Active Wireless Tag And Auxiliary Device For Use With Monitoring Center For Tracking Individuals or Objects

• US 20080174422A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Satellite Tracking of People LLC (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Logan, Steven W., Freathy, Stephen, Pridmore, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention is directed to a location tracking device and auxiliary device for use with a monitoring center for tracking individuals or objects. The location tracking device has position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location (e.g., a monitoring station). The tracking device also has second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device. The tracking device has at least two operational modes. The tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device generally has an associated auxiliary device ID and wireless circuitry that communicates the auxiliary device ID to the location tracking device. The tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state. The tracking device can also have a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. In the second operational mode, the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location. The tracking device can also have a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. In the third operational mode, the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state.

Claims

1. A location tracking device for use with an auxiliary device, the tracking device comprising:

position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location,

second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device, and wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes signal strength circuitry associated with the second wireless circuitry and the tracking device can determine whether radio energy received by the second wireless circuitry is below a predetermined threshold.

5. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry and the tracking device minimizes contention for frequencies or time slots associated with the second wireless circuitry.

6. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

7. The tracking device of claim 6 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

8. A auxiliary device for use with a location tracking device, the auxiliary device comprising:

an auxiliary device ID and wireless circuitry that communicates the auxiliary device ID to the location tracking device

wherein the location device has position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location, second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device, and

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device.

9. The auxiliary device of claim 8 wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location

10. The auxiliary device of claim 8 wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the ID to the remote location.

11. The auxiliary device of claim 8 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

12. The auxiliary device of claim 11 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

13. A location tracking system comprising:

a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device to a remote location and second wireless circuitry,

an auxiliary device having wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device second wireless circuitry,

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising an HMU with third wireless circuitry that communicates with at least one of the auxiliary device wireless circuitry and the tracking device second wireless circuitry wherein the range of the HMU is expanded when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the monitoring station performs one of proximity detection and predictive correlation based on the location of the tracking tag and the auxiliary device ID.

21. The tracking system of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a housing and tamper detection circuitry that detects unauthorized movement or opening of the auxiliary device.

22. A location tracking method comprising:

providing a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the device to a remote location and second wireless circuitry,

providing an auxiliary device having wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device second wireless circuitry,

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device.

23. The method of claim 23 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the auxiliary device has an ID and wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.