Apparatus, system, and method for locating a transceiver using RF communications and radio services

• US 20040121822A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Gene Kartchner
• Original Assignee: Steve Gene Kartchner
• Inventors: Kartchner, Steve Gene
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for locating a transceiver using RF communications and radio services. The apparatus, system, and method include a transceiver that receives an RF signal, decodes a serial number, and responds by transmitting either a low power signal with a unique identification code and location information, or a high power signal with a station identifier received from the RF signal and location information. The high power signal is transmitted in response to a licensed radio operator (such as a HAM, police, etc.) and is transmitted using the licensed radio operator'"'"'s station identifier. Since the licensed radio operator is the control operator, the current invention may be owned and operated by the general public without a special license. The current invention allows a mobile transceiver to provide a greatly expanded transmission range that enhances the probability of locating the transceiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive an RF signal, decode a serial number contained in the RF signal, and determine whether the RF signal originated from a companion device or from a foreign transmitter;

a transmitter module configured to selectively transmit a message using a low power RF signal and a high power RF signal; and

a control module configured to respond to a message containing a matching serial number originating from the companion device by sending a low power RF transmission containing an identification code, and to a message containing a matching serial number originating from the foreign transmitter by sending a high power RF transmission containing a station identifier of the foreign transmitter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foreign transmitter comprises a transmitter selected from the group consisting of an amateur radio (HAM) transmitter, a commercial band radio transmitter, a public safety band radio transmitter, a police band transmitter, a forestry conservation band radio transmitter, and a government band radio transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises a timer configured to determine a time interval since the transmitter module transmitted a most recent message.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module is configured to enter into a power conservation mode if the time interval exceeds a predetermined value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein during the power conservation mode the control module halts the transmitter module and operates the receiver module at periodic intervals to monitor for RF signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control module is configured to exit the power conservation mode in response to detection of RF signals by the receiver module.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control module is further configured to respond to a general call code from the foreign transmitter if the time interval exceeds a predetermined value, by sending a message containing at least the station identifier of the foreign transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a permanent power source and a removable power source, the permanent power source being utilized in response to exhaustion of the removable power source.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the permanent power source is tamper-resistant and non-removable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high power RF transmission is transmitted at least in part using Morse code.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foreign transmitter comprises a HAM transmitter and the station identifier comprises call letters allocated to the operator of the HAM transmitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low power RF transmission comprises information to permit the companion device to determine a distance to the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high power RF transmission comprises information to permit a foreign transmitter operator to determine a bearing and distance to the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information comprises a periodic series of short bursts of energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the low power RF transmission at a first frequency and the high power RF transmission at a second frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator that when activated causes an attention message to be transmitted to the companion device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that when activated causes an attention message to be transmitted to the companion device.

19. A method for locating a mobile transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving an Radio Frequency (RF) signal comprising a serial number;

determining whether the RF signal originated from a companion device or a foreign transmitter; and

selectively transmitting a message comprising a unique device identification code using a low power RF signal and a message comprising a station identifier of the foreign transmitter using a high power RF signal, in response to the RF signal originating from the companion device and from the foreign transmitter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the message using a high power RF signal is transmitted at least in part using continuous wave Morse code.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the message using a low power RF signal permits the companion device to measure a round trip communication time and determine a separation distance.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the message using a low power RF signal permits the companion device to measure signal strength to determine a separation distance.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the message further comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates.

24. A system for monitoring the location of a mobile transceiver, the system comprising:

a mobile RF transceiver comprising;

a receiver configured to receive a Radio Frequency (RF) signal comprising a serial number;

a controller configured to determine whether the RF signal originated from a companion device or a foreign transmitter and to compose a message comprising a unique identification code and location information when responding to the companion device and a station identifier of the foreign transmitter and location information when responding to a foreign transmitter; and

a transmitter configured to selectively transmit a message using a low power RF signal and a high power RF signal, in response to the RF signal originating from a companion device and from a foreign transmitter;

a companion device comprising;

a receiver configured to receive a Radio Frequency (RF) signal comprising the unique identification code;

a controller configured to determine a distance to the mobile RF transceiver and further configured to signal an alarm if the mobile transceiver does not respond or if the distance to the mobile transceiver exceeds a predetermined threshold;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message using a low power RF signal comprising a serial number; and

a foreign transceiver configured to transmit a message containing a station identifier and a serial number, and also to receive a message containing the transmitter station identifier and determine bearing and distance to the mobile RF transceiver.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the foreign transceiver comprises a transceiver selected from the group consisting of an amateur radio (HAM) transceiver, a commercial band radio transceiver, a public safety band radio transceiver, a police band radio transceiver, a forestry conservation band radio transceiver, and a government band radio transceiver.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the mobile RF transceiver control module is configured to respond to a message containing a general call code from the foreign transceiver if no valid message has been received during a predefined time period.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the mobile RF transceiver is attached to a child.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the companion device further comprises a user interface comprising a distance readout, an actuator configured to initiate a distance measurement, and at least one alarm.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the companion device further comprises an automatic monitoring mode wherein periodic distance measurements are initiated, and an alarm is activated if the mobile RF transceiver does not respond.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein the mobile RF transceiver is configured to conserve power by interrupting power to its transmitter and operating its receiver at periodic intervals to monitor for RF signals.