Method and apparatus for a wireless tether system

Abstract

Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receiversUsers are located to determine if the user is within, or has departed from at least one bounded area established about a geographic location. The bounded area may be defined by setting one or more distance boundaries from the geographic location. A base station may monitor the location of a wireless device in proximity of the user. If the wireless device departs from a bounded area, a message containing information configured to be understandable and convey meaning to the user and/or a third-party is sent to the wireless device and/or the third-party. For example, the message may be configured to communicate to the user and/or third-party information pertaining to the departure from the bounded area, location information, navigation directions, instructions, etc. The message sent may include text and/or other symbols.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of utilizing a wireless tether, the method comprising:
 determining when an apparatus used to wirelessly tether a being or a machine in proximity thereof to a location has exceeded at least one distance threshold from the location; and 
 when the apparatus exceeds the at least one distance threshold, providing an alert to the being, or the machine, or another party in proximity thereof, wherein the alert is configured to provide instruction meaningful to the being, or the machine, or the other party, on how to respond to the at least one distance threshold being exceeded. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a portable device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location comprises a geographic location. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises information configured to be understandable to the being intellect or to the machine. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the instruction comprises information conveyed using images, symbols, sound, vibration, light, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises information provided by a transmitter operated by a second party. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising after a predetermined time has elapsed after exceeding the at least one distance threshold, providing further instruction to the being, or the machine, or other party. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining after a predetermined time has elapsed if the instruction has been followed by the being, or the machine, or the other party, or a third party. 
     
     
       9. A method of providing at least one wireless boundary about a geographic location, the method comprising:
 determine a distance of a position location device from a geographic location; and 
 when the position location device has exceeded a first distance from the geographic location, and after a predetermined time has elapsed after the position location device exceeded the first distance, providing an instructional alert to a being or machine in proximity of and movable with the position location device, wherein the instructional alert is configured to instruct the being, the machine, or another party in proximity of the position location device how to respond to exceeding the first distance. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the instructional alert comprises intellectually meaningful instructions configured to inform the being or the machine that the position location device has exceeded the first distance, and inform the being or the machine how to move to within the first distance or to another geographic location. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the intellectually meaningful information comprises instructions conveyed using at least one of symbols, sound, vibration light, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the instructional alert comprises information received from a transmitter operated by a second party from another geographic location. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the instructional alert comprises information outputted from an output device in proximity of the being, the machine, or to the other party. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first location comprises a movable second position location device configured to form a wireless tether with the first position location device and establish the geographic location. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of code modules which when executed by a processor of a computer system cause the processor to operate a wireless tether, the computer-readable medium comprising:
 code for determining when an apparatus used to wirelessly tether a being or a machine in proximity thereof to a location has exceeded at least one distance threshold from the location; and 
 when the apparatus exceeds the at least one distance threshold, code for providing an alert to the being, or the machine, or another party in proximity thereof wherein the alert is configured to provide instruction meaningful to the being, or the machine, or the other party, on how to respond to the at least one distance threshold being exceeded. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises a portable device. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the location comprises a geographic location. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising code for transmitting an emergency wireless signal over at least one wireless communication channel when the apparatus remains beyond the at least one distance threshold for a predetermined time. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising after a predetermined time has elapsed after exceeding the at least one distance threshold, code for providing further instruction to the being, or the machine, or the other party. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising code for determining after a predetermined time has elapsed if the instruction has been followed by the being, or the machine, or the other party, or a third party.