CallWave Communication LLCv. Sprint Nextel Corp. et al.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT filed with Jury Demand against Google Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. - Magistrate Consent Notice to Pltf. ( Filing fee $ 350, receipt number 0311-1190005.) - filed by CallWave Communications LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(els)

EXHIBIT A

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US006771970Bl

United States Patent

(10)

Dan

(12)

(45)

EP

Patent No.:
US 6, 771,970 Bl
Date of Patent:
Aug. 3, 2004

0 785 535 A1

7/1997
5/1998

(54)

LOCATION DETERMINATION SYSTEM

(75)

Inventor:

(73)

Assignee: Locationet Systems 2000 Ltd.,
Natanya (IL)

International Search Report; International Application No.
PCT!IL 00/ 00617; Feb. 9, 2001.

( *)

Notice:

* cited by examiner

Meir Dan, Tel Aviv (IL)

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 534 days.

(21)

Appl. No.: 09/677,827

(22)

Filed:

(60)

Related U.S. Application Data
Provisional application No. 60/157,643, filed on Oct. 4,
1999.

(51)
(52)

(58)

Oct. 2, 2000

References Cited

(56)

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
A
A
A
A
B1
B1

*
*
*
*

6/1993
12/1998
7/2000
10/2000
4/2001
12/2001

Mansell et a!. ............. 342/357
DeLorme et a!. ........... 701!200
Prabhakaran
Girerd et a!.
Twitchell et a!.
Verdonk

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
DE

44 27 913 A1

50

2/1996

wo 98/20434

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Primary Examiner-Erika Gary
Assistant Examiner-Buy Nguyen
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fitch, Even, Tabin &
Flannery
(57)

Int. Cl? .................................................. H04Q 7/20
U.S. Cl. ................................ 455/456.1; 455/456.2;
455/456.3; 455/456.5; 455/457; 342/357.1;
342/357.14; 342/357.15
Field of Search .............................. 455/456.1, 457,
455/456.2, 456.3, 456.5; 340/988, 989,
990, 991, 993; 701/208, 212, 213, 200,
207; 342/357.1, 357.14, 357.15

5,223,844
5,848,373
6,087,952
6,131,067
6,222,483
6,330,454

wo

ABSTRACT

A system for location tracking of mobile platforms, each
mobile platform having a tracking unit is described. The
system includes a location determination system communicating through a user interface with at least one subscriber;
said communication including inputs that include the subscriber identity and the identity of the mobile platform to be
located; a communication system communicating with said
location determination system for receiving said remote
platform identity; and,
a plurality of remote tracking systems communicating
with said communication system for determining the
location of the remote platform;
The communication system is arranged to determine an
appropriate one of the plurality of remote tracking systems
and to communicate said remote platform identity, the
appropriate remote tracking system receiving said mobile
platform identity and returning mobile platform location
information, said communication system being arranged to
pass said mobile platform location information to said
location detention system. The location determination system is arranged to receive said mobile platform location
information and to forward it to said subscriber.

19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

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Sheet 1 of 4

US 6, 771,970 Bl

U.S. Patent

Aug. 3, 2004

US 6, 771,970 Bl

Sheet 2 of 4

Internet Browser

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Applications

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130

Information &
Navigation

132

US 6, 771,970 Bl

Sheet 3 of 4

Aug. 3, 2004

Emergency
Services

20

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Fig. 3
142
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U.S. Patent

Aug. 3, 2004

Sheet 4 of 4

US 6,771,970 Bl

Fig. 4a
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US 6,771,970 Bl
1

2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
provided a system for location tracking of mobile platforms,
Application No. 60/157,643, filed Oct. 4, 1999.
each mobile platforms having a tracking unit; the system
5 including:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
a location determination system communicating through a
The present invention is in the general field of location
user interface with at least one subscriber; said communication including inputs that include the subscriber
tracking services and is particularly suitable for vehicle
identity and the identity of the mobile platform to be
tracking.
located;
10
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a communication system communicating with said locaTracking the location of vehicles in large fleets is
tion determination system for receiving said remote
platform identity; and,
complex, expensive and time consuming. Technologies such
as GPS (Global Positioning System), EOTD (Enhanced
a plurality of remote tracking systems communicating
with said communication system for determining the
Observed Time Difference), Cell ID, AMPS (Advanced 15
location of the remote platform;
Mobile Phone Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile
wherein said communication system is arranged to deterCommunication), CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data),
mine an appropriate one of the plurality of remote
EDACS (Enhanced Digital Access Communication System)
tracking systems and to communicate said remote
and MSAT (Mobile Satellite communications) allow a
platform identity, the appropriate remote tracking sysvehicle, mobile telephone or other mobile entity to be 20
tem receiving said mobile platform identity and returnlocated. The mobile entity has a communication device from
ing mobile platform location information, said commuwhich the location of the entity can be determined. In order
nication system being arranged to pass said mobile
to locate an entity, a base station communicates with a
platform location information to said location determicommunication system such as a satellite in orbit or an array
nation system;
of transmitter/receivers, which in turn triangulates the posi- 25
said location determination system being arranged to
tion of the entity. This is technically complicated process
receive said mobile platform location information and
requiring expensive equipment and access to expensive
to forward it to said subscriber.
resources such as satellite time. Organizations with a need
The location determination system may communicate
for instantaneous information on the whereabouts of their
with a mapping system having at least one map database,
vehicles normally employ the services of a location tracking 30 said mapping system accepting mobile platform location
service provider. Such service providers offer access to the
information, correlating said location information with a
equipment and technology necessary to locate the vehicles
location on a map from said at least one map database,
to a number of organisations. An authorised member of an
generating a map on which said location is marked and
organisation subscribing to one of the service providers is
communicating said map to said location determination
able to submit a request for a location of one of the 35 system, wherein said location determination system is
organisation's vehicles to the service provider's system. The
arranged to forward said map to said subscriber.
location of the vehicle is determined and returned to the
The mapping system may communicate with at least
requestor. However, due to the complexity of the underlying
location information system, said location information syssystems, communication with a service provider's systems
tem accepting mobile platform location information, obtainis normally made via expensive and complex client soft- 40 ing location information and returning said location inforware. Each service provider collects data using different
mation for association with said map.
technologies and stores this data in its own proprietary
The location information system may obtain location
format. In addition, many service providers have their own
information from selected ones of traffic information
proprietary communication formats in which position
systems, electronic Yellow Page databases, video databases,
requests must be made and in which location data is 45 L-commerce systems and free advertising systems.
received. This results in confusion for customers who need
The map database may include maps formatted as at least
to consider the various advantages, disadvantages and cost
one of the following: Raster Map in various scales, vector
implications associated with each of the various location
maps and air photo.
systems offered by service providers. Furthermore, the softThe user interface may accept multiple mobile platforms
ware is usually so complex that only a few trained personnel 50 to be located, the mapping system accepting multiple mobile
in every organization can operate the vehicle tracking softplatform location information and generating a map on
ware. The software is often resource-heavy, expensive and
which each location is marked.
not intuitive for the users. Retrieval of data can only be done
Data forwarded to said subscriber may comprise at least
from a few terminals thereby making the information speone mobile platform location in a map represented in HTML
cialized and highly inaccessible. Furthermore, the differ- 55 and an image.
ences in proprietary data and communication formats make
Communication between said subscriber and said location
it extremely difficult for an organisation to customise the
determination system may be over the Internet.
client software or to develop systems capable of communiCommunication between said communication system and
cating with the service provider's systems and accepting the
the corresponding remote tracking service is over the Interlocation is data.
60 net.
The location determination system, the mapping system
There is accordingly a need in the art to simplify the
process by allowing inter alia extraction of information from
and the communication system may be accommodated in the
multiple tracking service providers. There is a further need
same web site.
in the art to provide a relatively simple to operate location
A mobile platform may be a vehicle, a person, a portable
tracking service adapted for use by common subscribers 65 computer, a mobile telephone or any other mobile entity that
whilst obviating the need to install and use a cumbersome
can be tracked or have a tracking device installed or
vehicle tracking software.
attached.

LOCATION DETERMINATION SYSTEM

US 6,771,970 Bl

3

4

Each remote tracking system may belong to a different
Between them, the systems (11-14) are capable of trackcompany and supervises a different group of mobile plating the location of one or more vehicles, mobile telephones
forms.
or other entities. These are shown in this example as a
According to another aspect of the present invention,
mobile telephone (21), a car (22), a laptop computer (23) and
there is provided a method of determining the location of 5 a briefcase (24).
remote platforms, said remote platforms between them
The systems (11-14) of the various location tracking
being locatable by a plurality of remote tracking systems, the
service providers communicate over the Internet (30) with a
method comprising the steps of:
communication subsystem (3) of the location determination
(a) accepting inputs from a subscriber identifying one or
system (1). Communication is made using, typically, a
more remote platforms to be located;
10 communication protocol specific to each location tracking
(b) determining for each remote platform one of the remote
system provider.
tracking systems that is capable of locating said remote
The location determination system (1) is linked to a user
platform;
database that cross-references vehicles and other entities to
(c) communicating the identity of the one or more remote
be tracked with the location tracking service that is capable
platforms to be located to the determined remote tracking 15 of tracking them. The location determination system (1) is
system(s);
also linked to a map server ( 4) operating a map engine for
(d) receiving the location of each remote platform from the
accessing a map database (5). The map server ( 4) is capable
respective remote tracking system; and,
of correlating between maps stored in the database (5) and
(e) transmitting the location of each remote platform to said
positioning information received from the respective locasubscriber.
20 tion tracking system (11-14). The map server ( 4) may
Step (e) may further comprise the step of correlating the
support various types of maps, such as, for example, Raster
location of each remote platform with a map database and
maps in various scales, vector maps and air photographs.
transmitting a map having marked said remote platform
In a prefer red non-limiting embodiment of the invention,
location(s) to said subscriber.
the location determination system (1) hosts a World Wide
25
Web site (50) on the Internet (30). The Web site (50)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
includes a home page (51) operating as the entry point to the
Web site (50) for visitors, information pages (52-53) and a
For a better understanding, the invention will now be
service access form (54).
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of
30
the system of FIG. 1. A subscriber to the location determiFIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a location tracking
nation system (1) equipped with a computer (60) running an
system in accordance with the invention;
Internet browser requests the location of a specific vehicle
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of
(22). The subscriber can be a stand-alone user or, for
the system of FIG. 1;
example, a member of a number of licensed subscribers in
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the system of FIGS. 1 35
a given organization, all as required and appropriate.
and 2 illustrating preferred features of the invention; and,
The user logs on to the Web site (50) and selects the
FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic diagrams illustrating
vehicle (22) for which the location is sought via the service
protocol data units used in a preferred embodiment of the
access form (54). The request is passed from the Web site
invention.
40 (50) to the location determination system (1) which accesses
a database (2) to determine the appropriate location tracking
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
system (11-14) for the vehicle. The location determination
EMBODIMENT
system (1) passes the request and details of the appropriate
location tracking system (11-14) to the communication
Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic
diagram of a location determination system (1) in accor- 45 subsystem (3).
The communication subsystem (3) formats the request for
dance with the invention. In the example of FIG. 1, there are
Z location tracking service providers (referred to also as
transmission to the respective location tracking system
(11-14) and transmits it via the Internet (30). The location
service providers), each offering access to a respective
tracking system (11-14) receives the request and determines
location tracking system. For the purposes of this example
only 4 location tracking systems are shown (designated 50 the location of the vehicle (22). This information is then
transmitted back to the communication subsystem (3) via the
generally as (11), (12), (13) and (14)). One of the location
tracking systems may be, for example, a Motorola tracking
Internet (30). Upon receipt of the information, the commulocation system such as systems based around Motorola's
nication subsystem (3) associates the information with the
request and passes it to the location determination system
MLU (Mobile Logic Unit). Other location tracking systems
may be based around, for example, the Ituran VLU (Vehicle 55 (1). The location determination system (1) passes the locaLogic Unit) or PAL(PersonalAlarm and Location) or Nexus
tion of the vehicle (22) to the map server ( 4) which obtains
Telocation's RMU (Remote Monitoring Unit) based system.
a map of the area in which the vehicle (22) is located using
the map engine, marks the position of the vehicle (22) on the
For the purpose of tracking vehicles, each vehicle is
map and passes it to the location determination system (1).
preferably equipped with an individual tracking unit (not
shown). Most mobile telephones already have appropriate 60 The map is then passed via the Internet (30) to the Web
browser running on the subscriber's computer (60).
functionality to interact with the location tracking systems.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the system of FIGS. 1
Other entities such as people, computers, briefcases or other
and 2 illustrating preferred features of the invention.
valuables to be tracked require a tracking unit to be in-built
or carried. The tracking unit, or equivalent, transmits data
In addition to the Web site (50), the location determination
via a wireless data transmission protocol, such as GSM radio 65 system (1) may host a WML-based Web site (not shown) on
transmissions to the associated location tracking service
the Internet (30). WAP-enabled mobile telephones (100) and
other communication devices can communicate via a WAP
provider.

US 6,771,970 Bl
5

6

server (110) to submit location requests and receive location
may also contain a timeslot field (210) designating a point in
time for which the location of the item is requested. In FIG.
maps or coordinates.
2b, a location data unit is shown. The data unit is transmitted
The map server (4) may be linked to map databases (5) in
from the respective tracking system (11-14) to the commuformats such as Raster, Vector, Topographic or aerial photographs. In addition, data related to the determined location 5 nication subsystem (3) and includes the fields ItemiD (300)
and Coord (310). The Coord field (310) may be in Latitude/
could also be incorporated in the output. A location data
Longditude format or in UTM formal The data unit may
server (120) may be linked to a number of location
include the optional fields of Accuracy (320) indicating the
databases, examples of which include traffic information
location accuracy in Meters and Date (330) and Time (340)
databases (121), Yellow Pages databases (122) and datafields indicating the date and time at which the item was at
bases of video of the location (123). In addition, the location 10 the specified location.
data server may accept connections and/or data from exterIf necessary, a translation system may be installed at
nal data providers via an open content layer (124) that
location tracking systems that are not compatible with the
establishes a standard data communication protocol. As an
open format communication protocol in order to intercept
automatic procedure, or upon request of a subscriber,
requests from the communication subsystem (3), convert the
selected or all data on the location determined by the 15 request to the location tracking system's proprietary format
location determination system (1) that is available from the
and to convert the location data from the location tracking
databases is obtained from the location data server (120) by
service back into the open format for transmission to the
communication subsystem (3).
the map server (4) and incorporated in the output map.
The description above exemplifies the simplicity and
The location data received by a subscriber is normally an
HTML representation of the information requested. This 20 flexibility of the system over hitherto known solutions.
Thus, a single subscriber can access from his home comrepresentation may be composed of, for example, HTML
puter (equipped with commercially available browser) a web
and a GIF (image) component. Of course the invention is not
site (50) and inquire as to location of vehicles or other
limited to the specific user interface data, which could be
entities of interest Obviously, the vehicles or entities may be
made up of, or converted to, any appropriate format.
25 spread among more than one company (e.g. they may
Preferably, multiple requests for the location of the same
belongs to different groups (21) to (24), each supervised by
entity are detected and processed as one request, the location
a respective different location company). Consider that the
data being sent to both parties. Multiple requests from one
operational center communicates with the Company Locasubscriber may be processed so that the locations of the
tion Systems over the Internet; the sought vehicles may be
entities are superimposed on one map. Alternatively, each
30 located in remote locations not necessarily in the same
request may result in a location map being displayed in a
country or to even continent.
separate window.
The application of the present invention is not bound to
In addition to supplying map-based location data to
motor vehicles and may used for any mobile platform, e.g.
requesting Web browsers, the location determination system
(1) may also be configured to communicate with external 35 for tracking persons.
Whilst the examples described have separated the funcapplication servers (130) via the Internet, PSTN or other
tionality of the location determination system into a number
communication medium. The application server may run a
of computer servers, databases and is modules, it will be
proprietary or commercial software system for, for example,
apparent that the functionality of the system could be
supplying navigation information (131), managing movement of resources (132), such as for route planning between 40 provided by a single appropriately programmed computer
server. Alternatively, the functionality could be further
multiple destinations, billing and/or advertising (133) and
divided across a number of computer servers that may be in
emergency service management (134). The data supplied to
remote locations.
the application server (130) may include maps or may just
The present invention has been described with a certain
be location coordinates in a predetermined format. The
location determination system (1) may also communicate 45 degree of particularity but various alternations and modifications may be carried out without departing from the spirit
location data to non-Internet based clients. For example, it
and scope of the following claims.
may be linked to an SMS (Simple messaging service) server
What is claimed is:
(140) and supply locations as coordinates, street names
1. A system for location tracking of mobile platforms,
derived from map databases or other location data available
each mobile platform having a tracking unit; the system
to mobile telephones (141), pagers (142) etc.
50
including:
It is preferred that the communication subsystem (3) is an
a location determination system communicating through a
XML server. Communication with location tracking systems
user interface with at least one subscriber; said com(11-14) is preferably asynchronous. In this manner, as no
munication including inputs that include the subscriber
communication channel or session is held open while the
identity and the identity of the mobile platform to be
location is determined (which may take anywhere from a 55
located;
few seconds to a number of minutes), the use of system
a communication system communicating with said locaresources and communication costs are limited without any
tion determination system for receiving said mobile
negative effect on the response time of the system.
platform identity; and,
Communication between the communication subsystem
a plurality of remote tracking systems communicating
(3) and location tracking system (11-14) is preferably made 60
with said communication system each of the remote
using an open format communication protocol. The protocol
tracking systems being adapted to determine the locais illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIGS. 4a and 4b.
tion of a respective mobile platform according to a
In FIG. 4a, a request protocol data unit is shown. The data
property that is predetermined for each mobile platform
unit is transmitted by the communication subsystem (3) to
for determining the location of the mobile platform;
the respective location tracking system (11-14) and includes 65
wherein said location determination system is arranged to
the field ItemiD (200), which contains the location tracking
system's identifier of the item to be located. The data unit
determine an appropriate one of the plurality of remote

US 6,771,970 Bl
7

8

tracking systems, the appropriate remote tracking sys(c) communicating the identity of the one or more mobile
tem receiving said mobile platform identity from said
platforms to be located to the determined remote trackcommunication system and returning mobile platform
ing system(s);
location information, said communication system
(d) receiving the location of each mobile platform from
being arranged to pass said mobile platform location 5
the respective remote tracking system; and
information to said location determination system;
(e) transmitting the location of each mobile platform to
said location determination system being arranged to
said subscriber.
receive said mobile platform location information and
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein transmitting
to forward it to said subscriber.
the location of each mobile platform further comprises
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said location
10 correlating the location of each mobile platform with a map
determination system communicates with a mapping system
database and transmitting a map having marked said mobile
having at least one map database, said mapping system
platform location(s) to said subscriber.
accepting mobile platform location information, correlating
16. A computer program product comprising a computer
said location information with a location on a map from said
useable medium having computer readable program code
at least one map database, generating a map on which said
location is marked and communicating said map to said 15 embodied therein to enable determination of the location of
mobile platforms, said mobile platforms between them
location determination system, wherein said location deterbeing locatable by a plurality of remote tracking systems,
mination system is arranged to forward said map to said
each which is adapted to determine the location of a respecsubscriber.
tive mobile platform according to a property that is prede3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said mapping
system communicates with at least one location information 20 termined for each mobile platform, the computer readable
system, said location information system accepting mobile
program product comprising:
platform location information, obtaining location informacomputer readable program code for causing a computer
tion and returning said location information for association
to accept inputs from a subscriber identifying one or
with said map.
more mobile platforms to be located;
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said location 25
computer readable program code for causing the cominformation system obtains location information from
puter to determine for each mobile platform one of the
selected ones of traffic information systems, electronic Yelremote tracking systems that is capable of locating said
low Page databases, video databases, L-commerce systems
remote platform;
and free advertising systems.
computer readable program code for causing the com5. A system according to claim 2, wherein said map 30
puter to communicate the identity of the one or more
database includes maps formatted as at least one of the
mobile platforms to be located to the determined
following: Raster Map in various scales, vector maps and air
remote tracking system(s);
photo.
6. A system according to claim 2, wherein said user
computer readable program code for causing the cominterface accepts multiple mobile platforms to be located,
puter to receive the location of each mobile platform
the mapping system accepting multiple mobile platform 35
from the respective remote tracking system; and
location information and generating a map on which each
computer readable program code for causing the comlocation is marked.
puter to transmit the location of each mobile platform
7. A system according to claim 2, wherein data forwarded
to said subscriber.
to said subscriber comprises at least one mobile platform
17. A computer program product according to claim 16,
40
location in a map represented in HTML and an image.
further comprising computer readable code for causing the
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the commucomputer to correlate the location of each mobile platform
nication between said subscriber and said location determiwith a map database and to transmit a map having marked
nation system is over the Internet.
said mobile platform location(s) to said subscriber.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the commu18. A system for location tracking of mobile platforms,
nication between said communication system and the cor- 45
each of which is equipped each with a tracking unit, each
responding remote tracking service is over the Internet.
being adapted to determine the location of a respective
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said location
mobile platform according to a property that is predeterdetermination system, said mapping system and said commined for each mobile platform; the system comprising:
munication system are accommodated in the same web site.
(a) a location server communicating through a user inter11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile 50
face with at least one subscriber equipped with a
platform is a vehicle.
browser; said communication having inputs that
12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile
include at least the subscriber identity, the mobile
platform is a person.
platform identity and map information;
13. A system according to claim 1, wherein each remote
tracking system belongs to a different company and super- 55
(b) at least one mobile platform location system coupled
vises a different group of mobile platforms.
to said location server for receiving the mobile platform
14. A method of determining the location of mobile
identity and map information that pertain to mobile
platforms, said mobile platforms between them being locatplatforms associated with the respective mobile platable by a plurality of remote tracking systems, each which
form location system; each one of said mobile platform
is adapted to determine the location of a respective mobile 60
location systems being associated with a map database
platform according to a property that is predetermined for
and map engine for manipulating said map database;
each mobile platform, the method comprising:
(c) at least one remote tracking service communicating
(a) accepting inputs from a subscriber identifying one or
with said respective mobile platform location system
more mobile platforms to be located;
for receiving mobile platform identity and returning
mobile platform location information;
(b) determining for each mobile platform one of the 65
remote tracking systems that is capable of locating said
the at least one mobile platform location system being
mobile platform;
adapted to receive said mobile platform location infor-

US 6,771,970 Bl
9
mation and access said map database for correlating
map to said location information, so as to obtain
correlated location information;
said location server being adapted to receive the correlated location information and forward them to said 5
browser.
19. A program storage device readable by a machine,
tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by
the machine to perform a method of determining the location
of mobile platforms, said mobile platforms between them 10
being locatable by a plurality of remote tracking systems,
each of which is adapted to determine the location of a
respective mobile platform according to a property that is
predetermined for each mobile platform, the method comprising:

10
(a) accepting inputs from a subscriber identifying one or
more mobile platforms to be located;
(b) determining for each mobile platform one of the
remote tracking systems that is capable of locating said
mobile platform;
(c) communicating the identity of the one or more mobile
platforms to be located to the determined remote tracking system(s);
(d) receiving the location of each mobile platform from
the respective remote tracking system; and
(e) transmitting the location of each mobile platform to
said subscriber.

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