SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING INDIVIDUALS USING A BEACON AND INTELLIGENT REMOTE TRACKING DEVICE

• US 20090224909A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Track Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RemoteMDx Incorporated
• Inventors: Horrocks, Scott, Derrick, David, Derrick, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,232,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A system for monitoring an individual is described where the system includes a fixed beacon at a known location, the fixed beacon periodically emitting a signal indicating the identity of the beacon, a remote tracking device securely affixed to the individual, the remote tracking device including a short range transceiver, a long range transceiver, and a rule set establishing operating parameters for the remote tracking device, wherein the short range transceiver is operable to receive the signal from the beacon and to use the signal to determine compliance with one or more rules in the rule set, and a monitoring center monitoring the status of the remote tracking device using data sent by the remote tracking device using the long range transceiver. The beacon includes a transmitter for transmitting a short range signal, a movement detector operable to indicate when the beacon has been moved, an internal power supply for the beacon, and a processor connected to the transmitter and movement detector, the processor operable to maintain a log of the movement of the beacon and to cause the transmitter to periodically transmit the signal, wherein the signal includes a identification number for the beacon, a status for the internal power supply; and information related to the movement log.

Claims

1. A beacon for use in a monitoring system, the beacon comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a short range signal;

a movement detector operable to indicate when the beacon has been moved;

an internal power supply for the beacon; and

a processor connected to the transmitter and movement detector, the processor operable to maintain a log of the movement of the beacon and to cause the transmitter to periodically transmit the signal, wherein the signal includes a identification number for the beacon, a status for the internal power supply; and

information related to the movement log.

2. The beacon of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera operable to produce images that can be transmitted by the beacon using the transmitter.

3. The beacon of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving short range signals, the receiver operable to receive signals intended for the beacon.

4. The beacon of claim 3 wherein the signals intended for the beacon include one or more of the following:

instructions for triggering an action by the beacon;

instructions for reprogramming the beacon, audio for broadcast by the beacon; and

messages for display by the beacon.

5. The beacon of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor in communication with the processor.

6. The beacon of claim 1 wherein the beacon is operable to communicate with a remote tracking device using the transmitter, the remote tracking device including a short range transceiver, a long range transceiver, and a rule set establishing operating parameters for the remote tracking device, wherein the short range transceiver is operable to receive the signal from the beacon and to use the signal to determine compliance with one or more rules in the rule set.

7. The beacon of claim 6 wherein the remote tracking device is in communication with a monitoring center, the monitoring center operable to monitoring the status of the beacon using data passed from the beacon to the remote tracking device and from the remote tracking device to the monitoring center.

8. A system for monitoring an individual, the system comprising:

a fixed beacon at a known location, the fixed beacon periodically emitting a signal indicating the identity of the beacon;

a remote tracking device securely affixed to the individual, the remote tracking device including a short range transceiver, a long range transceiver, and a rule set establishing operating parameters for the remote tracking device, wherein the short range transceiver is operable to receive the signal from the beacon and to use the signal to determine compliance with one or more rules in the rule set; and

a monitoring center monitoring the status of the remote tracking device using data sent by the remote tracking device using the long range transceiver.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the beacon comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting a short range signal;

a movement detector operable to indicate when the beacon has been moved;

an internal power supply for the beacon; and

a processor connected to the transmitter and movement detector.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the beacon is operable to maintain a log of the movement of the beacon and to cause the transmitter to periodically transmit the signal, wherein the signal includes a identification number for the beacon, a status for the internal power supply;

and information related to the movement log.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote tracking device receives status data from the beacon.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote tracking device processes the status data and sends an alert to the monitoring center where the status data indicates a problem with the beacon.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote tracking device passes the status data from the beacon directly to the monitoring center.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the fixed beacon defines an area used by the remote tracking device to determine compliance with the rule set.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising additional fixed beacons, wherein the set of fixed beacons defines an area used by the remote tracking device to determine compliance with the rule set.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising additional fixed beacons, each fixed beacon defining an area, each area used by separate rules in the rule set used by the remote tracking device to determine compliance with the rule set.

17. A system for monitoring an individual, the system comprising:

a beacon in the possession of an individual, the beacon periodically emitting a signal indicating the identity of the beacon;

a remote tracking device securely affixed to the individual, the remote tracking device including a short range transceiver, a long range transceiver, and a rule set establishing operating parameters for the remote tracking device, wherein the short range transceiver is operable to receive the signal from the beacon and to use the signal to determine if the remote tracking device is permitted within a specified distance of the beacon, and wherein the remote tracking device can alert the beacon of the proximity of the remote tracking device to the beacon.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a monitoring center monitoring the status of the remote tracking device using data sent by the remote tracking device using the long range transceiver.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the remote tracking device receives status data from the beacon.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the beacon is also operable to receive signals sent from the remote tracking device using the remote tracking device'"'"'s short range transceiver, the signals including a unique id associated with the remote tracking device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the beacon is operable to alert the individual of the presence of the remote tracking device.

22. A system for determining the proximity a individuals, the system comprising:

remote tracking devices securely affixed to each of two or more individuals of interest, each of the remote tracking devices including a short range transceiver, a long range transceiver, and a rule set establishing operating parameters for the remote tracking device, wherein the short range transceiver is operable to receive a signal from other remote tracking devices, the signal identifying the remote tracking device sending the signal, wherein the signal is used to determine compliance with one or more rules in the rule set concerning the permitted proximity of the remote tracking devices to each other; and

a monitoring center monitoring the status of the remote tracking devices using data sent by the remote tracking device using the long range transceiver.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the remote tracking devices are operable to alert the respective individuals of the proximity to the other remote tracking device.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the monitoring center is operable to alert the respective individuals of their proximity to the other remote tracking device.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the monitoring center is able to provide instructions to the individuals based on the data received from the remote tracking devices.