Security Tracking Device

• US 20110098058A1
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Padmanabhan Mahalingam
• Original Assignee: Padmanabhan Mahalingam
• Inventors: Mahalingam, Padmanabhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A tracking device has an on-board power source, a central processing unit, a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver, a speaker and a microphone, a bus system interconnecting electronic elements, and software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium providing a range of functions for the device. The device maintains a sleep mode until activated by an internal timing function, once activated turns on the receiver and listens for radio signals, finding particular signals, consults memory associations with one or more of those signals, and determines to activate transmission only under certain preprogrammed conditions depended on signals found and identified.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

an on-board power source;

a central processing unit;

a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver;

a speaker and a microphone;

a bus system interconnecting electronic elements; and

software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium providing a range of functions for the device;

wherein the device maintains a sleep mode until activated by an internal timing function, once activated turns on the receiver and listens for radio signals, finding particular signals, consults memory associations with one or more of those signals, and determines to activate transmission only under certain preprogrammed conditions depended on signals found and identified.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device identifies one or more local cellular cell towers, determines by stored information that the cell tower or stations are near an airfield, and returns to sleep mode accordingly without activating the transmitter.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device, with receiver activated, identifies one or more signals in a bandwidth used only at an airfield, and returns to sleep mode accordingly without activating the transmitter.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the device, with the receiver activated, sensing cellular signals, determines motion of the device by changing of cellular stations.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the device, in registering with the cellular service, determines its geographic location, and sends a message to a registered owner of the device, or to a service from which the registered owner may access information regarding the device.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the software or firmware provides a function to activate the speaker to emit an alert signal upon a trigger signal received via the cellular receiver.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the software or firmware provides a function to activate the speaker to emit a voice message received via the cellular transceiver.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the software or firmware provides a function to activate the microphone to listen for any local audio activity.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein audio activity is recorded locally.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein audio activity is transmitted via the cellular transceiver to a registered owner of the device or to a service from which the registered owner may access information regarding the device.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising an FM receiver integrated with device electronics, such that an FM signal received triggers a response from the device via the cellular transmitter.

12. A tracking system comprising:

a tracking device having an on-board power source, a central processing unit, a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver, a speaker and a microphone, a bus system interconnecting electronic elements, and software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium to provide a range of functions for the device;

a central server in the Internet network having connection through an appropriate gateway to a cellular network having a plurality of cell towers spread over a geographic region; and

an interactive interface at the central server providing access to server functions for individuals operating Internet-connected computerized appliances;

wherein the device has an ID associated with a particular person, and is registered with the server to be tracked, and the device communicates periodically with the cellular network, providing position information for the device, and the person, through the interactive interface at the server, is enabled to access at least geographic position information for the device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein location and time information from successive communications with the device over the cellular network is used to determine speed and direction for the device as well as position.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the server stores a history of locations, speed and direction information for devices tracked by the system, to be made available by either push or by request to persons associated with the devices.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the server executes software from a machine-readable medium, providing functions for tracking registered devices, and organizing and storing information about the devices.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein one of the functions uses successive communications with a device to determine speed and direction.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein information regarding scheduled activities of transportation companies is used in conjunction with location, speed and direction information of a device to determine probability that a device is being carried on a particular airplane or vehicle destined for a particular location.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein determinations of likely transport conditions is used by the system to schedule future tracking activity.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising one or more FM transmitters in communication with the central server, wherein the central server may direct the one or more FM transmitters to signal one or more tracking devices by specific identity, and the tracking devices, if in range of the FM transmission, respond by transmission on the cellular network.

20. A method for tracking a container, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing in the container a device having an on-board power source, a central processing unit, a cellular telephony transmitter and receiver, a speaker and a microphone, a bus system interconnecting electronic elements, and software or firmware executing at least periodically from a machine-readable physical medium to provide a range of functions for the device;

(b) communicating by the device via the cellular transmitter to a central server in the Internet network having connection through an appropriate gateway to a cellular network of a cellular provider, the network having a plurality of cell towers spread over a geographic region; and

(c) determining at least location for the device by the central server through information provided by the cellular provider.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the central server determines speed and direction for the device by using successive locations and times.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the central server stores a history of locations, speed and direction information for devices tracked by the system, to be made available by either push or by request to persons associated with the devices.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein information regarding scheduled activities of transportation companies is used in conjunction with location, speed and direction information of a device to determine probability that a device is being carried on a particular airplane or vehicle destined for a particular location.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein determinations of likely transport situation is used by the system to schedule future tracking activity.