Antenna orientation maintaining system in a system for tracking individuals, and method of use

• US 6,337,665 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Business Sciences, Inc. (Sage Analytics International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Business Sciences, Inc. (Sage Analytics International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaukel, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/690,553
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/718, 343/765, 343/882, 343/880, 455/575, 455/90, 455/100
• US Class Current: 343/765
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation

Abstract

Disclosed is a gimbaled antenna system mounting system for maintaining an electromagnetic signal reception means, of an antenna system present in a remote unit in a global positioning system (GPS) based system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individual(s) from a central control station (CCS), in an essentially constant desired orientation with respect to an earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals, when, in use, change occurs in the orientation of a structural frame element of the remote unit to which the antenna system is, via the gimbaled antenna system mounting system, mounted.

Claims

1. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS comprising one or more remote units RU, each said remote unit RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, each said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprising a programmable central processing unit CPU with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit CPU being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit RU position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station CCS via a downlink;

each said remote unit each further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit CPU so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit RU to the central control station CS and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station CCS and providing said data to the central processing unit CPU;

each said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means affixed to a gimbaled stage, said gimbaled stage being affixed to an upper end of an elongated arm which has a counter-weight affixed to a lower end thereof, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite.

2. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit CPU is programmed to initiate an alarm if at least one of the members of the group consisting of:

loss of communication between said body worn element and said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU; and

loss of electromagnetic signal reception by said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

occurs.

3. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 1, wherein communication between said body worn element and said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU in a remote unit RU is by a means selected from the group consisting of:

cable;

fiber optics;

ultrasound; and

electromagnetic transmission.

4. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 1, wherein the body worn element is present on a selection from the group consisting of:

said monitored individual'"'"'s wrist;

said monitored individual'"'"'s ankle.

5. A method of keeping electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system, in a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS, oriented so as to receive signals from an earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS comprising one or more remote units RU, each of said remote units RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, each said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprising a programmable central processing unit CPU with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit CPU being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit RU position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station CCS via a downlink;

said remote units each further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit CPU so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit RU to the central control station CCS and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station CCS and providing said data to the central processing unit CPU;

each said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means affixed to a gimbaled stage, said gimbaled stage being affixed to an upper end of an elongated arm which has a counter-weight affixed to a lower end thereof, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite;

b. while causing said body worn element to communicate its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU, orienting said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means appropriately to receive electromagnetic signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals; and

c. causing said structural frame element to rotate;

such that said counter-weight affixed to the lower end of said elongated arm is continuously attracted by gravity toward the earth with the result that, via rotation of said elongated arm about said pivotal mounting to said structural frame element with respect to said structural frame element, the orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means present on the upper end of said gimbaled stage remains essentially constant while said structural frame element is caused to be so rotated.

6. A method of keeping electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system, in a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS, oriented so as to receive signals from a source of electromagnetic signals as in claim 5, in which the step of orienting said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means appropriately to receive electromagnetic signals from an orbiting earth satellite involves a selection from the group consisting of:

a. continuously maintaining an essentially flat patch antenna system electromagnetic signal reception surface means in a plane which is essentially orthogonal to the vector direction of the force of gravity; and

b. continuously maintaining an elongated dimension projection direction of a whip or helical antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means oriented essentially parallel to the vector direction of the force of gravity or, alternatively stated, along a radius which projects from the center of the earth outward toward the position of an electromagnetic signal transmitting earth orbiting satellite, said radius intersecting the surface of an idealized spherical model of the earth at a ninety degree angle.

7. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS comprising one or more remote units RU, each of said remote units RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a programmable central processing unit CPU and a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite;

each said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means affixed to a gimbaled stage, said gimbaled stage being affixed to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained essentially unchanged, thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite.

8. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 7, wherein said central processing unit CPU is programmed to initiate an alarm if at least one of the members of the group consisting of:

loss of communication between said body worn element and said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU; and

loss of electromagnetic signal reception by said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

occurs.

9. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 7, wherein communication between said body worn element and said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU is by a means selected from the group consisting of:

cable;

fiber optics;

ultrasound; and

electromagnetic transmission.

10. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS as in claim 7, wherein the body worn element is present on a selection from the group consisting of:

said monitored individual'"'"'s wrist;

said monitored individual'"'"'s ankle.

11. A method of keeping electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system, in a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS, oriented so as to receive signals from an earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS comprising one or more remote units RU, each of said remote units RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, and a central processing unit CPU for processing information;

each said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals further comprising at least one gimbal mounted antenna system comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means affixed to a gimbaled stage, said gimbaled stage being affixed to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained essentially unchanged, thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite;

b. while causing said body worn element to communicate its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU, orienting said gimbal mounted antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means appropriately to receive electromagnetic signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals; and

c. causing said structural frame element to rotate;

such that, via operation of said gimbal mounted antenna system, the orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means remains essentially constant.

12. A method of keeping electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system, in a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station CCS, oriented so as to receive signals from a source of electromagnetic signals as in claim 11, in which the step of orienting said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means appropriately to receive electromagnetic signals from an orbiting earth satellite involves a selection from the group consisting of:

a. continuously maintaining an essentially flat patch antenna system electromagnetic signal reception surface means in a plane which is essentially orthogonal to the vector direction of the force of gravity; and

b. continuously maintaining an elongated dimension projection direction of a whip or helical antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means oriented essentially parallel to the vector direction of the force of gravity or, alternatively stated, along a radius which projects from the center of the earth outward toward the position of an electromagnetic signal transmitting earth orbiting satellite, said radius intersecting the surface of an idealized spherical model of the earth at a ninety degree angle.

13. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS comprising a remote unit RU, said remote unit RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprising a programmable central processing unit CPU with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit CPU being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit RU position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station CCS via a downlink;

said remote unit further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit CPU so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit RU to the central control station CCS and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station CCS and providing said data to the central processing unit CPU;

said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means present at an upper end of an elongated arm, which elongated arm has a counter-weight affixed to a lower end thereof, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite.

14. At least one gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS comprising a remote unit RU, said remote unit RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprising a programmable central processing unit CPU with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit CPU being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit RU position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station CCS via a downlink;

said remote unit further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit CPU so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit RU to the central control station CCS and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station CCS and providing said data to the central processing unit CPU;

said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

said at least one gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means present at an upper end of an elongated arm, which elongated arm has a counter-weight affixed to a lower end thereof, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite.

15. At least one gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS as in claim 14, in which there are present at least first and second gimbal mounted antenna systems, each thereof being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means present at one end of an elongated arm, and each said elongated arm having a counter-weight affixed to the other end thereof, said elongated arms being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that when said first end of one of the elongated arms is oriented upward, said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant upward orientation of the antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means associated therewith;

said first gimbal mounted antenna system being mounted to a first of said non-body worn bag housing plurality of sides, and said second gimbal mounted antenna system being mounted to a second of said non-body worn bag housing plurality of sides.

16. At least two antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS;

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station CCS comprising a remote unit RU, said remote unit RU comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system GPS means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprising a programmable central processing unit CPU with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit CPU being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit RU position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station CCS via a downlink;

said remote unit further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit CPU so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit RU to the central control station CCS and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station CCS and providing said data to the central processing unit CPU;

said remote unit RU further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit CPU;

at least two of said at least two antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means being present on different sides of the plurality of sides of said non-body worn bag housing, such that the structural frame element thereof can be rotated about at least one axis with at least one of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means maintaining signal reception contact with at least one earth orbiting satellite;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation about said at least one axis, reception of global positioning system GPS electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite is maintained.