Durable global asset-tracking device and a method of using the same

• US 7,072,668 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geospatial Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geospatial Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Chou, Y. Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/152,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/419, 455/435.3, 4554561-4565, 455/456.6, 455/461, 340/572.1, 340/373.4, 342/357.07, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/017 Detecting state or type of motion

Abstract

A communication system for tracking an asset globally accesses multiple communication networks and switches among them, choosing the most economic, available communication mode without need for a constant power supply. An integrated motion sensor uses a combination of GPS updating and dynamic movement calculation to obtain the most reliable position estimation. Current location is identified within a small radius at all times. While taking advantage of the GPS system to obtain accurate location information, direct exposure to GPS satellites is not required at all times. The system obtains position information from GPS satellites whenever valid GPS signals are available, and provides its own location tracking capability when GPS signals are not accessible. The position accuracy of the device is preferably within a 20-meter radius from the exact location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for globally tracking assets from a central tracking facility comprising:

a processor module;

a location module coupled to the processor module, the location module for providing a position accuracy at all times within an approximately 20 meter radius of an actual location of the apparatus;

a communication module coupled to the processor module, the communication module for selecting the most cost-effective, available mode of communication to the central tracking facility; and

an antenna module coupled to the processor module and to the communication module, the antenna module comprising a plurality of antennas including a GPS antenna, at least one antenna for low frequency RF, at least one antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and at least one antenna for satellite communications, each of the antennas for sending and receiving signals and an antenna controller for continuously checking for validity of signals from each of the plurality of antennas to determine availability of communications therethrough, the antenna for low frequency RF being adiustable for different frequencies of communication to maximize communication through a specific channel, the antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks including commercial cellular networks or digital wireless networks, where exchange of information received from the GPS antenna and wireless communications through the antenna for low frequency RF, antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and antenna for satellite communications occurs in the processor module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power module for providing a durable source of power to the apparatus, the power module being coupled to the processor module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the power module provides unassisted power to the apparatus for at least one year'"'"'s operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein when the power module minimizes power consumption within the apparatus whenever the apparatus is not moving as determined by the location module.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 where the power module comprises an external wakeup unit, a high energy-density battery, and a self-recharging unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 where the external wake-up unit further comprises a data receive sensor responsive to commands from the central facility to power up the apparatus on command therefrom.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 where self-recharging unit comprises an external recharging source, an internal recharging source, and a solar recharging source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the apparatus is active, the communication module continuously transfers information pertaining to the most cost-effective, available mode of communication to the processor module.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a GPS circuit of the location module comprises a GPS engine board for processing GPS data, and where the dynamic motion sensor comprises a three-dimensional gyro and a speed computation processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 where the three-dimensional gyro determines motion of the apparatus in three dimensions, and where the speed computation processor estimates acceleration or deceleration of the apparatus at all times.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for initialization a location of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 where the means for initialization a location of the apparatus comprises a GPS circuit within the location module.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 where the means for initialization a location of the apparatus comprises a data entry device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 where the means for initialization a location of the apparatus comprises a device for manual entry of latitude and longitude of the apparatus at the time of initialization.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 where the location module alters initial location determined by the means for initialization a location according to direction and displacement sensed by the location module of the apparatus since its initialization to generate an estimated location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 where the location module corrects the estimated location whenever a valid GPS signal for the apparatus can be determined by the location module.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 where the location module corrects the estimated location whenever a valid RF location signal for the apparatus can be determined by the location module.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 where the communication module comprises an RF transceiver, a multi-band radio modem for cellular or digital communications, and a dedicated modem for satellite communications, the antenna controller for coordinating and controlling the communications through the RF transceiver, multi-band radio modem, and dedicated modem to evaluate validity of communications therethrough, to determine the most cost-effective mode of communication available at each given time and to switch communication to the determined most cost-effective mode of communication.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 where the antenna controller preassigns a priority to each mode of communication.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 where the priority assigned by the antenna controller is highest for RF communications, then cellular communications, and lowest for satellite communications.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 where the priority assigned by the antenna controller to cellular communications is assigned to a plurality of cellular networks, each having a corresponding frequency range, protocol and assigned priority level.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 where the central facility transmits through the communications module a corresponding frequency range, protocol and assigned priority level for each of the plurality of cellular networks to the apparatus.

23. A method for globally tracking an asset from a central tracking facility comprising the steps of:

providing a position accuracy at all times within approximately 20 meter radius of an actual location of the asset;

selecting the most cost-effective, available mode of communication to the central tracking facility;

sending and receiving signals among a plurality of communications modes and corresponding plurality of communication protocols;

selecting the most cost-effective, available mode of communication through a plurality of corresponding antennas including a GPS antenna, at least one antenna for low frequency RF, at least one antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks including commercial cellular networks or digital wireless networks, and at least one antenna for satellite communications, and

continuously checking for validity of signals from each of the plurality of antennas to determine availability of communications therethrough;

adjusting the antenna for low frequency RF for different frequencies of communication to maximize communication through a specific channel; and

exchanging of information in a processor module received from the GPS antenna and wireless communications through the antenna for low frequency RF, the antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and the antenna for satellite communications occurs.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a durable source of power to the asset.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of providing unassisted power to the asset for at least one year'"'"'s operation.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising minimizing power consumption within the asset whenever the asset is not moving.

27. The method of claim 24 where providing a durable source of power to the asset comprises providing an external wake-up unit, a high energy-density battery, and a self-recharging unit.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of externally activating all functions with the asset in response to commands received by the asset from the central facility.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of recharging the battery by means of an external recharging source, an internal recharging source, and a solar recharging source.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of local dynamic motion sensing comprises the steps of using three-dimensional gyroscopic direction sensing in combination with acceleration and deceleration sensing to compute the dead-reckoning position when the GPS data is not available.

31. The method of claim 30 where the steps of using three-dimensional gyroscopic direction sensing in combination with acceleration and deceleration sensing to compute the dead-reckoning position is performed at all times.

32. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of initialization a location of the asset.

33. The method of claim 32 where the step of initialization a location of the asset comprises the step of using GPS signals and GPS processing.

34. The method of claim 32 where the step of initialization a location of the asset comprises the step of inputting the location through a data entry device.

35. The method of claim 32 where the step of initialization a location of the asset comprises the step of manually entering the latitude and longitude of the asset at the time of initialization.

36. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of altering the initial location according to a sensed direction and displacement of the asset since its initialization to generate an estimated location.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of correcting the estimated location whenever a valid GPS signal for the asset can be determined.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of correcting the estimated location whenever a valid RF location signal for the asset can be determined.

39. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of preassigning a priority to each mode of communication by means of a control circuit.

40. The method of claim 39 where the step of preassigning a priority to each mode of communication assigns the highest priority for RF communications, then cellular communications, and the lowest priority for satellite communications.

41. The method of claim 40 where the step of preassigning a priority to cellular communications assigns priority to a plurality of cellular networks, each having a corresponding frequency range, protocol and assigned priority level.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of the central facility transmitting a corresponding frequency range, protocol and assigned priority level for each of the plurality of cellular networks to the asset.

43. A system for globally tracking assets comprising:

a processor module;

a location module coupled to the processor module, the location module comprising a sensor to detect movement of the system;

a communication module coupled to the processor module and adapted for communication with a remote tracking facility;

an antenna module coupled to the processor module adapted for sending and receiving signals among a plurality of antennas and corresponding plurality of communication protocols, the antenna module coupled to the processor module and to the communication module, the antenna module comprising a plurality of antennas including a GPS antenna, at least one antenna for low frequency RF, at least one antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and at least one antenna for satellite communications, each of the antennas for sending and receiving signals and an antenna controller for continuously checking for validity of signals from each of the plurality of antennas to determine availability of communications therethrough, the antenna for low frequency RF being adjustable for different frequencies of communication to maximize communication through a specific channel, the antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks including commercial cellular networks or digital wireless networks, where exchange of information received from the GPS antenna and wireless communications through the antenna for low frequency RF, antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and antenna for satellite communications occurs in the processor module; and

a power module coupled to the processor module, the power module being adapted to switch between a sleep mode when the sensor does not detect movement and a wakeup mode when the sensor detects movement.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the power module provides unassisted power to the system for at least one year'"'"'s operation.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the communication module is adapted for selecting the most cost-effective, available mode of communication with the remote tracking facility.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the communication module selects from an RF mode, a cellular mode and a satellite mode.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the communication module assigns a priority to each mode, the priority being highest for the RF mode, the priority being second highest for the cellular mode, and the priority being lowest for the satellite mode.

48. A system for globally tracking assets comprising:

a processor module;

a location module coupled to the processor module;

a communication module coupled to the processor module and adapted for communication to a remote tracking facility;

a plurality of antennas including a GPS antenna, at least one antenna for low frequency RF, at least one antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and at least one antenna for satellite communications, each of the antennas for sending and receiving signals, the antenna for low frequency RF being adjustable for different frequencies of communication to maximize communication through a specific channel, the antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks including commercial cellular networks or digital wireless networks, where exchange of information received from the GPS antenna and wireless communications through the antenna for low frequency RF, antenna for multi-band terrestrial wireless communication networks, and antenna for satellite communications occurs in the processor module;

an antenna module coupled to the processor module and to the communication module, the antenna module for sending and receiving signals among a the plurality of antennas in a corresponding plurality of communication protocols and comprising an antenna controller for continuously checking for validity of signals from each of the plurality of antennas to determine availability of communications therethrough; and

a power module coupled to the processor module.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the communication protocols comprise a GPS protocol, an RF protocol, a cellular protocol, and a satellite protocol.