System and method of alternative tracking upon disabling of monitoring device

• US 10,602,317 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Satellite Tracking of People LLC (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Satellite Tracking of People LLC (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: LeJeune, Jr., David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US15/967,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20190342713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A method and system for locating a fugitive with a disabled personal monitoring device is provided. The method includes: providing a monitored individual with a personal monitoring device being: (a) secured to the monitored individual, (b) configured to determine a location of the personal monitoring device at particular times, and (c) configured to upload the determined location of the personal monitoring device at the particular times; storing the uploaded location data to thereby create a movement history of the monitored individual; cross referencing at least a portion of the movement history with a record of detected probe signals emitted by wireless devices to thereby identify wireless devices that the personal monitoring device has encountered; selecting, based on at least one predetermined rule, a wireless device identified by the cross referencing; determining a relevant location of the wireless device; and notifying a supervising authority of the relevant location.

Claims

1. A method for locating a fugitive with a disabled personal monitoring device, comprising:

securing a personal monitoring device to a monitored individual, each personal monitoring device being configured to (a) determine a location of the personal monitoring device at particular times, and (b) upload, as location data, the determined location of the personal monitoring device;

receiving and storing the uploaded location data from the personal monitoring device to thereby create a movement history of the personal monitoring device of the monitored individual;

cross referencing at least a portion of the movement history of the personal monitoring device with a record of detected probe signals emitted by wireless devices to thereby identify any wireless devices that emitted probe signals at a location that was proximate to the location of personal monitoring device;

selecting, from the results of the cross referencing, a wireless device identified by the cross referencing that had significant contact per predefined rules to the portable monitoring device;

determining a relevant location of the selected wireless device;

notifying a supervising authority of the relevant location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving is in response to a signal representing that the personal monitoring device has been disabled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving, cross referencing and selecting occur on a predetermined schedule; and

the determining is in response to a signal representing that the personal monitoring device has been disabled.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the movement history includes a plurality of location/time entries, and the cross referencing comprises identifying in the record any wireless devices that were detected for emitting probe signals within range of a sensor proximate to any of the location/time entries at a corresponding time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is part of a deployed sensor network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is part of the personal monitoring device, and the personal monitoring device is configured to upload data received by the sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises prioritizing wireless devices for which the personal monitoring device had more significant contact than other wireless devices with less contact.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises prioritizing wireless devices detected during nighttime hours.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the relevant location is a last known location of the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the relevant location is a last known location of the wireless device as reflected by the record of detected probe signals.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the relevant location comprises one of:

work, home, family member'"'"'s home, unknown location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the probe signals are transmitted by the cellular phone to connect with internet access points to access the internet.

14. A system for locating a fugitive with a disabled personal monitoring device, comprising:

a personal monitoring device being configured to (a) determine a location of the personal monitoring device at particular times, and (b) upload, as location data, the determined location of the personal monitoring device and (c) be secured to a monitored individual;

a central monitoring location programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving and storing the uploaded location data from the personal monitoring device to thereby create a movement history of the personal monitoring device of the monitored individual;

cross referencing at least a portion of the movement history of the personal monitoring device with a record of detected probe signals emitted by wireless devices to thereby identify any wireless devices that emitted probe signals at a location that was proximate to the personal monitoring device;

selecting, from the results of the cross referencing, a wireless device identified by the cross referencing that had significant contact per predefined rules to the portable monitoring device;

determining a relevant location of the selected wireless device;

notifying a supervising authority of the relevant location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the receiving is in response to a signal representing that the personal monitoring device has been disabled.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the receiving, cross referencing and selecting occur on a predetermined schedule; and

the determining is in response to a signal representing that the personal monitoring device has been disabled.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least a portion of the movement history includes a plurality of location/time entries, and the cross referencing comprises identifying in the record any wireless devices that were detected for emitting probe signals within range of a sensor proximate to any of the location/time entries at a corresponding time.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is part of a deployed sensor network.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is part of the personal monitoring device, and the personal monitoring device is configured to upload data received by the sensor.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the selecting comprises prioritizing wireless devices for which the personal monitoring device had more significant contact than other wireless devices with less contact.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the selecting comprises prioritizing wireless devices detected during nighttime hours.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant location is a last known location of the wireless device.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant location is a last known location of the wireless device as reflected by the record of detected probe signals.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant location comprises one of:

work, home, family member'"'"'s home, unknown location.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the probe signals are transmitted by the cellular phone to connect with internet access points with internet access points to access the internet.