Methods, systems, and computer program products for locating and tracking objects

• US 7,848,905 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Troxler, Robert Ernest, Malassenet, Francois Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/811,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 701/204, 701/200, 701/205, 701/207, 701/213, 702/152, 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/127, 702/150, 702/187, 702/188, 702/189, 340/500, 340/505, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.16, 340/539.2, 340/540, 340/573.1, 340/578, 340/579, 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 340/870.28, 342/350, 342/352, 342/356, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.14, 700/1, 700/9, 700/73, 700/79, 700/80
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 1/00 Investigation of foundation soil in situ investigation involving boring or specially adapted to earth drilling E21B25/00, E21B49/00; investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties, in general G01N, e.g. sampling G01N1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/00 Recording measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/42 Road-making materials G01N33/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/00 Investigating density or specific gravity of materials; Analysing materials by determining density or specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for locating and tracking objects are disclosed. According to one system, a locating device can be configured to determine a location of an object. According to another system, an identifying device can be configured to determine the identification of an object. Further, a tracking system configured to store tracking information associated with the object. A communications system can be configured to communicate a signal to a remote computer device that identifies the location of the object and includes the tracking information associated with the object.

Claims

1. A system for locating and tracking an object, the system comprising:

(a) an object including a hazardous material;

(b) a locating device configured to determine a location of the object;

(c) a tracking system configured to store tracking information associated with the object and hazardous material identification information for identifying the hazardous material; and

(d) a communications system configured to communicate a signal to a remote computer device that identifies the location of the object and includes the tracking information associated with the object.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, construction equipment, electronic instrumentation, and cargo.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the hazardous material includes a radioactive source.

4. The system of claim 1 above comprising a memory storage area that stores one or more authentication or encryption keys.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the locating device is operable with at least one of a geographic information system (GIS), a global positioning system (GPS), a nationwide differential global positioning system (NDGPS), a high accuracy-nationwide differential global positioning system (HA-NDGPS), a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the European satellite system Galileo, general radio packet service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and combinations thereof for determining the location of the object.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the locating device includes at least one of signpost components, dead reckoning components, wave propagating components, radio frequency (RF) components, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the locating device is configured to receive data related to the location of the object and determine the location of the object based on the data.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking information includes identification data associated with the object.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking information includes boundary information that defines a predetermined boundary for the object.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking system is mounted to the object.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) component.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer device is configured to receive the signal that identifies the location of the object and at least a subset of tracking information associated with the object.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications system and the computer device are configured to communicate via at least one of a wireless network and a wireline network.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications system is configured to receive a polling signal associated with the object and configured to communicate the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object in response to receiving the polling signal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the communications system includes and authentication protocol to verify the polling signal origin.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer device is a first computer device, and the first computer device is configured to communicate the signal that identifies the location of the object and tracking information to a second computer device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second computer device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a networked distributed computing device, and a personal communications device.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking information includes routing information that defines a predetermined route for transporting the object.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tracking system is configured to obtain the location of the object from the locating device and configured to determine positioning of the object with respect to the predetermined route.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the tracking system is configured to determine whether the position of the object is greater than a predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the communications system is configured to notify the remote computer device in response to a determination that the position of the object is greater than the predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

22. A method for locating and tracking an object, the method comprising:

(a) determining, by a locating device, a location of an object including a hazardous material;

(b) storing, by a tracking system, tracking information associated with the object and hazardous material identification information for identifying the hazardous material; and

(c) communicating, by a communications system, a signal to a remote computer device that identifies the location of the object and includes the tracking information associated with the object.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, construction equipment, electronic instrumentation, a portable measurement device, testing apparatus, containers, and cargo.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the hazardous material is a radioactive source.

25. The method of claim 22 comprising receiving a polling signal associated with the object, and comprising communicating the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object in response to receiving the polling signal.

26. The method of claim 22 comprising operating with at least one of a geographic information system (GIS), a global positioning system (GPS), a nationwide differential global positioning system (NDGPS), a high accuracy-nationwide differential global positioning system (HA-NDGPS), a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the European satellite system Galileo, general radio packet service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and combinations thereof for determining the location of the object.

27. The method of claim 22 comprising receiving data related to the location of the object, and wherein determining a location of object includes determining the location of the object based on the data.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the tracking information includes identification data associated with the object.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the tracking information includes boundary information that defines a predetermined boundary for the object.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the tracking system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) component.

31. The method of claim 22 comprising receiving the signal that identifies the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein communicating a signal to a remote computer device includes communicating the signal via at least one of a wireless network and a wireline network.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein the computer device is a first computer device, and the first computer device is configured to communicate the signal that identifies the location of the object and tracking information to a second computer device.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the second computer device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a personal communications device.

35. The method of claim 22 wherein the tracking information includes routing information that defines a predetermined route for transporting the object.

36. The method of claim 35 comprising determining positioning of the object with respect to the predetermined route.

37. The method of claim 36 comprising determining whether the position of the object is greater than a predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

38. The method of claim 37 comprising notifying the remote computer device in response to a determination that the position of the object is greater than the predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer perform steps comprising:

(a) determining a location of an object including a hazardous material;

(b) storing tracking information associated with the object and hazardous material identification information for identifying the hazardous material; and

(c) communicating a signal to a remote computer device that identifies the location of the object and includes the tracking information associated with the object.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a vehicle, construction equipment, electronic instrumentation, a portable measurement device, testing apparatus, containers, and cargo.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the hazardous material includes one or more radioactive sources.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 39 comprising receiving a polling signal associated with the object, and comprising communicating the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object in response to receiving the polling signal.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 39 comprising operating with at least one of a geographic information system (GIS), a global positioning system (GPS), a nationwide differential global positioning system (NDGPS), a high accuracy-nationwide differential global positioning system (HA-NDGPS), a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the European satellite system Galileo, general radio packet service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and combinations thereof for determining the location of the object.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 39 comprising receiving data related to the location of the object, and wherein determining a location of an object includes determining the location of the object based on the data.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the tracking information includes identification data associated with the object.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the tracking information includes boundary information that defines a predetermined boundary for the object.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 39 comprising receiving the signal that identifies the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein communicating a signal to a remote computer device includes communicating the signal via at least one of a wireless network and a wireline network.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the computer device is a first computer device, and the first computer device is configured to communicate the signal that identifies the location of the object and tracking information to a second computer device.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein the second computer device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a personal communications device.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the tracking information includes routing information that defines a predetermined route for transporting the object.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51 comprising determining positioning of the object with respect to the predetermined route.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 52 comprising determining whether the position of the object is greater than a predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 53 comprising notifying the remote computer device in response to a determination that the position of the object is greater than the predetermined distance from the predetermined route.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54 wherein the tracking system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) component.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 54 comprising receiving a polling signal associated with the object, and comprising communicating the location of the object and tracking information associated with the object in response to receiving the polling signal.

57. A system for tracking an object, the system comprising:

an object;

an identification module for determining identification information associated with the object;

at least one encryption level for altering communications between the object and an external device so as to be unintelligible to other, unauthorized remote computer devices using the identification information; and

a communications system for communicating, using an authentication protocol, between the object and the remote computer device.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the authentication protocol is configured to authenticate a remote computer device using at least one authentication key selected from a plurality of appropriate authentication keys.

59. The system of claim 57 wherein the authentication protocol, in combination with the identification module, is configured to authenticate the remote computer device using at least one authentication key selected from a plurality of appropriate authentication keys.

60. The system of claim 57 further comprising a location device associated with the object for determining a location of the object.

61. The system of claim 57 wherein the identification information may include one or more of shipping information, a manifest, ownership data, destination, origin, tracking history, tracking data, bill of lading, consignee information, operator, material safety data sheet (MSDS), material identification, chemical spectrums, radiological spectrums, and routing information.

62. The system of claim 57 wherein the at least one encryption level may include one of no encryption, low encryption, medium encryption, and high encryption levels, wherein the low encryption level includes a weak encryption protocol for encrypting communicated information, the medium encryption level includes a predetermined standard encryption protocol for encrypting and authenticating communicated information, and the high encryption level includes providing a predetermined strong encryption protocol for encrypting and authenticating communicated information.

63. The system of claim 57 wherein the authentication protocol is selectable by a user.

64. The system of claim 57 wherein the communications system is configured to send an alarm to a designated authority when at least one of a boundary is exceeded, a route is changed, malicious tampering, or a cargo spill is detected.

65. The system of claim 57 wherein the communications system is configured to provide for polling the location of the object for providing immediate location and status of the object.

66. The system of claim 57 wherein the communications system is configured to transfer data to at least one of monitor route progress, control processes, adjust parameters, transmit and receive data to the memory system using one of short range or long range protocols.

67. The system of claim 57 wherein the communications system is configured to communicate an alarm to authorized users through one of a secure web based network and a cellular network.

68. The system of claim 57 wherein the identification module and the communications system are configured for one of autonomous operation and when polled.

69. The system of claim 57 wherein the communications system includes one of short range radio, long range GPRS, Internet, SMS data or alarm transfer.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the short range radio uses radio frequency identification (RFID).

71. A system for locating and tracking an object, the system comprising:

an object;

a locating device associated with the object for identifying a location of the object;

a tracking system configured to store tracking information associated with the object;

an RFID module for determining identification information associated with the object;

a communications system configured to communicate a signal that identifies the location of the object to a remote computer device;

a multi-level encryption scheme for providing different authorities with custom encryption protocols and keys; and

an authentication protocol for verifying the eligibility of a remote computer device to receive information associated with the object based on the identification information.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the tracking system is configured to perform at least one of read and write operations.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein the RFID module is configured to perform at least one of read and write operations.