Advanced house arrest tracker system

• US 7,119,695 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Attenti Electronic Monitoring Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pro Tech Monitoring Incorporated (Allied Universal Manager LLC)
• Inventors: Defant, John C., Segal, David S., Posavec, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US10/989,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/825.49, 340/539.13, 340/539.31, 340/539, 379/37, 379/38, 379/39
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

A docking station is located in an offender'"'"'s home. It is connected to a transformer, and a wireless modem. The docking station includes a processor board containing a microprocessor which receives the offender'"'"'s home schedule from a central monitoring station via a cellular network and communicates with a miniature tracking device positioned in the docking station when the offender is at home and on the belt of an offender when he is away from home. The miniature tracking device receiving GPS signals. A tamper resistant bracelet transmitter permanently positioned on the offender'"'"'s ankle communicates by wireless transmission to the tracking device.

Claims

1. A house arrest tracking system comprising:

a docking station located in an offender'"'"'s home, the docking station connected to a wireless modem connected via a cellular network to a central monitoring station, the docking station containing a processor board and the wireless modem, the processor board containing a microprocessor with flash and random access memory and a contact for direct connection with a miniature tracking device;

an offender'"'"'s home schedule loaded into the docking station microprocessor from the central monitoring station via the wireless modem;

the miniature tracking device positioned within the docking station when the offender is at home and positioned with the offender when the offender is out of his home;

a tamper resistant bracelet transmitter permanently positioned on the offender and communicating directly to the miniature tracking device; and

the miniature tracking device receiving GPS signals.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the miniature tracking device is positioned on the belt of the offender when outside his home.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the tamper resistant bracelet is positioned on the ankle of the offender.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the miniature tracking device contains a battery providing power when the miniature tracking device is not connected to the docking station.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the miniature tracking device battery is recharged when connected to the docking station.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the miniature tracking device contains three circuit boards.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the circuit boards are a processor/GPS board, a bracelet receiver board and a docking board.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the miniature tracking device is enclosed within a sealed housing.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the docking station contains a backup battery that activates when electric power to the docking station is interrupted.

10. An apparatus for determining if an offender is violating a house arrest curfew comprising:

a docking station located in an offender'"'"'s home containing a processor board including a microprocessor with flash and random access memory and means for communication with a miniature tracking device, the docking station further containing a wireless modem for contacting a central monitoring station via a cellular network, the docking station microprocessor loaded with a home schedule of the offender received from the central monitoring station via the cellular network;

a tamper resistant bracelet transmitter permanently positioned on the offender and in communication by wireless transmission to the miniature tracking device;

the miniature tracking device located in the docking station when the offender is at home and located with the offender when the offender is out of the home; and

the miniature tracking device containing means for receiving a GPS signal to determine the position of the offender when the offender is out of the home.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the docking station contains a back up battery which activates upon interruption of the standard home electric circuit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the miniature tracking device contains a battery providing power when the miniature tracking device is not connected to the docking station.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the miniature tracking device contains multiple circuit boards.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the multiple circuit boards comprise a processor/GPS board, a bracelet receiver board and a docking board.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the docking station is connected to a transformer for connecting a 120 volt circuit to a 5 volt circuit.