Security and tracking system

• US 6,889,135 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C2 Global Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C2 Global Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Cornelius, Thomas E., Curatolo, Benedict S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bijon, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/348,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/300, 701/200, 342/357.09, 342/357.07, 342/357.01, 342/457, 342/196, 840/572.1, 840/572.8, 840/573.1, 840/988, 840/989, 840/990, 343/313, 343/846, 455/511, 455/422, 455/419, 174/35.R, 298/56, 717/300
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A security and tracking apparatus includes at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, each signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of the signaling unit; and, a transmitter for transmitting the location of the signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, includes providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, the second signaling unit in communicating proximity with said first signaling unit, each signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of the signaling unit and a transmitter for transmitting the location of the signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and activating the signaling units to transmit the location of the signaling units.

Claims

1. A security and tracking apparatus comprising at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the second signaling unit is in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, each respective said signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit;

and, a transmitter for transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance.

2. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is automatically activated when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance.

3. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, including a receiver for receiving an initiating signal for activating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units.

4. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, including a microcontroller for initiating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units by at least one of the signaling units.

5. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signaling units is adapted to be hidden.

6. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver for identifying the location of the signaling units includes an antenna for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system or with low earth orbit satellites.

7. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter for identifying the location of the signaling units includes a transceiver for communicating with a cellular network.

8. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signaling units is in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity.

9. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one said signaling unit is small enough to be able to be hidden in a wearable article.

10. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one said signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of an article of clothing, a shoe, a watch, a wristband, a bracelet, an identification card, an article of jewelry, a hair accessory, eyeglasses, and an animal collar.

11. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one said signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a molded article, an extruded article, and a sewn article.

12. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a credit card, a wallet, a checkbook, a purse, a cellular phone, a pager, a motor vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, a television, a radio, a stereo, a tape player, a compact disc player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, a VCR, a camera, a movie camera, a computer, a printer, a laptop or notebook computer, a PDA or PocketPC, a briefcase, a suitcase, a backpack, a weapon, an article of clothing, an article of jewelry, and an article of artwork.

13. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one said signaling unit is capable of secondary operations, optionally including at least one of receiving or transmitting video signals or audio signals, disabling a firearm, or disabling a motor vehicle.

14. A security and tracking system comprising

at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the second signaling unit is in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, each respective said signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit;

and, a transmitter for transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance; and

a monitoring station capable of receiving information identifying the location of said signaling units.

15. The security and tracking system of claim 14 wherein the monitoring station comprises a computer.

16. The security and tracking system of claim 14, wherein said monitoring station includes a transmitter for transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

17. The security and tracking system of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is adapted for communication selected from the group consisting of at least one of radio, wireless, cellular, Internet, telephonic, television, or satellite.

18. The security and tracking system of claim 16, wherein the location of the remote receiver is one of a law enforcement agency facility, a law enforcement vehicle, an emergency response vehicle, and an emergency care facility.

19. The security and tracking system of claim 14 wherein the monitoring station comprises a cellular phone, a PDA or PocketPC, a computer, or a combination thereof.

20. The security and tracking system of claim 14, wherein the receiver for identifying the location of the signaling units includes an antenna for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

21. The security and tracking system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter for identifying the location of the signaling units includes a transceiver for communicating with a cellular network.

22. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, comprising:

(a) providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein said second signaling unit is in communicating proximity with said first signaling unit, each said respective signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit and a transmitter for transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and

(b) activating the signaling units to transmit the location of the signaling units.

23. The method of claim 22, including automatically activating the transmission of the location of the signaling units when said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance.

24. The method of claim 22, including initiating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units upon receiving instructions from a remote source.

25. The method of claim 22, including signaling the units from a monitoring station to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units.

26. The method of claim 22, including activating at least one of the signaling units to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling unit.

27. The method of claim 22, including receiving the location of the signaling units from the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

28. The method of claim 22, including operating at least one of the signaling units in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity.

29. The method of claim 22, including continuously transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units.

30. The method of claim 22, including intermittently transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units.

31. The method of claim 22, including transmitting in an encrypted form the information identifying the location of the signaling units.

32. The method of claim 22, including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station.

33. The method of claim 32, including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

34. The method of claim 33, including transmitting additional information from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

35. The method of claim 34, including transmitting the description of the person, the animal, or the object from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

36. The method of claim 33, including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using communication selected from the group consisting of radio, the internet, a telephone network, a cellular network, television, and satellite.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one signaling unit is small, and wherein providing said signaling unit includes hiding said small unit in a wearable article.

38. A method of locating a person, animal or object comprising:

a) providing an apparatus adapted to be in contact or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal or the object, the apparatus comprising at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the second signaling unit is in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, each said respective signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit; and

, a transmitter for transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance;

b) communicating between each said respective signaling unit to determine whether said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance; and

c) upon determining that said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance, transmitting the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station, optionally activating said signaling unit that may be in a passive mode to transmit its location to the monitoring station.

39. The method of claim 38 including transmitting the location of the signaling units, and optionally, additional information, to a remote receiver.

40. The method of claim 38 including communicating between each signaling unit at least periodically.

41. The method of claim 38 including communicating between each signaling unit continuously.

42. The method of claim 38 including communicating between each signaling unit upon demand from the monitoring station.

43. The method of claim 38 including transmitting the location of the signaling units upon demand from the person.

44. The method of claim 38 including logging the location of the signaling units in a database associated with the identification and optionally other information associated with the person, the animal or the object.

45. The method of claim 38 including identifying the location of said respective signaling unit using a GPS receiver.

46. The method of claim 38 including transmitting the location of said signaling units using a cellular transceiver.

47. The method of claim 38 including monitoring a physical function for transmitting a signal associated with an emergency condition.

48. The method of claim 38 including transmitting the location of said signaling unit to respective the monitoring station upon loss of communication with the other signaling unit.

49. A method of locating a person, animal or object comprising:

a) providing an apparatus adapted to be in contact or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal or the object, the apparatus comprising at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the second signaling unit in proximity with the first signaling unit, each respective said signaling unit having a receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit; and

, a transmitter for transmitting respective the location of said signaling unit;

b) transmitting the location of each of the signaling units to a monitoring station;

c) calculating whether said signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance; and

d) upon calculating that said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance, initiating at least frequent or continuous transmission of location from each of said signaling units, optionally activating said signaling unit that may be in a passive mode to transmit its location to the monitoring station.

50. The method of claim 49 including transmitting the location of the signaling units, and optionally, additional information, to a remote receiver.

51. The method of claim 49 including transmitting the location of each of the signaling units to the monitoring station upon demand from the monitoring station.

52. The method of claim 49 including transmitting the location of the signaling units upon demand from the person.

53. The method of claim 49 including transmitting the location of at least one said signaling unit to the monitoring station upon demand from the monitoring station upon loss of transmission from the other signaling unit.

54. The method of claim 49 including logging the location of the signaling units in a database associated with the identification and optionally other information associated with the person, the animal or the object.

55. The method of claim 49 including identifying the location of said signaling units using a GPS receiver.

56. The method of claim 49 including transmitting the location of said signaling units using a cellular transceiver.

57. The method of claim 49 including monitoring a physical function for transmitting a signal associated with an emergency condition.

58. The method of claim 49 wherein said calculating is processed by at least one said signaling unit.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein said calculating is processed by the monitoring station.

60. A security and tracking apparatus for a person, an animal or an object comprising at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit adapted to be hidden in contact or in close proximity to the person, the animal or the object, wherein the second signaling unit is in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, each respective said signaling unit having a GPS receiver for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit;

and, a cellular transceiver for transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance.

61. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60 wherein each respective said signaling unit is adapted to activate its cellular transceiver to transmit the location of said respective signaling unit to a monitoring station under at least one of the following conditions:

a) automatically when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance,

b) upon demand from the monitoring station,

c) upon demand from the person,

d) upon loss or absence of communication from the other signaling unit, or

e) upon preselected intervals;

wherein the monitoring station optionally comprises a cellular phone, a PDA or PocketPC, a computer, or a combination thereof.

62. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein each respective said signaling unit has a low power RF transceiver for communication with the other signaling unit.

63. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one said signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of an article of clothing, a shoe, a watch, a wristband, a bracelet, an identification card, an article of jewelry, a hair accessory, eyeglasses, and an animal collar.

64. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a credit card, a wallet, a checkbook, a purse, a cellular phone, a pager, a motor vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, a television, a radio, a stereo, a tape player, a compact disc player, a DVD player, an MP3 player, a VCR, a camera, a movie camera, a computer, a printer, a laptop or notebook computer, a PDA or PocketPC, a briefcase, a suitcase, a backpack, a weapon, an article of clothing, an article of jewelry, and an article of artwork.

65. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into a watch.

66. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into a cellular phone.

67. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into a pager.

68. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit additionally comprises a monitoring station adapted to generate a signal to notify the person of the other signaling unit being separated by more than a preselected distance.

69. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one signaling unit additionally is adapted to monitor and report at least one physical condition of the person.

70. The security and tracking apparatus of claim 60, wherein said signaling units are powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of rechargeable battery, replaceable battery, solar cell, kinetic power device, or combinations thereof.