ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An asset tracking system, the system including:
- a. a datastore storing asset information including multiple unique identifiers, each identifier being associated with an asset tracking unit in the form of a mobile base station asset tracking unit or a beacon asset tracking unit; and
b. controlling means, the controlling means comprising;
i. a communication module to receive over an existing communication network a location data message from one of the mobile base station asset tracking units fitted to a first asset, the message comprising geographical location data on the first asset generated by the mobile base station asset tracking unit as well as the unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset; and
ii. a processor module to extract from the location data message the unique identifier of the beacon asset tracking unit and the geographical location data of the first asset and to associate this information thereby to record the geographical location of the second asset.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asset tracking system includes a central control station with an associated datastore for storing asset information. The stored information includes multiple unique identifiers, each identifier being associated with an asset tracking unit in the form of a mobile base station asset tracking unit or a beacon asset tracking unit. The two types of tracking unit are fitted to assets such as vehicles. The mobile base station asset tracking units include GPS modules and can determine their position, and can also communicate with the central control station. The beacon asset tracking units can communicate with the mobile base station asset tracking units via short range radio transmissions and their positions can thus be determined from the position of nearby mobile base station asset tracking units. The control station includes a communication module which can receive, over an existing communication network, location data messages from a mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to a first asset. The message contains geographical location data on the first asset generated by the mobile base station asset tracking unit as well as the unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset. A processor module at the control station extracts from the location data message the unique identifier of the beacon asset tracking unit and the geographical location data of the first asset and associates this information to record the geographical location of the second asset.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An asset tracking system, the system including:
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a. a datastore storing asset information including multiple unique identifiers, each identifier being associated with an asset tracking unit in the form of a mobile base station asset tracking unit or a beacon asset tracking unit; and b. controlling means, the controlling means comprising; i. a communication module to receive over an existing communication network a location data message from one of the mobile base station asset tracking units fitted to a first asset, the message comprising geographical location data on the first asset generated by the mobile base station asset tracking unit as well as the unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset; and ii. a processor module to extract from the location data message the unique identifier of the beacon asset tracking unit and the geographical location data of the first asset and to associate this information thereby to record the geographical location of the second asset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mobile base station asset tracking unit to be employed in an asset tracking system and to be fitted to a first asset, the unit including:
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a. a first short range communication module to receive from a beacon asset tracking unit, in use fitted to a second asset to be tracked over short range communication, a unique identifier when the second asset is in the vicinity of the first asset; b. a location module to determine the geographical location of the mobile base station asset tracking unit; c. a processing module to generate a location data message comprising the geographical location data determined by the location module, as well as a unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset; and d. a second communication module to transmit over an existing communication network the location data message to a control station.
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10. A mobile base station module to be fitted to an asset tracking unit employed in an asset tracking system, the unit including:
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a. a first short range communication module to receive from a beacon asset tracking unit, in use fitted to a second asset to be tracked over short range communication, a unique identifier when the second asset is in the vicinity of the first asset; b. an interconnecting module to connect the mobile base station module to the asset tracking unit thereby to obtain geographical location information from a location module of the asset tracking unit; and c. a processing module to generate a location data message comprising the geographical location data determined by the location module, as well as a unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset, which is to be sent transmitted by a communication module of the asset tracking unit over an existing communication network to a control station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of tracking an asset, the method including:
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a. providing a datastore storing asset information including multiple unique identifiers, each identifier being associated with an asset tracking unit in the form of a mobile base station asset tracking unit or a beacon asset tracking unit; b. receiving over an existing communication network a location data message from one of the mobile base station asset tracking units fitted to a first asset, the message comprising geographical location data on the first asset generated by the mobile base station asset tracking unit as well as the unique identifier of the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset; and c. extracting from the location data message the unique identifier of the beacon asset tracking unit and the geographical location data of the first asset and associating this information, thereby to record the geographical location of the second asset. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of tracking an asset with a mobile base station asset tracking unit to be employed in an asset tracking system and to be fitted to a first asset, the method including:
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a. receiving from a beacon asset tracking unit, fitted to a second asset to be tracked over short range communication, a unique identifier when the second asset is in the vicinity of the first asset; b. determining the geographical location of the mobile base station asset tracking unit; c. generating a location data message comprising the geographical location data determined by the mobile base station asset tracking unit fitted to the first asset as well as a unique identifier thereof, and the unique identifier of a beacon asset tracking unit fitted to a second asset in the vicinity of the first asset; and d. transmitting over an existing communication network the location data message to a control station.
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Specification