Asset location tracking system

• US 7,102,510 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PROCON Incorporated (RCM Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PROCON Incorporated (RCM Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bishop, Ron, Boling, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/858,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/990, 340/991, 340/425.5, 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/539.2, 340/686.1, 340/825.69, 340/825.49, 455/456.1, 455/457, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

The invention provides an asset location tracking system for tracking the position of a mobile asset, such as an automobile, boat or airplane. The tracking system includes a mobile unit for installation in the mobile asset. The mobile unit includes a position locating unit, such as a GPS unit, for generating position information indicative of the position of the mobile asset, and a wireless transmitter, such as a cellular transmitter, for wirelessly transmitting the position information. The tracking system also includes a central processing system that includes a wireless receiver, such as a cellular receiver, for receiving the position information transmitted by the wireless transmitter. The central processing system also includes a processor for operating on the position information to format it to be accessible at a network address on a global communication network such as the Internet. The tracking system includes a customer computer that can access to the network address on the global communication network to display the position information. In preferred embodiments, the position information is displayed as a graphical indicator, such as a “push pin,” on a map or aerial photograph displayed a webpage accessed by the customer computer.

Claims

1. An asset location tracking system for tracking the position of a mobile asset via a global communication network, the system comprising:

an aerial image database accessible via the global communication network;

a mobile unit collocated with the mobile asset, the mobile unit comprising;

a first wireless receiver for receiving at least an activation signal;

a position locating unit for generating position information indicative of the position of the mobile unit;

a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) modulator for generating DTMF tones based at least in part on the position information; and

a first wireless transmitter for transmitting the DTMF tones;

a central processing system in communication with the global communication network, the central processing system comprising;

a second wireless transmitter for transmitting at least the activation signal;

a second wireless receiver for receiving the DTMF tones transmitted by the first wireless transmitter; and

a processor for operating on the DTMF tones to extract the position information and for formatting the position information to be accessible via the global communication network,

the central processing system for accessing the aerial image database over the global communication network to generate an aerial image of terrain corresponding to the location of the mobile unit, and for generating a position indicator on the aerial image corresponding to the position of the mobile unit based on the position information; and

a customer computer in communication with the global communication network for accessing the aerial image and the position indicator via the global communication network.

2. An asset location tracking system for tracking the position of a mobile asset via a global communication network, the system comprising:

a mobile unit collocated with the mobile asset, the mobile unit comprising;

a first wireless receiver for receiving at least an activation signal;

a position locating unit for generating position information indicative of the position of the mobile unit;

a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) modulator for generating DTMF tones based at least in part on the position information; and

a first wireless transmitter for transmitting the DTMF tones;

a customer database for storing customer information regarding a customer associated with the mobile unit, the customer information including a list of one or more mobile units associated with the customer;

a central processing system in communication with the global communication network, the central processing system comprising;

a second wireless transmitter for transmitting at least the activation signal;

a second wireless receiver for receiving the DTMF tones transmitted by the first wireless transmitter; and

a processor for operating on the DTMF tones to extract the position information and for formatting the position information to be accessible via the global communication network,

the central processing system for generating a graphical representation of the list of one or more mobile units associated with the customer;

a customer computer in communication with the global communication network, the customer computer for accessing the graphical representation of the list of one or more mobile units via the global communication network and for selecting one or more of the mobile units from the list based on input from the customer; and

the second wireless transmitter for transmitting the activation signal to the one or more mobile units selected from the list.

3. A computer based method for tracking a location of a mobile asset, the method comprising:

(a) providing an asset tracking webpage accessible via a global communication network;

(b) accessing the asset tracking webpage using a customer computer in communication with the global communication network;

(c) displaying on the asset tracking webpage a list of one or more mobile units associated with a customer;

(d) selecting from the list a mobile unit to track;

(e) transmitting a wireless activation signal to the mobile unit;

(f) receiving the wireless activation signal at the mobile unit;

(g) generating first position information at the mobile unit upon receipt of the wireless activation signal;

(h) wirelessly transmitting the first position information from the mobile unit;

(i) receiving the first position information;

(j) accessing a map of an area that includes the location indicated by the first position information;

(k) generating a position indicator corresponding to the location indicated by the first position information;

(l) associating the position indicator with the map to form an annotated map;

(m) accessing the annotated map on the tracking webpage via the global communication network using the customer computer; and

(n) displaying the annotated map at the customer computer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

(o) entering second position information at the customer computer indicating a second location;

(p) based on the first position information and the second position information, determining a route from the position of the mobile asset to the second location; and

(q) displaying the route on the annotated map at the customer computer.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

(o) accessing an overhead photograph of an area that includes the location indicated by the first position information;

(p) associating the position indicator with the overhead photograph to form an annotated photograph;

(q) accessing the annotated photograph on the tracking webpage via the global communication network using the customer computer; and

(r) displaying the annotated photograph at the customer computer.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising displaying a graphic at the customer computer indicating progress of performance of one or more of steps (e)–

(i).

7. The method of claim 3 further comprising removing a mobile asset from the list using the customer computer in communication with the asset tracking webpage.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising adding a mobile asset to the list using the customer computer in communication with the asset tracking webpage.

9. The method of claim 3 further comprising modifying information associated with one or more mobile assets on the list using the customer computer in communication with the asset tracking webpage.

10. An asset location tracking system for tracking the position of a mobile asset via a global communication network, the system comprising:

a mobile unit collocated with the mobile asset, the mobile unit comprising;

a first wireless receiver for receiving at least an activation signal;

a position locating unit for generating position information indicative of the position of the mobile unit;

a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) modulator for generating DTMF tones based at least in part on the position information;

a first wireless transmitter for transmitting the DTMF tones;

a power connector for connecting to a power source associated with the mobile asset, whereby the mobile unit receives power from the power source associated with the mobile asset via the power connector and whereby the mobile unit may be easily relocated from one mobile asset to another mobile asset; and

a central processing system in communication with the global communication network, the central processing system comprising;

a second wireless transmitter for transmitting at least the activation signal;

a second wireless receiver for receiving the DTMF tones transmitted by the first wireless transmitter; and

a processor for operating on the DTMF tones to extract the position information and for formatting the position information to be accessible via the global communication network; and

a customer computer in communication with the global communication network for accessing the position information via the global communication network.

11. A computer based method for tracking a location of a mobile asset, the method comprising:

(a) providing an asset tracking webpage accessible via a global communication network;

(b) accessing the asset tracking webpage using a customer computer in communication with the global communication network;

(c) selecting a mobile unit to track using the customer computer and the asset tracking webpage;

(d) transmitting a wireless activation signal to the mobile unit;

(e) receiving the wireless activation signal at the mobile unit;

(f) generating position information at the mobile unit upon receipt of the wireless activation signal;

(g) wirelessly transmitting the position information from the mobile unit;

(h) receiving the position information;

(i) accessing an overhead photograph of an area that includes the location indicated by the position information;

(i) associating the position indicator with the overhead photograph to form an annotated photograph;

(k) accessing the annotated photograph on the tracking webpage via the global communication network using the customer computer; and

(l) displaying the annotated photograph at the customer computer.

12. A computer based method for viewing information regarding a mobile asset from an asset tracking webpage that is accessible via a global communication network, the method comprising:

(a) accessing the asset tracking webpage using a customer computer in communication with the global communication network;

(b) displaying on the asset tracking webpage a list of one or more mobile units associated with a customer;

(c) selecting a mobile unit to track from the list;

(d) issuing a tracking request to determine a location of the selected mobile unit;

(e) viewing a map on the customer computer depicting the location of the selected mobile unit; and

(f) requesting driving directions from the location of the selected mobile unit to a different location.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising modifying information about one or more mobile units listed in the list of mobile units associated wit the customer using the customer computer in communication with the global communication network.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising adding or removing one or more mobile units from the list of mobile units associated with the customer using the customer computer in communication with the global communication network.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising purchasing roadside assistance services for a mobile asset associated with a mobile unit listed in the list of mobile units using the customer computer in communication with the global communication network.