System for locating individuals and objects

• US 7,728,724 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LBT IP II LLC (Location Based Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Location Based Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Scalisi, Joseph F., Mejia, Desiree C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/048,395
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.15, 340/539.32, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/574.4, 340/82, 340/5.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A positioning and tracking system may comprise a monitoring station for receiving a location request and a user'"'"'s identification code and transmitting a signal; a tracking device, which includes a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the monitoring station, including the user'"'"'s identification code, a microprocessor/logic circuit for storing a first identification code, and generating a position signal; an erasable programmable read-only memory; a global positioning system logic circuit; a signal transmitter; and a plurality of transmitter/receiver stations for communicating between the tracking device and the monitoring station; wherein the tracking device compares the user'"'"'s identification code to the stored identification code and upon determining that the user'"'"'s identification code matches the stored identification code, the signal transmitter transmits the position signal to the monitoring station.

Claims

1. A positioning and tracking system, comprising:

a monitoring station to receive a location request and a second identification code from a user and transmitting a signal that includes the second identification code;

a tracking device, the tracking device comprising;

a signal receiver to receive a signal from the monitoring station comprising;

the second identification code,

a microprocessor/logic circuit to store a first identification code to produce a stored identification code, calculate location data for the tracking device, and generate a position signal;

a global positioning system logic circuit; and

a signal transmitter;

a first transmitter/receiver station and a second transmitter/receiver station to communicate with each other and the tracking device to determine location of the tracking device without a requirement of line-of-sight between a global positioning system and the tracked device;

wherein a latitude and a longitude of the tracking device results from a comparison of measurements from gps satellites to the tracking device, measurements of distances between two or more gps satellites, and measurements of relative orientations of the two or more gps satellites, the tracking device, and earth; and

wherein the tracking device compares the second identification code to the stored identification code and upon determining that the second identification code matches the stored identification code, the signal transmitter transmits the position signal to the monitoring station.

2. The positioning and tracking system of claim 1, wherein the second identification code comprises an electronic serial number, and

wherein to determine location of the tracking device comprises to triangulate location of the tracking device communicated between the first transmitter/receiver station and the second transmitter/receiver station.

3. The positioning and tracking system of claim 1, wherein the tracking device further comprises:

a power supply; and

a charging circuit to recharge the power supply.

4. The positioning and tracking system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring station comprises a database for storing the second identification code, the monitoring station compares the second identification code, received with the location request, to the stored identification code stored in the microprocessor/logic circuit to determine if a user'"'"'s identification code received, from the user, with the location request is valid.

5. The positioning and tracking system of claim 1, wherein the user provides the location request to the monitoring station by at least one of a telephone communication and an electronic message via the Internet.

6. The positioning and tracking system of claim 5, wherein the monitoring station provides the location data to the user as an electronic message over the Internet when the user provides the location request by an electronic message via the Internet.

7. The positioning and tracking system of claim 5, wherein the monitoring station provides location data to the user as a voice message when the user provides the location request by a telephone communication.

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

activating the tracking device;

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

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

calculating location data of the tracking device at least partially in response to communications between at least two transmitter/receiver stations and the tracking device and the at least two transmitter/receiver stations without direct line-of-sight between a global positioning system satellite and the tracked device;

wherein a latitude and a longitude of the tracking device results from a comparison of measurements from gps satellites to the tracking device, measurements of distances between two or more gps satellites, and measurements of relative orientations of the two or more gps satellites, the tracking device, and earth; and

formatting a response to the location request, the response including the location data pertaining to the tracking device;

sending the response to a server; and

drawing a tracking device location within a map.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a global positioning system signal from the global positioning system satellite; and

calculating the location data responsive to the global positioning system signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a first general packet radio service signal from a first transmitter/receiver station; and

calculating the location data responsive to the first general packet radio service signal;

wherein the first general packet radio service signal comprises a first alternative service for locating and tracking individuals and objects from that originating from the global positioning system satellite.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a second general packet radio service signal from a second transmitter/receiver station; and

calculating the location data responsive to the second general packet radio service signal and the first general packet radio service signal in at least one of an indoor setting and when a location of the tracked device is obstructed from view by the global positioning system satellite;

wherein the second general packet radio service signal comprises a second alternative service for locating and tracking the individuals and the objects from that originating from the global positioning system satellite.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a charging circuit within the tracking device responsive to charging from an external battery charger when a power level of the tracking device falls below a predetermined level.

13. A method for locating an individual or an object, comprising:

associating a tracking device with the individual or the object to be located;

receiving a location request from a user;

transmitting a signal from a monitoring station to the tracking device;

activating a global positioning system circuit within the tracking device;

communicating a reference signal to triangulate location information utilizing a first transmitter/receiver station and a second transmitter/receiver station;

receiving a global positioning system signal, a first transmitter/receiver station signal, and a second transmitter/receiver station signal;

calculating location data responsive to the global positioning system signal, the first transmitter/receiver station signal, the second transmitter/receiver station signal, and the reference signal without line-of-sight between a global positioning system satellite and the tracked device;

calculating the location data of the tracking device resulting from a comparison of measurements from gps satellites to the tracking device, measurements of distances between two or more gps satellites, and measurements of relative orientations of the two or more gps satellites, the tracking device, and earth;

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

informing the user of the location of the tracking device.

14. The method for locating an individual or an object of claim 13, wherein the signal transmitted from the monitoring station to the tracking device comprises a user'"'"'s identification code.

15. The method for locating an individual or an object of claim 13, wherein the tracking device comprises:

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

a microprocessor logic circuit for storing a first identification code to produce a stored identification code, determining a location of the tracking device, and generating a position signal;

a global positioning system logic circuit; and

a signal transmitter.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the first transmitter/receiver station signal comprises:

receiving a first general packet radio service signal from the first transmitter/receiver station; and

calculating location data responsive to the first general packet radio service signal;

wherein the first general packet radio service signal comprises an alternative service for locating and tracking individuals and objects from that originating from the global positioning system satellite.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tracking device compares the user'"'"'s identification code to the stored identification code and upon determining that the user'"'"'s identification code matches the stored identification code, the signal transmitter transmits the position signal.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of communicating by the user the location request by telephone.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing a charging circuit within the tracking device responsive to an external battery charger and charging the tracking device when a power level of the tracking device falls below a predetermined level.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of transmitting location data comprising an address of a nearby landmark.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of communicating through a public switched telephone the location request to the tracking device to provide an address of the tracking device;

a power level of the tracking device;

distance from one or more satellites;

a distance from the first transmitter/receiver station and the second transmitter/receiver station; and

an elevational position of the tracking device.