Electronic location monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a monitoring unit operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter in an electronic location monitoring system, the method comprising:
- causing a receiver of the monitoring unit to change a signal reception threshold thereof for receiving signals from the mobile transmitter, in response to proximity of the monitoring unit relative to a reference position whereby said receiver rejects signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength below said signal reception threshold and receives and processes signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength above said signal reception threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating a monitoring unit operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter in an electronic location monitoring system involves causing a first receiver to change a signal reception threshold thereof for receiving signals from the mobile transmitter, in response to proximity of the monitoring unit relative to a reference position whereby the receiver rejects signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength below the signal reception threshold and receives and processes signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength above the signal reception threshold. Alternatively, detection of a first monitoring unit in proximity to a second monitoring unit may cause the second monitoring unit to take over receiving signals from the mobile transmitter while the first monitoring unit is put into a low power mode.
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Citations
114 Claims
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1. A method for operating a monitoring unit operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter in an electronic location monitoring system, the method comprising:
causing a receiver of the monitoring unit to change a signal reception threshold thereof for receiving signals from the mobile transmitter, in response to proximity of the monitoring unit relative to a reference position whereby said receiver rejects signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength below said signal reception threshold and receives and processes signals received from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength above said signal reception threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter in an electronic location monitoring system, the apparatus comprising:
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a proximity signal generator operable to generate a proximity signal in response to proximity of the apparatus relative to a reference position; a receiver operable to receive signals from the mobile transmitter, said receiver having a signal reception threshold responsive to said proximity signal, such that said receiver rejects signals from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength below said signal reception threshold and receives signals from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength above said signal reception threshold; and a processor circuit operable to process signals received by said receiver to produce processed signals, said processor circuit being operable to communicate with a transmitter to cause the transmitter to transmit said processed signals to a monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter in an electronic location monitoring system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating a proximity signal in response to proximity of the apparatus relative to a reference position; means for receiving signals from the mobile transmitter, said means for receiving having a signal reception threshold responsive to said proximity signal, such that signals from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength below said signal reception threshold are rejected and such that signals from the mobile transmitter that have a signal strength above said signal reception threshold are received; and means for processing signals received by said receiver to produce processed signals, said means for processing being operable to communicate with a transmitter to cause the transmitter to transmit said processed signals to a monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method for switching monitoring units in an electronic location monitoring system comprising a mobile transmitter operable to transmit to at least one of first and second monitoring units operable to communicate with a common monitoring station, the method comprising:
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detecting proximity of the first monitoring unit relative to the second monitoring unit; producing a proximity signal in response to detecting proximity of the first monitoring unit relative to the second monitoring unit, for reception by the first monitoring unit to cause the first monitoring unit to enter a receive mode in which processing of signals received from the mobile transmitter by the first monitoring unit is permitted when the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit or a low power mode in which processing of signals received from the mobile transmitter by the first monitoring unit is prevented when the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit; and causing the second monitoring unit to receive and process signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit and causing the second monitoring unit to cease receiving signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus for switching monitoring units in an electronic location monitoring system comprising a mobile transmitter operable to transmit to at least one of first and second monitoring units operable to process signals received from the mobile transmitter and transmit processed signals to a monitoring station, the apparatus comprising:
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a detector operable to produce a proximity signal indicating proximity of the first monitoring unit relative to the second monitoring unit; a first transmitter operable to cause said proximity signal to be communicated to the first monitoring unit such that, when the proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit the first monitoring unit enters a low power mode in which signals are not received from the mobile transmitter by the first monitoring unit and when the proximity signal indicates that the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit the first monitoring unit enters a receive mode in which signals from the mobile transmitter are received and processed by the first monitoring unit; and a second transmitter operable to cause said proximity signal to be transmitted to the second monitoring unit such that in response to the proximity signal the second monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit and ceases receiving signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111)
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75. An apparatus for use in an electronic location monitoring system, the apparatus comprising:
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a first monitoring unit comprising; a first receiver operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter on a person to be monitored, the first receiver having a low power mode in which signals are not received from the mobile transmitter and a receive mode in which signals from the mobile transmitter are received; a processor circuit for processing signals received by said first receiver to produce processed signals; and a transmitter operable to transmit said processed signals to a monitoring station; and a signaling unit comprising; a detector operable to produce a proximity signal indicating proximity of the first monitoring unit relative to a second monitoring unit operable to receive, process and transmit signals to the monitoring station; said first receiver being responsive to said proximity signal such that, when the proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit the first receiver is placed in the low power mode and when the proximity signal indicates that the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit the first receiver enters the receive mode; a proximity signal transmitter operable to cause said proximity signal to be transmitted to the second monitoring unit, whereby in response to the proximity signal the second monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates said first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit and ceases receiving signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates said first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit, whereby said first monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter and the second monitoring unit does not receive and process signals from the mobile transmitter when said first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit and whereby the second monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter and said first monitoring unit does not receive and process signals from the mobile transmitter when said first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A docking apparatus for a first monitoring unit in an electronic location monitoring system in which the first monitoring unit has a first receiver operable to receive signals from a mobile transmitter on a person to be monitored and wherein said first monitoring unit is operable to process said signals to produce processed signals and to transmit said processed signals to a monitoring station, the docking apparatus comprising:
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a second monitoring unit comprising; a second receiver operable to receive signals from the mobile transmitter, the second receiver having a non-receive mode in which signals are not received from the mobile transmitter and a receive mode in which signals from the mobile transmitter are received; a processor circuit for processing signals received by said second receiver to produce processed signals; and a transmitter operable to transmit said processed signals to a monitoring station; and a signaling unit comprising; a detector operable to produce a proximity signal indicating proximity of the first monitoring unit relative to the second monitoring unit; said second receiver being responsive to said proximity signal such that, when the proximity signal indicates the first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit the second receiver is placed in the receive mode and when the proximity signal indicates that the first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second receiver is placed in the non-receive mode; a proximity signal transmitter operable to cause said proximity signal to be transmitted to the first monitoring unit, whereby in response to the proximity signal the first monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates said first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit and ceases receiving signals from the mobile transmitter when said proximity signal indicates said first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit, whereby said first monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter and the second monitoring unit does not receive and process signals from the mobile transmitter when said first monitoring unit is not in proximity to the second monitoring unit and whereby the second monitoring unit receives and processes signals from the mobile transmitter and said first monitoring unit does not receive and process signals from the mobile transmitter when said first monitoring unit is in proximity to the second monitoring unit. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 112, 113, 114)
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Specification