Portable tracking apparatus for continuous position determination of criminal offenders and victims

• US 5,731,757 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Taiwan Limited (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Pro Tech Monitoring Incorporated (Allied Universal Manager LLC)
• Inventors: Layson, Hoyt M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/699,619
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/539, 340/693, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 342/357, 364/449.6, 379/38
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A portable locator or tracking apparatus is provided for continuous location determination of subjects which communicates with a body-worn, non-removable, tamper resistant transceiver and a central data-base system. The portable tracking apparatus has a Global Position System (GPS) receiver and inertial sensors for determining location, microprocessors for logic and mathematical algorithm processing, memory for programs and data, a wireless transceiver for communications with the body-worn device, a wireless transceiver for communicating with the central data-base system, an alpha-numeric display for displaying text messages sent to the subject acoustic speaker and microphone for voice and tone messages with subjects, electronic tamper sensors, motion sensors, attitude position sensor, batteries and external connectors for power, recharge, communications and auxiliary antennas.

Claims

1. A portable tracking apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the portable tracking apparatus responsive to a message from the wireless communication system for determining its own spatial coordinates and conveying the spatial coordinates to a central data-base, the portable tracking apparatus adapted to communicate with a body-worn device, the portable tracking apparatus comprising

a housing having a top and bottom cover, the housing enclosing

(a) a means to detect tampering with the portable tracking apparatus and the body-worn device,

(b) a location means for determining the spatial coordinates of the portable tracking apparatus,

(c) a memory card and a processor for use with an algorithm to compare the current location of the portable tracking apparatus with a schedule of rules and location constraints stored in the memory card,

(d) a means to communicate with the central data-base and the body-worn device,

(e) a means to communicate with a person wearing the body-worn device, and

(f) a means for determining movement of the portable tracking apparatus.

2. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to detect tapering with the portable tracking apparatus are tamper resistant screws in a top cover having conductive threads that send a signal to the central data-base when the tamper resistant screws are moved.

3. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to detect tampering with the body-worn device is a wireless signal from the body-worn device if a cover is removed or a strap is cut on the body-worn device.

4. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the location means for determining the spatial coordinates of the portable tracking apparatus is an internal GPS antenna.

5. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to communicate with the central data-base is a wireless transceiver.

6. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to communicate with the central data-base is a land line.

7. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to communicate with the body-worn device is a tone activated by a wireless signal.

8. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means to communicate with the body-worn device is a voice message activated by a wireless signal.

9. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for determining movement of the portable tracking apparatus is a three degree of freedom motion detector.

10. A portable tracking apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the portable tracking apparatus responsive to a message from the wireless communication system for determining its own spatial coordinates and conveying the spatial coordinates to a central data-base, the portable tracking apparatus adapted to communicate with a body-worn device, the portable tracking apparatus comprising

(a) a housing having a top and bottom cover and four side walls, the top cover containing a message display and subject response switches, the bottom cover containing a battery pack and a connector panel for mating with a recharging stand, the top cover and bottom cover being affixed to the housing side walls by tamper resistant screws;

(b) a memory card and a processor mounted within the housing for use with an algorithm to compare the current location of the portable tracking apparatus with a schedule of rules and location constraints stored in the memory card;

(c) a means mounted within the housing to communicate with the central data-base and the body worn device; and

(d) a motion detector mounted within the housing for determining movement of the portable tracking apparatus.

11. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein side walls of the housing contain grooves to mate with tangs on a top surface of the recharging stand.

12. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a connector panel in the recharging stand contains an interface for external connections to the portable tracking apparatus.

13. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the tamper resistant screws are electrically connected to the memory card and processor.

14. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein wireless means convey signals between the body-worn device and the portable tracking apparatus.

15. A portable tracking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the algorithm provides for a preset distance allowable between the body-worn device and the portable tracking apparatus.

16. A method for use with a wireless communication system to determine by spatial coordinates the location of a portable tracking apparatus adapted to communicate with a subject'"'"'s body-worn device and a central data-base, the method comprising

(a) providing the portable tracking device with a means to communicate with a global positioning system satellite constellation to determine its position,

(b) the portable tracking device sending signals to the central data-base to confirm the position of the portable tracking device,

(c) the portable tracking device sending and receiving wireless signals to and from the body-worn device,

(d) the portable tracking device sending an alarm to the central data-base if a subject tampers with the portable tracking device or body-worn device,

(e) the portable tracking device receiving communications from the central data-base to download updated schedule rules and location constraints on the subject,

(f) the portable tracking device providing a warning to the subject if the subject deviates from a programmed area of travel, and

(g) the central data-base providing warnings to a subject victim if a subject offender violates a zone of protection.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the body-worn device sends a panic signal to the central data-base through the portable tracking device if the subject presses a panic button on the body-worn device.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the central data-base builds reports on the subject based on signals from the portable tracking apparatus.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the warning to the subject is a digitized voice message emanating from the portable tracking apparatus.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the warning to the subject is an audio tone message emanating from the portable tracking apparatus.