ACTIVE WIRELESS TAG AND AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR USE WITH MONITORING CENTER FOR TRACKING INDIVIDUALS OR OBJECTS

• US 20110201274A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• 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 8,169,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A location tracking device, comprising:

location circuitry configured to receive data from which the location of the tracking device can be determined;

first wireless circuitry configured to transmit position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location

second wireless circuitry configured to communicate locally within an auxiliary device; and

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the tracking device is maintained in a normal operational mode;

wherein the tracking device is configured to enter a second operational mode in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein in the second operational mode at least portions of the tracking device is placed in a reduced operational mode.

28. The locating tracking device of claim 27, wherein the reduced operational mode of the tracking device includes at least one of:

increasing a period between when the location circuitry receives the data;

disabling the location circuitry entirely; and

increasing the period between which the first wireless circuitry transmits position data.

29. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to an alarm condition.

30. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing a low power condition at the auxiliary device.

31. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing movement of the auxiliary device.

32. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing tampering at the auxiliary device.

33. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to loss of communication with the auxiliary device.

34. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device is configured to attempt to contact the auxiliary device more often when in the second operational mode than when in the first operational mode.

35. The location tracking device of claim 27, further comprising at least two of the location tracking devices, each of the two being configured to communicate with the second wireless circuitry using different frequencies or transmitting on different schedules to avoid collision between signals.

36. The location tracking device of claim 27, wherein the tracking device consumes less power over time in the second operational mode compared to the first operational mode.

37. A location tracking device, comprising:

location circuitry configured to receive data from which the location of the tracking device can be determined;

first long range wireless circuitry configured to transmit position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location,

second short range wireless circuitry configured to communicate locally with an auxiliary device, and

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the tracking device is maintained in a normal operational mode;

wherein the tracking device is configured to enter a second operational mode in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein in the second operational mode the tracking device additional receives information from the auxiliary device and transmits the information to the remote location.

38. A location tracking system comprising:

an auxiliary device having short range wireless circuitry;

a locating tracking device, comprising;

location circuitry configured to receive data from which the location of the tracking device can be determined;

first wireless circuitry configured to transmit position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location,

second wireless circuitry configured to communicate locally with the short range wireless circuitry of the auxiliary device, and

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the tracking device is maintained in a normal operational mode;

wherein the tracking device is configured to enter a second operational mode in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein in the second operational mode at least portions of the tracking device is placed in a reduced operational mode.

39. The tracking system of claim 38, wherein the distance between the auxiliary device and the tracking device for which communication can be established is adjustable.

40. The tracking system of claim 38, wherein the auxiliary device has an adjustable threshold setting, wherein changes in the threshold setting contributes to the range between the auxiliary device and the tracking device for which communication can be established.

41. The tracking system of claim 40, wherein the threshold setting is received signal strength of the second wireless circuitry, wherein an increase in the threshold setting reduces the range between the auxiliary device and the tracking device for which communication can be established.

52. The tracking system of claim 38, further comprising the auxiliary device being configured to support a plurality of the tracking devices, such that auxiliary device becomes a common hub that the plurality of the tracking devices can simultaneously be wirelessly tethered to.

53. The tracking system of claim 38, wherein the tracking device consumes less power over time when in the second operational mode compared to when in the first operational mode.

42. A location tracking method comprising:

providing location circuitry configured to receive data from which the location of a tracking device can be determined;

providing first wireless circuitry configured to transmit position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location;

providing second wireless circuitry configured to communicate locally within an auxiliary device; and

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the tracking device is maintained in a normal operational mode;

wherein the tracking device is configured to enter a second operational mode in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein in the second operational mode at least portions of the tracking device is placed in a reduced operational mode.

43. The locating tracking method of claim 42, wherein the reduced operational mode of the tracking device includes at least one of:

increasing a period between when the location circuitry receives the data;

disabling the location circuitry entirely; and

increasing the period between which the first wireless circuitry transmits position data.

44. The location tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing a low power condition at the auxiliary device.

45. The location tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing movement of the auxiliary device.

46. The location tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to receiving a signal representing tampering at the auxiliary device.

47. The location tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to loss of communication with the auxiliary device.

48. The location tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device is configured to attempt to contact the auxiliary device more often when in the second operational mode than when in the first operational mode.

49. The location tracking method of claim 42, further comprising at least two of the location tracking devices, each of the two communicating with the auxiliary device using the second wireless circuitry using different frequencies or transmitting on different schedules to avoid collision between signals.

43-1. The locating tracking method of claim 42, wherein the tracking device will transition from the second operational mode to the first operational mode in response to an alarm condition.

50. A tracking system, comprising:

an auxiliary device including second short range wireless communications circuitry;

a monitoring device, comprising;

location circuitry that determines the location of the monitoring device;

cellular communication circuitry that transmits location data from the location circuitry;

first short range wireless communications circuitry having a shorter range than the cellular communication circuitry;

the monitoring device having first and second operating modes, wherein;

the first operating mode is during times when the monitoring device is not in communication with the auxiliary device, in which the monitoring device repeatedly determines its location and transmits the determined location to a remote location via the cellular communication circuitry; and

the monitoring device transitions from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in response to the monitoring device entering into communication with the auxiliary device through the first and second wireless communication circuitry;

wherein when in the second operating mode, the monitoring device initially determines its location, becomes wirelessly tethered to the auxiliary mode, and subsequently reduces the operations of the location circuitry;

wherein the combination of the initially determined location and the tethered status of the monitoring device to the auxiliary device replaces location determinations for at least portions of the second operating mode.

51. The tracking system of claim 50, further comprising the auxiliary device being configured to support a plurality of the monitoring devices, such that auxiliary device becomes a common hub that the plurality of the monitoring devices can simultaneously be wirelessly tethered to.