Wireless devices as guard tour checkpoint data collection and checkpoint data communication devices

• US 7,778,802 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Markwitz, Barry J., O'Flaherty, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US11/120,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 702/108, 702/122, 702/182, 702/81, 702/187, 702/188, 340/506, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/540, 340/539.11, 340/574, 709/219
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system that utilizes wireless devices as guard tour checkpoint data collection and checkpoint data communication devices is disclosed. The wireless devices have the capability of reading various types of checkpoints and communicating the collected checkpoint data with a computer via a cellular telephone communication system and either a land-based telephone network or the Internet or a cellular data communication device. Alternatively, a Wi-Fi network or the Wi-Fi network and the Internet can be used to communicate collected checkpoint data with the computer. The computer stores and processes the data according to guard tour expected performance parameters, such as rules, schedules, and exceptions, and then generates the necessary commands to produce exception notifications and reports at various types of peripheral equipment.

Claims

1. A system utilizing wireless devices as guard tour checkpoint data wireless communication devices, said wireless devices including media reading means for reading guard tour checkpoint data from various types of media, said system comprising a computer device, means for wirelessly communicating checkpoint data read by said wireless devices to said computer device, said checkpoint data communicating means wirelessly communicating said guard tour checkpoint data to said computer device without the use of a downloading device, said guard tour checkpoint data being communicated by said checkpoint data communicating means even if said guard tour checkpoint data indicates the existence of a normal condition at said guard tour checkpoint, means for time stamping said guard tour checkpoint data read from said media, and means for transmitting checkpoint data processed by said computer device to an end user.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices comprises cellular telephones and other devices having cellular telephone communication capabilities and said checkpoint data communicating means comprises a cellular telephone network.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices comprises cellular telephones and other devices having cellular telephone communication capabilities and said checkpoint data communicating means comprises a cellular telephone network, a land-based telephone network and means for interfacing said computer device to said land-based telephone network.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices comprises cellular telephones and other devices having Wi-Fi communication capabilities and said checkpoint data communicating means comprises a Wi-Fi network.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said wireless devices comprises cellular telephones and other devices having Wi-Fi communication capabilities and said checkpoint data communicating means comprises a Wi-Fi network and the Internet.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said computer device processes said guard tour checkpoint data according to predefined guard tour performance parameters and transmits commands to produce notifications and reports to peripheral equipment.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said predefined guard tour performance parameters comprises rules, schedules and exceptions relating to said guard tour.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said media reading means comprises media reading devices that are connectable to said wireless devices, said media reading devices being compatible with said various types of media.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said media reading means comprises software that executes within the memory of said wireless devices.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said time stamping means comprises software that executes within the memory of said wireless devices.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said checkpoint data communicating means comprises software contained within said wireless devices, said software causing said wireless devices to establish a connection with said computer device, transmit said checkpoint data to said computer device, and terminate said connection with said computer device after said guard tour checkpoint data have been transmitted thereto.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said checkpoint data communicating means utilizes an existing cellular communication network to transmit said guard tour checkpoint data to said computer device.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said checkpoint data communicating means comprises software contained within said computer device, said software enabling said computer device to receive said guard tour checkpoint data from said wireless devices.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 further including data storage means.

15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means is located within said wireless devices.

16. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means stores guard tour checkpoint data for downloading to said computer device at a later time.

17. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said data storage means stores guard tour checkpoint data until said checkpoint data communicating means can transmit said checkpoint data to said computer device.

18. The system as defined in claim 1 further including various types of peripheral equipment, said checkpoint data transmitting means transmitting said guard tour checkpoint data processed by said computer device to said various types of peripheral equipment for use by said end user.