System and method for tracking physical items through a network

Abstract

A personal mobile device for communication and organization comprises a core engine and a plurality of modules coupled to the core engine. The core engine coordinates operations of the mobile device, including communication and organization functions. Each of the modules is dedicated to perform a different one of a plurality of classes of functionality of the mobile device, where each said module includes a processing element and memory dedicated for use by said module.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A location identification system comprising:
 a processing element;   a memory element operably connected to said processing element;   an antenna;   a wireless communication transceiver operably connected to the antenna, the transceiver being capable of wide area wireless communication transmission; and   wherein the antenna, processing element, memory element, and transceiver together form a module adapted to be associated with a physical item, wherein, said module tracks its own location and supplies said location information via a wireless network, wherein, said module turns on upon receiving an activation request, wherein, said module is manually activatable by an authorized user, wherein, said module is further remotely activatable by an authorized user, wherein module tracking activation is triggerable through a wireless communication network, wherein, upon module tracking activation, said module transmits location identifying information via said wireless communication network, wherein, said module is adapted to automatically turn on at predetermined time intervals and wherein said module is adapted to automatically locate the wireless communication network and transmit its location information.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined time intervals are selected by an authorized user of said system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said module is coupled to the physical item and wherein said module includes a battery and wherein said battery is optionally rechargeable via using a battery charge or charging mechanism of said physical item. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said module is coupled to the physical item and wherein said module includes a battery and wherein said battery is optionally rechargeable via using a battery charge or charging mechanism of the physical item to which it is associated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said module includes voice and data communication capability and wherein said module is attachable to a special insert allowing input and output functionality. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein, said physical item is surrounded by a housing unit, and wherein said housing unit mounts, at least partially encloses or holds together said module and said physical item. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein, said physical item is attachable to said module. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said attachment is performed during system manufacturing, assembly, packaging or post-production by end user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein, upon request said module disables said physical item from operation. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein, said processing element and said memory element of said module perform voice recognition and said module is activatable via voice command of the authorized user. 
     
     
         12 . A location identification method, the method comprising:
 forming a module with a processing element, a memory element operably connected to said processing element, an antenna and a wireless transceiver, wherein, said transceiver is capable of wide area wireless communication transmission;   combining said module with a physical item;   tracking the location of said physical item; and   supplying said location information using a wireless network;   wherein, said tracking is done by said module and wherein said module turns on upon receiving an activation request, manual activation of said module by an authorized user of said system, remote activation of said module by an authorized user of said system, wherein, said module tracking activation is triggerable through a wireless communication network, wherein upon activation, said module transmits location identifying information to said activating network, wherein, said module turns on automatically at predetermined time intervals and wherein said module automatically locates a usable wireless network and transmits its location information to a predetermined network location or device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said predetermined time intervals and predetermined network locations or combinations thereof are selectable by an authorized user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said method comprises coupling said module to the physical item and charging said module via using a battery charge or charging mechanism of said physical item. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the module comprises a battery and wherein the method further comprises using a battery charging mechanism of the physical item to charge the battery of the module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said module includes voice and data communication capability and wherein the method further includes attaching the module to a special insert allowing input and output functionality. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, said a housing unit surrounds said physical item, and wherein combining includes at least partially enclosing or holding together said module and said physical item. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein combining comprises attaching the module to the physical item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein attaching is performed during system manufacturing, assembly, packaging or post-production by end user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising performing voice recognition and activating said module based on a voice command of the authorized user via the memory element and processor element. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, upon request said module disabling said physical item from operation. 
     
     
         22 . A location identification system to couple to a physical item to provide location information of the item, the system comprising:
 an antenna;   a transceiver operably connected to the antenna, the transceiver being capable of wide area wireless communication transmission;   a location module configured to provide location identifying information;   a processing element coupled to the transceiver and the location module;   a memory element operably connected to said processing element, the memory element containing code for execution by the processor to:
 turn on the system upon receiving an activation request; 
 turn on the system at predetermined time intervals; 
 automatically locate a wireless communication network; and 
 transmit location identifying information via a wireless communication network. 
   
     
     
         23 . The location identification system of  claim 22  wherein the activation request comprises a manual request by an authorized user. 
     
     
         24 . The location identification system of  claim 22  and further comprising a physical item surrounded by a housing unit, and wherein said housing unit holds together the antenna, transceiver, location module, processing element, and memory element. 
     
     
         25 . The location identification system of  claim 22  wherein the memory element contains further code for execution by the processor to perform voice recognition to recognize an activation request from an authorized user. 
     
     
         26 . The location identification system of  claim 22 , wherein said system is coupled to the physical item and wherein said module is charged via using a battery charge or charging mechanism of said physical item. 
     
     
         27 . The location identification system of  claim 22 , wherein, upon request said system disables said physical item from operation.