Systems and methods for mobile tracking, communications and alerting

Abstract

A mobile device that can optionally communicate with a server, the mobile device including latitude/longitude determining capabilities, a display, a data communication system and a power source. The mobile device can be used to communicate, provide location information, track an individual, as well as allow alerting, such in a case of an emergency. This location information could be accompanied with one or more of video information, audio information, multimedia information, and pictures taken by the mobile device. The mobile devices also allow inner-communicability among the devices such as text messaging, chat, voice communications, and the like. The capabilities of the mobile device can also be used to determine if the device has traversed a geo-fence, or defined electronic perimeter, with the crossing of the perimeter capable of triggering special functionality such as the turning on of the mobile device, or smart phone, sending an alert, altering functionality, or the like.

1 . A method of operating a mobile communications device comprising:
 determining a location of the mobile communications device and maintaining a record of one or more of the location and a last known good position in one or more of a server and another communications device;   providing a map on a display of the communications device including the location of the mobile communications device;   providing one or more of text-based, multimedia-based, image-based, voice-based and video-based communications with the communications device; and   monitoring for an alert from the communications device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the location relative to one or more perimeters, and taking one or more actions based on a crossing of a perimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing peer-to-peer communications with one or more other communications devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising managing device functionality based on one or more of remaining battery power and mission information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing communications with one or more of other communications devices, the server and another endpoint. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising surreptitiously receiving one or more of software, parameters and communications device updates. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is tagged such that the mobile communications device can be tracked. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising entering a special operational mode, wherein the mobile communications device performs one or more automated functions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert triggers the mobile communications device to perform one or more automatic functions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server maintains location information for one or more mobile communications devices and, via a communications module, is capable of exchanging one or more of text-based, multimedia-based, image-based, voice-based and video-based communications with the one or more mobile communications devices. 
     
     
         11 . One or more means for performing the steps of any of the above claims. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, that when executed, cause to be performed the steps in any of the above claims. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile communications device comprising:
 a location module that determines a location of the mobile communications device and maintains a record of one or more of the location and a last known good position in one or more of a server and another communications device;   a mapping module that provides a map on a display of the mobile communications device including the location of the mobile communications device;   a communications module that provides the ability to one or more of send and receive one or more of text-based, multimedia-based, image-based, voice-based and video-based communications from the mobile communications device; and   an alert module that monitors for an alert from the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a perimeter module that monitors the location relative to one or more perimeters, and a perimeter action module that takes one or more actions based on a crossing of a perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a peer-to-peer module that establishes peer-to-peer communications with one or more other communications devices. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a power management module that manages device functionality based on one or more of remaining battery power and mission information. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a communications module that establishes communications with one or more of other communications devices, the server and another endpoint. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller that surreptitiously receives one or more of software, parameters and communications device updates. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the mobile communications device is tagged such that the mobile communications device can be tracked. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a special mode module that allows entry into a special operational mode, wherein the mobile communications device performs one or more automated functions. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the alert triggers the mobile communications device to perform one or more automatic functions. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the server maintains location information for one or more mobile communications devices and, via a communications module, is capable of exchanging one or more of text-based, multimedia-based, image-based, voice-based and video-based communications with the one or more mobile communications devices. 
     
     
         23 . Any one or more of the features as described herein. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a mobile communications device having a unique identifier comprising:
 determining a current location of the mobile communications device;   maintaining a record of one or more of the current location and a last known good position in one or more of the mobile communications device, a server and another communications device;   providing a map on a display of the mobile communications device, the map including the current location of the mobile communications device and one or more of topographical, street, radar, aerial, blueprint, weather and schematic information;   providing one or more of text-based, multimedia-based, image-based, voice-based and video-based communications capabilities; and   monitoring for an alert from the communications device.