Remote tracking device and a system and method for two-way voice communication between the device and a monitoring center

• US 20080012760A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Track Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RemoteMDx Incorporated
• Inventors: Derrick, David, Derrick, Bruce G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.07
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0219 Circuit arrangements
• 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 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A remote tracking system is described including one or more remote tracking devices and a monitoring center. The remote tracking device includes a tamper-resistant housing intended to be held securely to a wearer by a strap, a positioning system receiver in the housing and operable to receive signals indicative of the location of the remote tracking device, a cellular transceiver in the housing and operable to communicate with the monitoring center, and a processor in the housing and in electrical communication with the positioning system receiver and the cellular transceiver, the processor operable to monitor a status for the remote tracking device. The remote tracking system is able to compare the location of the remote tracking device with a set of pre-programmed rules and establish a two-way voice communication between the wearer and the monitoring center upon the occurrence of certain programmable conditions in the remote tracking system.

Claims

1. A remote tracking device as part of a remote tracking system having a monitoring center, the remote tracking device comprising:

a tamper-resistant housing intended to be held securely to a wearer by a strap;

a positioning system receiver in the housing and operable to receive signals indicative of the location of the remote tracking device;

a cellular transceiver in the housing and operable to communicate with the monitoring center; and

a processor in the housing and in electrical communication with the positioning system receiver and the cellular transceiver, the processor operable to monitor a status for the remote tracking device,

wherein the remote tracking system is able to compare the location of the remote tracking device with a set of pre-programmed rules; and

wherein a two-way voice communication can be established between the wearer and the monitoring center upon the occurrence of certain programmable conditions in the remote tracking system.

2. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the two-way voice communication is initiated by the processor in response to a rules violation by the remote tracking device.

3. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the two-way voice communication is initiated by the monitoring center in response data sent from the remote tracking device to the monitoring center.

4. The remote tracking device of claim 1 the two-way voice communication is initiated by wearer by pressing a button in the housing that causes the processor to initiate a call to the monitoring center.

5. The remote tracking device of claim 1 further comprising a peripheral device in wireless communication with the remote tracking device, the peripheral device having a microphone and speaker, either capable of being used in the two-way voice communication.

6. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the two-way voice communication is part of an alarm management system in the remote tracking system.

7. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the two-way voice communication is recorded.

8. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein a multiparty voice call can be established between the wearer, monitoring center and a third party.

9. The remote tracking device of claim 8 wherein the third party is a supervisor for the particular device.

10. The remote tracking device of claim 8 wherein the third party is a 911 operator.

11. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the remote tracking device reminds the wearer to establish voice-communication with the monitoring center at defined intervals.

12. The remote tracking device of claim 1 wherein the two-way voice communication is initiated by the remote tracking device in response to environmental conditions detected by the remote tracking device or monitoring center.

13. A method for monitoring a remote tracking device using a monitoring center in a remote tracking system, the remote tracking device worn by a wearer and including a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor;

the method comprising;

monitoring the status of the remote tracking device using the processor;

generating location information using the location determining mechanism;

transmitting the status information and location information to the monitoring center using the wireless communication mechanism; and

establishing a voice communication between the remote tracking device and the monitoring center based on the status information and/or location information.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing the location of the remote tracking device to a set of programmed rules.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the monitoring center uses the voice communication to provide instructions to the wearer based on the status and/or location information.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein voice communication is part of an alarm management system in the remote tracking system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the voice communication is established in response to an alarm condition.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the remote tracking device sends an indication of the alarm condition to the monitoring center upon the initial indication of the alarm condition.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein establishing a voice communication is initiated by the processor in response to the status information and/or location information.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein establishing a voice communication is initiated by the monitoring center in response to the status information and/or location information.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein establishing a voice communication can also be initiated by the wearer by pressing a button on the remote tracking device.

22. A remote monitoring system comprising:

one or more remote tracking devices worn by one or more wearers, each remote tracking device including a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor operable to monitor the status of the remote tracking device and to compare the location of the remote tracking device to a set of programmed rules; and

a monitoring center receiving data from the one or more remote tracking devices, the data including the status information and location information for each device;

wherein two-way voice communication can be established between any of the one or more remote tracking devices and the monitoring center using the wireless communication mechanism.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication mechanism is a cellular transceiver.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the two-way voice communication is automatically established based on the status and/or location information.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the two-way voice communication is recorded.