Article tracking device

• US 6,509,867 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calamp Wireless Networks Inc. (CalAmp Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sapias, Inc. (Wireless Matrix Corporation)
• Inventors: McGibney, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/668,984
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 340/568.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 455/575, 455/456, 455/457
• US Class Current: 342/357.46
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network

Abstract

An improved article tracking and locating system comprising a global positioning satellite receiver built into a peripheral component interconnect board, together with means for transmitting analog and digital signals over the cellular control channel to a central location where the desired information can be made available immediately over the Internet to appropriate persons.

Claims

1. An article tracking and locating device comprising:

a substrate;

a global positioning system receiver mounted on the substrate, the receiver for receiving first signals enabling the receiver to determine a position of the device;

a transmitter mounted on the substrate, the transmitter for transmitting second signals indicating the position of the device; and

a power interface mounted on the substrate and adapted to receive power from a plurality of power sources.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

means at a central location for receiving the second signals from the transmitter; and

means at the central location for providing information derived from the second signals over an Internet web interface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the information is provided on the Internet in a secure manner.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a battery recharged by solar power.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more antennas mounted on the substrate for receiving the first signals and sending the second signals.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a rechargeable battery.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a peripheral component interconnect board.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the interconnect board is adapted to be inserted in an expansion slot of a computer system.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is attached to an article worn by an individual to be tracked.

10. A device for tracking and locating a computer system, the device comprising:

a peripheral board adapted to be inserted in an expansion slot of the computer system, the peripheral board comprising;

a global positioning system receiver for receiving first signals enabling the receiver to determine a position of the device;

a transmitter for transmitting second signals indicating the position of the device; and

a power interface adapted to simultaneously receive power from a plurality of power sources.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

means at a central location for receiving the second signals from the transmitter; and

means at the central location for providing information derived from the second signals over an Internet web interface.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the information is provided on the Internet in a secure manner.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a battery recharged by solar power.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a rechargeable battery.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the peripheral board further comprises one or more antennas for receiving the first signals and sending the second signals.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the computer system is a rack-mounted computer system.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the computer system is a desktop computer system.