Asset tracking apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
- a geographic positioning device configured to be attached to the object;
a radio frequency transceiver;
a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver; and
a lock for securing the apparatus to the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asset securing and tracking system (30) operates in conjunction with a wireless communication network (65) for tracking a portable asset (35). The system (30) includes a tracking device (31) adapted to be attached to the portable asset (35) and communicate with the wireless communication network (65). The tracking device (31) determines the location of the asset (35) using signals from GPS satellites (55) and the terrestrial wireless communication network (65). A monitoring station (32) receives and processes a location signal regarding the geographic location of the portable asset (35) from tracking device (31) via the wireless communication network (65).
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:
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a geographic positioning device configured to be attached to the object;
a radio frequency transceiver;
a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver; and
a lock for securing the apparatus to the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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5. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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8. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. An asset tracking system operating in conjunction with a wireless communication network for tracking a portable asset, comprising:
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an asset tracking unit adapted to be attached to the portable asset and communicate with the wireless communication network, the asset tracking unit comprising;
a geographic positioning device;
a radio frequency transceiver;
a microprocessor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said microprocessor being programmed to transmit the location signal regarding the geographic location of the portable asset determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver; and
a lock for securing the asset tracking unit to the portable asset; and
a monitoring station communicating with the wireless communication network and programmed to track the portable asset by receiving and processing a location signal regarding a geographic location of the portable asset from said asset tracking unit via the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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17. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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31. A method for tracking a portable object, comprising:
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locking a tracking device to the portable object;
tracking a location of the portable object using a first plurality of signals from a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) satellites;
transmitting a location signal indicating the location of the portable object; and
receiving and processing the location signal at a monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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33. (canceled)
Specification