Automated tracking system
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a person using adaptive update techniques, comprising:
- monitoring in a remote tag a first plurality of parameters;
analyzing said at least a first plurality of parameters to obtain a first result of at least a first or a second type; and
in response to obtaining said first result of said first type, transmitting information to a central monitoring station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking the location of assets and persons are provided. According to the invention, position information is provided to a central monitoring station aperiodically. The central monitoring station utilizes software agents to analyze the information received from remote tags, and to determine the appropriate action to take with respect to that information. In particular, the central monitoring station provides aperiodic notifications to authorized users regarding the position and status of a monitored person or asset. The central monitoring station operates without requiring human analysis of the information received from remote tags. Furthermore, the use of aperiodic transmissions of information to the central monitoring station, and the use of software agents in the central monitoring station, allows the present invention to efficiently process information received from a large number of remote units.
87 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method of tracking a person using adaptive update techniques, comprising:
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monitoring in a remote tag a first plurality of parameters;
analyzing said at least a first plurality of parameters to obtain a first result of at least a first or a second type; and
in response to obtaining said first result of said first type, transmitting information to a central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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17. A method of distributing information concerning the position of a person, comprising:
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providing first information as a first event to an event server, wherein said first information comprises position information;
distributing said first event to at least one of a plurality of agents;
generating a second event in response to said first information;
providing said second event to said event server;
distributing said second event to at least a second of said plurality of agents; and
providing notification of said second event to an authorized user.
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24. A system for tracking persons, comprising:
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a remote tag, comprising;
a microprocessor;
a positioning system receiver; and
a first communications interface, wherein first information is transmitted from said remote tag aperiodically;
a central monitoring station, comprising;
a processor;
a second communications interface, wherein said aperiodically transmitted first information is received by said central monitoring station and wherein an event generated by said processor in response to receiving said first information is transmitted from said central monitoring station aperiodically; and
a storage device for storing said event;
a user device, comprising;
a third communications interface, wherein said aperiodically transmitted event is received by said user device; and
a user interface, wherein said event is presented to a user.
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42. A system involved in the tracking of persons, comprising:
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at least a first remote tag including a positioning receiver that provides positioning information concerning said remote tag, and a processor that determines when first information is to be transmitted, wherein said first information is transmitted aperiodically according to a first set of criteria;
a central monitoring station in communication with said first remote tag that receives said first information from said at least a first remote tag, said central monitoring station including a processor and a storage device, said central monitoring station comparing position information included in said first information to at least a first set of predetermined boundaries, wherein at least a first alert is generated if said first information indicates that said at least a first remote tag has crossed at least a one of said at least a first set of predetermined boundaries; and
at least a first user interface in communication with said central monitoring station, said at least a first user interface enabling at least a first authorized user to receive at least said first information and said first alert from said central monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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48. A method for distributing position information, comprising:
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receiving said information at a central monitoring station from a remote tag, wherein said information includes position information, and wherein a decision to send said information is made by said remote tag;
processing said information in said central monitoring station; and
selectively routing at least a portion of said information associated with a first tracked object to an output device located remotely from said central monitoring station and associated with a first authorized user.
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57. A method for tracking a person, comprising:
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receiving at least a first communication from a monitored person having an electronic monitor by a central control system located remotely from the monitored person;
processing said communication by said central control system without and independently of human operator input and control; and
sending processed information related to said first communication and based on said processing step without and independently of human operator input and control to a predetermined destination remote from said central control system.
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Specification