Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset

• US 7,486,185 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Lawrence M., VanCleave, James P., Culpepper, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/562,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. Location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is then communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is then queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including a representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is then communicated to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.

Claims

1. An asset location system comprising:

a plurality of tracking devices, each tracking device including,

triggering means adapted for commencing at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for enabling a portable, wireless transmitter associated with at least one asset of interest upon commencement of the at least one asset tracking event;

means adapted for commencing a data transmission from an enabled transmitter, which data transmission includes a transmission of asset identification data associated with an identity of the at least one asset of interest;

location data output means adapted for outputting location data in accordance with a received data transmission from the enabled transmitter;

means adapted for outputting, via the portable wireless transmitter, status data corresponding to a maintenance property of the transmitter; and

a security agency including,

means adapted for receiving asset identification data corresponding to a plurality of assets in accordance with a corresponding commenced asset tracking event associated with each of the plurality of tracking devices,

means adapted for receiving the status data from each of the plurality of tracking devices;

means adapted for periodically receiving location data corresponding to a current location of the at least one asset associated with each of the plurality of tracking devices,

storage means adapted for storing historic location data representative of received real time location data associated with each of the plurality of tracking devices,

identification means adapted for identifying at least one client associated with each tracking device;

notification means adapted to notify at least one client in accordance with a commenced asset tracking event and an output of the identification means,

means adapted for identifying a law enforcement agency associated with each asset and associated tracking event;

means adapted for alerting each identified law enforcement agency relative to each associated asset and tracking event identified therewith; and

transmission means adapted for transmission of at least one of real time location data and historic location data to the at least one client.

2. The asset location system of claim 1 wherein the location data output means includes:

a plurality of receivers;

position data representative of a geographic location of each of the plurality of receivers;

means adapted for receiving a data transmission from the transmitter into at least an identified one of the plurality of receivers; and

means adapted for outputting the location data in accordance with the position data and at least one identified receiver.

3. The asset location system of claim 2 wherein the transmitter includes an RFID tag and each of the plurality of receivers includes an RFID reader.

4. The asset location system of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is comprised of a cellular transmitter and wherein each of the plurality of receivers is associated with a unique cellular antenna.

5. The asset location system of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is comprised of a wireless network adapter, and wherein each of the plurality of receivers is associated with a unique wireless network access point.

6. The asset location system of claim 1 wherein the triggering means includes means adapted for triggering an asset tracking event in accordance with an unauthorized movement of the at least one asset of interest.

7. The asset location system of claim 1 wherein the status data includes data corresponding to a level of a battery associated with the transmitter.