Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset

• US 20050128074A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• 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 7,138,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• 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: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. Location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is then communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is then queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including a representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is then communicated to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.

Claims

1. A system for coordinated asset location comprising:

means adapted for receiving location data from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made;

means adapted for communicating received location data to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers;

means adapted for querying the database with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including data representative of a location of the selected asset; and

means adapted for communicating the geographic tracking data to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.

2. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 1, further comprising:

means adapted for periodically receiving updated location data;

means adapted for communicating the updated location data to the tracking service system so as to generate updated geographic location data therefrom; and

means adapted for communicating the updated geographic location data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of location of the selected asset.

3. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 2, further comprising:

means adapted for receiving a secondary tracking signal from a radio-frequency transmitter associated with the selected asset; and

means adapted for communicating the secondary tracking signal to at least one associated tracking vehicle.

4. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 3, further comprising means adapted for receiving tracking vehicle data from each associated tracking vehicle, which vehicle tracking data is representative of at least one of tracking vehicle location, tracking vehicle direction, tracking vehicle speed of, and signal strength of a vehicle'"'"'s received secondary tracking signal.

5. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 4, further comprising means adapted for communicating the tracking vehicle data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of a location of each associated tracking vehicle.

6. A method for coordinated asset location comprising the steps of:

receiving location data from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made;

communicating received location data to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers;

querying the database with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including data representative of a location of the selected asset; and

communicating the geographic tracking data to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.

7. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

periodically receiving updated location data;

communicating the updated location data to the tracking service system so as to generate updated geographic location data therefrom; and

communicating the updated geographic location data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of location of the selected asset.

8. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a secondary tracking signal from a radio-frequency transmitter associated with the selected asset; and

communicating the secondary tracking signal to at least one associated tracking vehicle.

9. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 8, further comprising the step of receiving tracking vehicle data from each associated tracking vehicle, which vehicle tracking data is representative of at least one of tracking vehicle location, tracking vehicle direction, tracking vehicle speed, and signal strength of a vehicle'"'"'s received secondary tracking signal.

10. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 9, further comprising the step of communicating the tracking vehicle data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of a location of each associated tracking vehicle.

11. An asset tracking management system comprising:

means adapted for receiving device data representative of properties of a plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for displaying the received device data representative of properties of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for receiving event data representative of at least one asset tracking event associated with at least one of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for displaying the received event data representative of properties of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for receiving device service data representative of a maintenance history of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for displaying the received device service data representative of a maintenance history of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

means adapted for receiving tracking data representative of a temporal property associated with the at least one tracking event; and

means adapted for displaying the received tracking data representative of the temporal property associated with the at least one tracking event.

12. The asset tracking management system of claim 11 wherein the device data includes identification data uniquely associated with each of the plurality of asset tracking devices.

13. The asset tracking management system of claim 12, wherein the identification data is one of a device ID, an asset ID, a transmitter code ID and a telephone number.

14. The asset tracking management system of claim 13 wherein event data associated with each event includes:

a unique event identifier associated with the event; and

location data representative of a location of an asset associated with the event.

15. The asset tracking management system of claim 14 wherein the device service data includes, for each of the plurality of asset tracking devices:

data representative of an installation date of the device; and

data representative of a service period for the device.

16. A method for managing asset tracking, comprising the steps of:

receiving device data representative of properties of a plurality of asset tracking devices;

displaying the received device data representative of properties of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

receiving event data representative of at least one asset tracking event associated with at least one of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

displaying the received event data representative of properties of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

receiving device service data representative of a maintenance history of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

displaying the received device service data representative of a maintenance history of the plurality of asset tracking devices;

receiving tracking data representative of a temporal property associated with the at least one tracking event; and

displaying the received tracking data representative of the temporal property associated with the at least one tracking event.

17. The method for managing asset tracking of claim 16 wherein the device data includes identification data uniquely associated with each of the plurality of asset tracking devices.

18. The method for managing asset tracking of claim 17 wherein the identification data is one of a device ID, an asset ID, a transmitter code ID and a telephone number.

19. The method for managing asset tracking of claim 18 wherein event data associated with each event includes:

a unique event identifier associated with the event; and

location data representative of a location of an asset associated with the event.

20. The method for managing asset tracking of claim 19 wherein the device service data includes, for each of the plurality of asset tracking devices:

data representative of an installation date of the device; and

data representative of a service period for the device.

21. An asset tracking system comprising:

means adapted for periodically receiving location data representative of an updated location of a tracking device associated with an asset;

means adapted to receive map data;

means adapted to display a map area of the map data, which map area is inclusive of the location;

means adapted to periodically update the map in accordance with newly acquired location data;

means adapted to receive input from an associated user specifying a desired scale level for a displayed map;

means adapted to selectively scale in and scale out of a displayed map in accordance with received user input;

means adapted to receive input from the associated user specifying a display of historic location data; and

means for displaying historic and updated location data in accordance with received user input.

22. The asset tracking system of claim 21, further comprising:

means adapted for receiving data representative of at least one of speed and velocity of the tracking device; and

means adapted for displaying an indicator of at least one of speed and velocity of the tracking device in accordance with received data.

23. The asset tracking system of claim 21, further comprising:

means adapted to receive audio data representative of ambient sounds proximate to the tracking device; and

means adapted for selectively outputting the audio data via an associated speaker in accordance with a user specified instruction.

24. The asset tracking system of claim 21, further comprising means adapted to selectively communicate at least one of the location data, map area, velocity data and speed data to an associated law enforcement agency.

25. A method for asset tracking comprising the steps of:

periodically receiving location data representative of an updated location of a tracking device associated with an asset;

receiving map data;

displaying a map area of the map data, which map area is inclusive of the location;

periodically updating the map in accordance with newly acquired location data;

receiving input from an associated user specifying a desired scale level for a displayed map;

receiving, via user input, data representative of selectively scaling in and scaling out of a displayed map;

receiving input from the associated user specifying a display of historic location data; and

displaying historic and updated location data in accordance with received user input.

26. The method for asset tracking of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

receiving data representative of at least one of speed and velocity of the tracking device; and

displaying an indicator of at least one of speed and velocity of the tracking device in accordance with received data.

27. The method for asset tracking of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

receiving audio data representative of ambient sounds proximate to the tracking device; and

selectively outputting the audio data via an associated speaker in accordance with a user specified instruction.

28. The method for asset tracking of claim 25, further comprising the step of selectively communicate at least one of the location data, map area, velocity data and speed data to an associated law enforcement agency.

29. A system for asset tracking comprising:

means adapted for receiving notification data representative of commencement of an asset tracking operation in which a selected asset is tracked;

timer means adapted for commencement of a tracking elapsed time associated with the asset tracking operation;

means adapted for receiving event data representative of a triggering event associated with the tracking operation;

means adapted for receiving candidate data representative of at least one individual associated with the selected asset being tracked; and

means adapted to communicate the notification data, the event data and the candidate data to an associated memory.

30. The system for asset tracking of claim 29, wherein the event data includes data representative of at least one of kidnapping, bank robbery, retail robbery and vehicle theft.

31. The system for asset tracking of claim 30, wherein the notification data is generated from a wireless device associated with the selected asset.

32. The system for asset tracking of claim 31, wherein the candidate data includes at least one of data representative of a number of candidates, data representative of a vehicle identification and data representative of a risk level associated with at least one candidate.

33. The system for asset tracking of claim 32 further comprising means adapted for receiving enforcement data representative of at least one of an individual and an organization associated with tracking of the selected asset.

34. A method for asset tracking comprising the steps of:

receiving notification data representative of commencement of an asset tracking operation in which a selected asset is tracked;

timing a tracking elapsed time associated with the asset tracking operation;

receiving event data representative of a triggering event associated with the tracking operation;

receiving candidate data representative of at least one individual associated with the selected asset being tracked; and

communicating the notification data, the event data and the candidate data to an associated memory.

35. The method for asset tracking of claim 34, wherein the event data includes data representative of at least one of kidnapping, bank robbery, retail robbery and vehicle theft.

36. The method for asset tracking of claim 35, wherein the notification data is generated from a wireless device associated with the selected asset.

37. The method for asset tracking of claim 36, wherein the candidate data includes at least one of data representative of a number of candidates, data representative of a vehicle identification and data representative of a risk level associated with at least one candidate.

38. The method for asset tracking of claim 37 further comprising the step of receiving enforcement data representative of at least one of an individual and an organization associated with tracking of the selected asset.

39. A system for asset tracking comprising:

means adapted for receiving identifier data representative of at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for displaying the received identifier data representative of the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for receiving date data representative of a date associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for displaying the received date data representative of the date associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for receiving data representative of a temporal property associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for displaying the received temporal data associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for receiving event data representative of the least one asset tracking event; and

means adapted for displaying the received event data representative of the at least one asset tracking event.

40. A method for asset tracking comprising the steps of:

receiving identifier data representative of at least one asset tracking event;

displaying the received identifier data representative of the at least one asset tracking event;

receiving date data representative of a date associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

displaying the received date data representative of the date associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

receiving data representative of a temporal property associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

displaying the received temporal data associated with the at least one asset tracking event;

receiving event data representative of the least one asset tracking event; and

displaying the received event data representative of the at least one asset tracking event.