METHOD FOR LOCATING AN ASSET

• US 20050024201A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Lawrence M., Culpepper, Jerry W., VanCleave, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,135,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. The method includes the step of linking at least one portable transmitter system with a selected asset. A cellular communication is then initiated from the at least one portable transmission system to an associated device controller. Primary location information representing the cellular area from which the cellular communication is made is then communicated to the device controller. A secondary location system is then initiated in accordance with the location information. The secondary location information, from the portable transmission system, is then broadcast and received into a tracking system. The method of asset location includes the steps of simultaneously monitoring a plurality of portable transmission system communications, and generating fee data representing each of a plurality of monitored portable data transmissions. The primary and secondary location information are then transmitted to a law enforcement authority in order to track the asset that is determined to be stolen

Claims

1. A method of asset location, comprising the steps of:

linking at least one portable transmitter system with a selected asset;

initiating a cellular communication from the at least one portable transmission system to an associated device controller;

communicating to the device controller primary location information representative of a cellular area from which the cellular communication is made;

initiating a secondary location system in accordance with the location information;

broadcasting secondary location information from the at least one portable transmission system; and

receiving secondary location information into a tracking system.

2. The method of asset location of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the primary location information with data of a geographic database so as to isolate a geographic area of interest;

generating map information relating to the primary location information; and

initiating receipt of the secondary location information in accordance with the geographic area of interest.

3. The method of asset location of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the secondary location information in accordance with satellite data obtained from an associated global positioning system.

4. The method of asset location of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, in the tracking system, a location of the selected asset in accordance with data generated as a function of a strength of a signal associated with the secondary location information received therein.

5. The method of asset location of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a location of the selected asset in accordance with the secondary location data which is generated mathematically from a signal associated with the secondary location information as received by a plurality of associated receiving stations.

6. The method of asset location of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

simultaneously monitoring a plurality of portable transmission system communications; and

generating fee data representative of each of a plurality of monitored portable data transmissions.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of selectively communicating at least one of the primary and secondary location information to a law enforcement authority in order to track the asset that is determined to be stolen.

8. A system of asset location, comprising:

means adapted for linking at least one portable transmitter system with a selected asset;

means adapted for initiating a cellular communication from the at least one portable transmission system to an associated device controller;

means adapted for communicating to the device controller primary location information representative of a cellular area from which the cellular communication is made;

means adapted for initiating a secondary location system in accordance with the location information;

means adapted for broadcasting secondary location information from the at least one portable transmission system; and

means adapted for receiving secondary location information into a tracking system.

9. The system of asset location of claim 8, further comprising:

means adapted for comparing the primary location information with data of a geographic database so as to isolate a geographic area of interest;

means adapted for generating map information relating to the primary location information; and

means adapted for initiating receipt of the secondary location information in accordance with the geographic area of interest.

10. The system of asset location of claim 8, further comprising means adapted for generating the secondary location information in accordance with satellite data obtained from an associated global positioning system.

11. The system of asset location of claim 8, further comprising means adapted for determining, in the tracking system, a location of the selected asset in accordance with data generated as a function of a strength of a signal associated with the secondary location information received therein.

12. The system of asset location of claim 8, further comprising means adapted for determining a location of the selected asset in accordance with the secondary location data which is generated mathematically from a signal associated with the secondary location information as received by a plurality of associated receiving stations.

13. The system of asset location of claim 8, further comprising:

means adapted for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of portable transmission system communications; and

means adapted for generating fee data representative of each of a plurality of monitored portable data transmissions.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means adapted for selectively communicating at least one of the primary and secondary location information to a law enforcement authority in order to track the asset that is determined to be stolen.

15. A computer-readable medium of instructions for asset location, comprising:

instructions for linking at least one portable transmitter system with a selected asset;

instructions for initiating a cellular communication from the at least one portable transmission system to an associated device controller;

instructions for communicating to the device controller primary location information representative of a cellular area from which the cellular communication is made;

instructions for initiating a secondary location system in accordance with the location information;

instructions for broadcasting secondary location information from the at least one portable transmission system; and

instructions for receiving secondary location information into a tracking system.

16. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for comparing the primary location information with data of a geographic database so as to isolate a geographic area of interest;

instructions for generating map information relating to the primary location information; and

instructions for initiating receipt of the secondary location information in accordance with the geographic area of interest.

17. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 15, further comprising instructions for generating the secondary location information in accordance with satellite data obtained from an associated global positioning system.

18. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 15, further comprising instructions for determining, in the tracking system, a location of the selected asset in accordance with data generated as a function of a strength of a signal associated with the secondary location information received therein.

19. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 15, further comprising instructions for determining a location of the selected asset in accordance with the secondary location data which is generated mathematically from a signal associated with the secondary location information as received by a plurality of associated receiving stations.

20. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 15, further comprising:

instructions for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of portable transmission system communications; and

instructions for generating fee data representative of each of a plurality of monitored portable data transmissions.

21. The computer-readable medium for asset location of claim 20, further comprising instructions for selectively communicating at least one of the primary and secondary location information to a law enforcement authority in order to track the asset that is determined to be stolen.

22. A computer-implemented method for asset location comprising the steps of:

linking at least one portable transmitter system with a selected asset;

initiating a cellular communication from the at least one portable transmission system to an associated device controller;

communicating to the device controller primary location information representative of a cellular area from which the cellular communication is made;

initiating a secondary location system in accordance with the location information;

broadcasting secondary location information from the at least one portable transmission system; and

receiving secondary location information into a tracking system.

23. The computer-implemented method of asset location of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the primary location information with data of a geographic database so as to isolate a geographic area of interest;

generating map information relating to the primary location information; and

initiating receipt of the secondary location information in accordance with the geographic area of interest.

24. The computer-implemented method of asset location of claim 22, further comprising the step of generating the secondary location information in accordance with satellite data obtained from an associated global positioning system.

25. The computer-implemented method of asset location of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining, in the tracking system, a location of the selected asset in accordance with data generated as a function of a strength of a signal associated with the secondary location information received therein.

26. The computer-implemented method of asset location of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining a location of the selected asset in accordance with the secondary location data which is generated mathematically from a signal associated with the secondary location information as received by a plurality of associated receiving stations.

27. The computer-implemented method of asset location of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

simultaneously monitoring a plurality of portable transmission system communications; and

generating fee data representative of each of a plurality of monitored portable data transmissions.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, further comprising the step of selectively communicating at least one of the primary and secondary location information to a law enforcement authority in order to track the asset that is determined to be stolen.