Virtual Geographic Zone Markers for Mobile Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based systems fail to accurately create and manage virtual geographic zones defined by latitude, longitude, and altitude coordinates, leading to inefficiencies in tracking and controlling devices within these zones, particularly in customized and dynamic environments, and lack integration with mobile devices for interactive mapping and zone-based actions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a network, server, and mobile devices to define and manage virtual geographic zones and sub-zones, using navigation services to authenticate and authorize actions based on device location, enabling interactive mapping and zone-based actions on mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If virtual geographic zones are defined using latitude, longitude, and altitude coordinates, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the geographic zone into hierarchical levels (virtual geographic zones and sub-zones), allowing precise location tracking to be divided into manageable components. Each zone is defined by coordinate boundaries that can be independently managed, reducing the overall complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages the complex coordinate-based zone definitions and provides simplified interfaces for mobile devices. The server handles the computational complexity of determining device locations relative to zone boundaries, allowing mobile devices to use precise coordinates without bearing the full computational burden.
2Reliability
If navigation services are integrated for authentication, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal navigation services that are already integrated into mobile devices for multiple purposes: location tracking, zone boundary determination, and authentication. This multi-functional use of the navigation service improves reliability without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware components serve multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device's built-in navigation service performs self-authentication by automatically determining its location and verifying whether it is within authorized zones. The device uses its own resources (GPS receiver, processor) to perform authentication without requiring additional specialized hardware, thereby improving reliability while minimizing complexity increase.
3Ease of operation
If interactive mapping is enabled on mobile devices, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system updates the map display and zone information periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation. The mobile device refreshes the interactive map at intervals based on device movement and zone boundary crossings, providing sufficient user interaction capability without constant energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system downloads and stores copies of zone boundary data and map information locally on the mobile device, allowing interactive mapping to function with minimal real-time data transmission. This local copying enables smooth user interaction while reducing the energy required for continuous network communication and data processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for user interaction includes a network, a server connected to the network, a supervisor device receiving information from a global positioning system and connected to the network, a user device receiving information from the global positioning system and connected to the network. The supervisor, having the supervisor device, defines a set of virtual geographic zones, sub-zones, and micro-zones in which the user device is tracked, and saves the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones to a supervisor account on the server. The user downloads a user application, sets-up a user account, and downloads the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones. As the user, having the user device, moves through the virtual geographic zones, sub-zones and micro-zones the location of the user device is determined and a set of supervisor-defined actions are executed on the user device based on the location of the user device.