Tracking system for locating stolen currency

• US 20030063000A1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3SI Security Systems, Inc. (3SI Holdco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Pursuit Systems LLC (3SI Holdco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grimm, Phillip H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,801,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A security pack for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies includes a housing disguised as a bundle of currency bills but containing a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals from overhead satellites, a cellular phone transmitter, a microprocessor, and a battery. Following a bank robbery, the microprocessor activates the cellular phone transmitter to dial the telephone number of a central monitoring station. The microprocessor obtains location data from the GPS receiver and transmits the location data, along with identification information, to the central monitoring station. The security pack may also include a separate, conventional RF beacon transmitter for allowing authorities to home-in on the security pack within a large building or other structure, either after the GPS signals are lost, or after the location of the security pack is localized to a specific building or area.

Claims

1. A security pack disguised as a bundle of currency bills for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies, comprising in combination:

a. a housing simulating the size and weight of a bundled package of currency bills;

b. a miniaturized GPS receiver disposed within said housing for receiving GPS signals from overhead satellites, and for creating location data corresponding to the current location of the security pack;

c. a miniaturized communications link transmitter disposed within said housing for selectively communicating with a remote location, and establishing a communications link therewith;

d. a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled with said GPS receiver and said communications link transmitter for causing said communications link transmitter to communicate with the remote location, and for causing said communications link transmitter to send location data created by said GPS receiver indicative of the location of the security pack; and

e. a battery disposed within said housing for selectively providing electrical power to said GPS receiver, said communications link transmitter, and said controller.

2. The security pack recited by claim 1 wherein said communications link transmitter is a cellular telephone transmitter.

3. The security pack recited by claim 2 further including a radio frequency transmitter disposed within said housing for selectively transmitting a radio frequency signal, different from cellular telephone transmission signals, for allowing localized conventional radio receivers to detect such radio frequency signal.

4. The security pack recited by claim 3 wherein said controller is responsive to said GPS receiver being unable to accurately receive GPS signals, and wherein said controller deactivates said cellular telephone transmitter, and activates said radio frequency transmitter, in response thereto.

5. The security pack recited by claim 1 wherein said security pack has an identification code, and wherein said controller causes said communications link transmitter to transmit said identification code in addition to said location data.

6. The security pack recited by claim 1 wherein said security pack includes a power switch for minimizing electrical power drain on said battery until said security pack is handed to a robber.

7. The security pack recited by claim 6 wherein said power switch includes a reed switch responsive to a magnetic field of a keeper plate within a bank teller drawer.

8. The security pack recited by claim 1 wherein said controller causes said communications link transmitter to establish a communications link with the remote location on a periodic basis after such security pack is handed to a robber for transmitting updated location data.

9. The security pack recited by claim 1 including a battery sensor and an audible generator, said battery sensor causing said audible generator to emit warning sounds if said battery has insufficient power remaining to successfully operate the other electrical components of said security pack.

10. The security pack recited by claim 1 wherein said communications link transmitter includes a communications link receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the remote location over the communications link.

11. The security pack recited by claim 10 wherein said controller is responsive to signals received by said communications link receiver from the remote location for modifying the operation of said security pack.

12. The security pack recited by claim 10 wherein said controller, in response to signals received by said communications link receiver from the remote location, deactivates said communications link transmitter, and activates said radio frequency transmitter.