Wireless devices as guard tour data collection and transmission devices

• US 20060248167A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Markwitz, Barry J., O'Flaherty, Michael B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system that utilizes wireless devices as guard tour data collection and transmission devices is disclosed. The wireless devices have the capability of reading various types of checkpoints. The wireless devices transmit collected data to a computer via a cellular telephone communication system and either a land-based telephone network or the Internet or a cellular data communication device. Alternatively, a Wi-Fi network or the Wi-Fi network and the Internet can be used to transmit the collected data to the computer. The computer stores and processes the data according to guard tour expected performance parameters, such as rules, schedules and exceptions, and then generates the necessary commands to produce exception notifications and reports at various types of peripheral equipment.

Claims

1. ) A system utilizing wireless devices as guard tour data collection and transmitting devices, said wireless devices including means for collecting data from various types of media, said system comprising a computer device, means for communicating data collected by said wireless devices to said computer device, means for time stamping said data upon collection from said media, and means for transmitting data processed by said computer device to an end user.

2. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices are cellular telephones and other devices having cellular telephone communication capabilities and said data communicating means comprises a cellular telephone network.

3. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices are cellular telephones and other devices having cellular telephone communication capabilities and said data communicating means comprises a cellular telephone network, a land-based telephone network and means of interfacing said computer device to said land-based telephone network.

4. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices are cellular telephones and other devices having Wi-Fi communication capabilities and said data communicating means comprises a Wi-Fi network.

5. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices are cellular telephones and other devices having Wi-Fi communication capabilities and said data communicating means comprises a Wi-Fi network and the Internet.

6. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said computer device processes said data according to predefined guard tour performance parameters and transmits commands to produce notifications and reports to peripheral equipment.

7. ) The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said predefined guard tour performance parameters comprises rules, schedules and exceptions relating to said guard tour.

8. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data collecting means comprises data collection devices that are connectable to said wireless devices, said data collection devices being compatible with said various types of media.

9. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data collecting means comprises software that executes within the memory of said wireless devices.

10. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said time stamping means comprises software that executes within the memory of said wireless devices.

11. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data communicating means comprises software contained within said wireless devices, said software causing said wireless devices to establish a connection with said computer device, transmit said data to said computer device, and terminate said connection with said computer device after said data have been transmitted thereto.

12. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data communicating means utilizes an existing cellular communication network to transmit said data to said computer device.

13. ) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data communicating means comprises software contained within said computer device, said software enabling said computer device to receive said data from said wireless devices.

14. ) The system as defined in claim 1 further including data storage means.

15. ) The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means is located within said wireless devices.

16. ) The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means stores data for downloading to said computer device at a later time.

17. ) The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means stores data until said data communicating means can transmit said data to said computer device.

18. ) The system as defined in claim 1 further including various types of peripheral equipment, said data transmitting means transmitting said data processed by said computer device to said various types of peripheral equipment for use by said end user.