Location monitoring and transmitting device, method, and computer program product using a simplex satellite transmitter

• US 7,099,770 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globalstar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axonn LLC (Globalstar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tanner, Ronnie, Schamber, Stephen, Quillin, Scott, Naden, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/656,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/117, 701/33, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.17, 342/357.16, 340/539.13, 340/539.22, 340/539.3
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A device, method, and computer program product for monitoring and transmitting a location and a local status of a remote device using a simplex satellite transmitter. The monitoring device includes a position location unit, a simplex satellite transmitter, a power source, and a controller. The position location unit is configured to determine a location of the remote device. The simplex satellite transmitter is configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit. The controller includes a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter.

Claims

1. A monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status of mobile assets, comprising:

a position location unit configured to determine a location of a remote device;

a simplex satellite transmitter configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit;

a power source; and

a controller including a motion detection unit configured to detect a change of state of motion; and

a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the position location unit and the simplex satellite transmitter, wherein

the power management unit is further configured to disable power and then enable power on an interval schedule, in which intervals between disabling and enabling power are randomly adjusted to vary the interval schedule,

the controller is further configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location on the interval schedule, and

the controller, upon detection of motion state change by the motion detection unit, is configured to enable or disable an alternate interval schedule for transmission of information.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the position location unit comprises a GPS receiver subsystem.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more satellites operate as a bent-pipe relay device.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

an external interface having at least one of a plurality of alarm inputs, a configuration interface configured to receive modifications to configuration parameters, and an external data unit configured to receive external data,

wherein the power management unit is further configured to control a power state of the external interface and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the external interface.

6. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit alarm data.

7. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to enable power to the simplex satellite transmitter and the position location unit, and to control the position location unit to determine the location and the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location and alarm data.

8. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to enable power to the external interface.

9. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs, and upon detection of an alarm input, to enable or disable an alternate interval schedule for transmit of information.

10. The monitoring device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs while in low power inventory mode, and upon detection of an alarm input in low power inventory mode, to transition to run mode to begin service as set by previous configuration.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect modifications to a predetermined set of configuration parameters, and upon detection of modifications to one of the predetermined set of configuration parameters, to modify operation in accordance with the modified configuration parameters.

12. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect external data from an external data unit, and upon detection of external data, to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the external data.

13. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to queue transmissions to the simplex satellite transmitter and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the queued transmissions as a block to reduce on-air traffic.

14. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the simplex satellite transmitter to periodically transmit a health status of the remote device.

15. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location upon detection by the motion detection unit of motion.

16. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit a motion detection message upon a detection by the motion detection unit of a stop of motion followed by a start of motion.

17. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit a motion cease message upon a detection by the motion detection unit of a start of motion followed by a stop of motion.

18. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a securing device for a device enclosure including;

a mounting tab having a surface and a V-cut molded into the surface forming a deflection, and

wherein the mounting tab is molded into the device enclosure such that the removal of the mounting tab is enabled through deflection of the mounting tab.

19. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a low-profile weather-proof enclosure device including;

a base wall;

a lid secured to the base wall; and

a gasket positioned between the base wall and the lid,

wherein the lid includes an overlapping wall which overlaps the base wall and extends below the gasket, and wherein the overlapping wall provides rigidity and a water barrier to the gasket.

20. The monitoring device of claim 19, wherein said low-profile weather-proof enclosure device comprises:

break-away mounting tabs secured to the base wall.

21. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a trigger location, and upon detection of trigger location, to enable or disable an alternate interval schedule for transmit of information.

22. A method for monitoring a remote status of mobile assets, comprising:

a) determining a location of a remote device;

b) transmitting the location using a simplex satellite transmitter to one or more satellites in low earth orbit;

c) receiving at least one of a plurality of alarm inputs, configuration parameters, and external data from an external data unit;

d) managing power to perform steps a)–

c) periodically on an interval schedule to reduce power consumption, wherein the managing step comprises;

managing power to perform steps a)–

c) periodically on an interval schedule to reduce power consumption, in which intervals between disabling and enabling power are randomly adjusted to vary the interval schedule; and

detecting a change of state of motion, and upon detection of motion state change, enabling or disabling an alternate interval schedule for the transmission of information.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

e) transmitting the alarm data using the simplex satellite transmitter to one or more satellites in low earth orbit upon receiving at least one of the plurality of alarm inputs.

24. A computer program product configured to store plural computer program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps recited in any one of claims 22 and 23.