumulated position determination data to a subscriber; and        wherein said step of receiving said position determination data from said locator includes receiving said position determination data without sending location requests to said locator unit.