Apparatus and method for locating individuals and objects using tracking devices

• US 7,598,855 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LBT IP II LLC (Location Based Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Location Based Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Mejia, Desiree C., Morse, David, Scalisi, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/491,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/506, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system for monitoring objects and individuals. In this system, a monitoring station is remotely accessible through a user interface. The interface is adapted to provide a visually cognizable rendering of an area and a tool useful for selecting at least a portion of said area, and to communicate a first request signal to provide location coordinates of a first tracking device. The first tracking device comprises a first transceiver adapted to receive the first request signal, and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code. In addition, a second tracking device having a second transceiver is adapted to receive the first reply signal, compare the first identification code to a stored identification code, and communicate to the monitoring station a second reply signal that comprises location coordinates of the first tracking device in part responsive to verification of the first identification code.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first tracking device having a first transceiver configured to receive a first request signal and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises first location data, a first microprocessor configured to process a first request signal provided through a user interface that is remotely located, and a first identification code communicated as part of a first reply signal; and

a second tracking device having a second tracking transceiver adapted to receive the first reply signal, and verify the first identification code as a recognized code, and in response communicate a second reply signal that comprises a second identification code to the first tracking device;

wherein the first tracking device is adapted to calculate, in response to the second reply signal, a distance between the first and the second devices, and communicate an adjustment signal that comprises at least one of verbal and audio queues that indicates directional information of the first tracking device relative to the second tracking device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring station that is remotely accessible through the user interface;

wherein the user interface provides a map and a screen pointer tool for selecting an arbitrary shaped zone on the map, and communicates the first request for location coordinates of the first tracking device; and

wherein the user interface is a web-based interface that provides a selection of at least one of (i) known safe street addresses, (ii) safe zipcodes, and (iii) safe distances between the first tracking device and a designated safe location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a notification function that is configured to generate an alert upon the first tracking device being detected outside a safe zone.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the map is configured to display selected tracking devices that are located a specified distance from a first tracking device;

and upon appropriate security permissions, provide the user capability to utilize the selected tracking devices to assist determining the location coordinates of the first tracking device.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the map is configured to display other tracking devices that are a user-defined distance from the first tracking device;

and upon appropriate security permissions, provide the user capability to utilize the other tracking devices to determine in part the location coordinates of the first tracking device.

6. A system comprising:

a first mobile transceiver station configured to communicate between a first tracking device and a monitoring station; and

a second mobile transceiver station configured to communicate between the first tracking device and the monitoring station;

wherein the monitoring station is remotely accessible through a user interface, the user interface being configured to provide a map and a designation tool for use in selecting a zone on the map, and communicate a first request for position coordinates of the first tracking device;

wherein the first tracking device comprises a first transceiver configured to receive the first request signal and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code; and

wherein the first tracking device is adapted to receive a second identification code from the monitoring station and compares this code to a stored identification code, and upon determining that the second identification code matches the stored identification code, transmit its position coordinates to the monitoring station.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising low signal detection circuitry configured to monitor received signal strength of a positioning signal;

wherein the first tracking device is configured to switch to a wireless location and tracking mode upon the low signal detection circuitry determining that the received signal strength is above a defined level, receive the position signaling coordinates, and store the positioning signal coordinates as its position coordinates.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein upon a user request, the position coordinates are determined utilizing at least two of the following position calculation modes:

positioning satellites, tracking device to tracking device, and a mobile transceiver system.

9. A method for locating a tracking device, comprising:

activating the tracking device;

receiving a signal sent from a monitoring station to the tracking device, the signal including a user'"'"'s identification code;

recognizing the user'"'"'s identification code as a location request pertaining to the tracking device;

requesting positioning coordinates;

formatting a response to the location request including the positioning coordinates, the response including location data pertaining to the tracking device in part response to a level of the signal;

transmitting the response to a server; and

rendering the tracking device location within a map that contains a user-defined arbitrary shaped safe zone.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

upon determining that the received signal strength being below the defined value, a first mobile station signal and a second mobile station signal that comprise respective positional coordinates are communicated to the tracking device; and

determining a positional location of the tracking device utilizing the respective positional coordinates.

11. A method of determining location via a tracking device associated with an individual or an object to be located, the method comprising:

receiving a location request from a user;

activating a positioning apparatus associated with the tracking device;

transmitting to the tracking device;

(i) a first signal from a monitoring station;

(ii) a second signal from a wireless location and tracking system;

(iii) a third signal from a mobile transceiver; and

(iv) a fourth signal from an adjacent tracking device;

determining which of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal match defined selection criteria stored in the tracking device;

determining location data in part based on a signal selected utilizing the defined selection criteria;

transmitting the location data to the monitoring station for analysis to determine a location of the tracking device; and

informing the user of the location of the tracking device on a map.

12. The method for locating an individual or an object of claim 11, wherein the signal transmitted from the monitoring station to the tracking device includes a user'"'"'s identification code.

13. The method for locating an individual or an object of claim 11, wherein the tracking device includes;

a signal receiver adapted to receive the signal from the monitoring station to the tracking device, including a user'"'"'s identification code;

a microprocessor/logic circuit adapted to store an identification code to utilize as a stored identification code, to determine a location of the tracking device, and to generate a positioning signal;

a programmable memory;

a wireless location and tracking system logic circuit; and

a signal transmitter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking device compares the user'"'"'s identification code to a stored identification code and upon determining that the user'"'"'s identification code matches the stored identification code, a signal transmitter from the tracking device transmits a positioning signal to the monitoring station.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating speed of the tracking device; and

providing a warning signal to at least one of the user, a subscriber of this method, the individual, or the object when movement of the tracking device exceeds a designated value.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

communicating at least one of a verbal or electronic signaling warning when the tracking device is detected more than a designated distance from a designated coordinate position.

17. A system comprising:

a wireless monitoring device associated with a remote user;

a first tracking device that provides a wireless positioning signal to a monitoring station; and

a mapping apparatus that maps first location coordinates of the first tracking device on a map comprising an arbitrarily shaped safe zone;

wherein the remote user is capable of locating, tracking, and communicating with the first tracking device through a monitoring station;

wherein the monitoring station is adapted to monitor the first location coordinates and second location coordinates of a second tracking device so that positioning information of each is accessible to the remote user; and

wherein the wireless monitoring device comprises a cellular phone that accesses remote user selectable maps in response to the first location coordinates and the second location coordinates; and

user selection criteria configured to allow a subscriber, remote user, or a user to choose a method of determining location coordinates, the user selection criteria selected based on performance characteristics of the system;

wherein the system is selected from the group consisting of;

a wireless locating and tracking system, and a wireless communication system.