Method and apparatus for locating missing persons
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the location of a person, comprising:
- (a) a mobile transmitter configured to be removably secured to the person, comprising a GPS antenna configured to receive a plurality of GPS ranging signals from GPS satellites, a first GPS receiver circuit configured to identify the GPS ranging signals, and a first transceiver and a first antenna configured to re-transmit the GPS ranging signals;
(b) a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable case, a second transceiver and a second antenna configured to receive the GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter, a second GPS receiver circuit configured to receive GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter and to determine the location of the mobile transmitter and a display screen configured to superimpose the location of the mobile transmitter on a local area map.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for locating a person including a mobile transmitter removably secured to the person and a portable monitoring unit carried by a user monitoring the location of the person. The mobile transmitter receives GPS ranging signals from GPS satellites. Each of the GPS ranging signals includes an offset proportional to the distance of the mobile transmitter from the respective GPS satellite broadcasting the GPS ranging signal. The GPS ranging signals, including the respective offsets, are transmitted to the portable monitoring unit. The portable monitoring unit comprises a GPS circuit which determines the location of the mobile transmitter based on the GPS ranging signals received by the mobile transmitter, and superimposes the location of the mobile transmitter on a map displayed on the portable monitoring unit.
144 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the location of a person, comprising:
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(a) a mobile transmitter configured to be removably secured to the person, comprising a GPS antenna configured to receive a plurality of GPS ranging signals from GPS satellites, a first GPS receiver circuit configured to identify the GPS ranging signals, and a first transceiver and a first antenna configured to re-transmit the GPS ranging signals;
(b) a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable case, a second transceiver and a second antenna configured to receive the GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter, a second GPS receiver circuit configured to receive GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter and to determine the location of the mobile transmitter and a display screen configured to superimpose the location of the mobile transmitter on a local area map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for monitoring the location of a person, comprising:
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(a) a mobile transmitter configured to be removably secured to the person, comprising a GPS antenna configured to receive a plurality of GPS ranging signals from GPS satellites, a GPS receiver circuit configured to identify the GPS ranging signals, a memory unit storing a first identification code, and a first transceiver and a first antenna;
(b) a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable case, a memory unit storing a second identification code, a second transceiver and a second antenna configured to transmit a request signal comprising the second identification code and to receive the GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter, a GPS receiver circuit configured to receive GPS ranging signals from the mobile transmitter and to determine the location of the mobile transmitter and a display screen configured to superimpose the location of the mobile transmitter on a local area map;
wherein the first transceiver and the first antenna are configured to receive the request signal comprising the second identification code and to re-transmit the GPS ranging signals to the portable monitoring unit if the first identification code matches the second identification code. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for monitoring the location of a person, comprising:
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(a) providing a mobile transmitter removably secured to the person and a portable monitoring unit at a location remote from the mobile transmitter;
(b) receiving GPS ranging signals at the mobile transmitter, the GPS ranging signals each comprising an offset corresponding to the distance of the mobile transmitter from the respective GPS satellite broadcasting the GPS ranging signals;
(c) re-transmitting the GPS ranging signals including the respective offsets to the portable monitoring unit;
(d) determining, at the portable monitoring unit, coordinates of the mobile transmitter from the GPS ranging signals and their respective offsets; and
(e) superimposing, at the portable monitoring unit, the coordinates of the first location on a map. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification