Active wireless tag and auxiliary device for use with monitoring center for tracking individuals or objects

• US 7,961,092 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Satellite Tracking of People LLC (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Logan, Steven W., Freathy, Stephen, Pridmore, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US11/847,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention is directed to a location tracking device and auxiliary device for use with a monitoring center for tracking individuals or objects. The location tracking device has position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location (e.g., a monitoring station). The tracking device also has second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device. The tracking device has at least two operational modes and switches between these modes when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device so long as one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied. In one operational mode the position determining circuitry of the location tracking device is in a normal power state and in another operational mode such circuitry is in a reduced power state.

Claims

1. A location tracking device for use with an auxiliary device having an ID, the tracking device comprising:

position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location,

second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device and receives the auxiliary device identifying information, and

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes and the decision to switch operational modes, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, is at least partially based on the auxiliary device ID;

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode of the at least two operational modes in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state;

wherein the tracking device has a second operational mode of the at least two operations modes in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device such that the tracking device receives the auxiliary device ID, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state;

wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the tracking device.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device has one operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and another operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes signal strength circuitry associated with the second wireless circuitry that compares radio energy received by the second wireless circuitry to a predetermined threshold.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein another device also communicates with the auxiliary device and the tracking device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry that respectively restricts communications from the tracking device to the auxiliary device to assigned time slots. and to at an assigned frequency so as to minimize contention relative to communication with the auxiliary device.

5. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

6. The tracking device of claim 5 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

22. The location tracking device of claim 1 wherein the location tracking device maintains a list including at least one approved auxiliary device and determines whether to switch operational modes at least partially based on the received ID of the auxiliary device.

23. The location tracking device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device transmits an alarm signal under certain conditions that is received by the second wireless circuitry and the decision to change operational modes is further based on the absence of such alarm.

25. The location tracking device of claim 1 wherein the decision to switch operational modes of the tracking device is also based on the position determining circuitry being able to determine the position of the location tracking device.

26. The location tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device is supported by a monitored entity and the auxiliary device is not supported by the monitored entity.

27. The location tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device and auxiliary device are each supported by different monitored entities.

29. The tracking system of claim 25, wherein the monitoring device transitions from the first operating mode to the second operating mode if at least the following conditions are met:

(a) the monitoring device is within stable communication range of the auxiliary device through at least the first and second wireless communication circuitry; and

(b) the monitoring device recognizes the auxiliary device from the at least identification data.

7. An auxiliary device for use with a location tracking device, the auxiliary device comprising:

an auxiliary device ID and wireless circuitry that communicates the auxiliary device ID to the location tracking device,

wherein the location device has position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location, second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device, and

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes, and the decision to switch operational modes, when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device, is at least partially based on the received auxiliary device ID;

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode of the at least two operational modes in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state;

wherein the tracking device has a second operational mode of the at least two operations modes in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device such that the tracking device receives the auxiliary device ID, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state;

wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the tracking device.

8. The auxiliary device of claim 7 wherein the tracking device has one operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and another operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the ID to the remote location.

9. The auxiliary device of claim 7 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

10. The auxiliary device of claim 9 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

11. A location tracking system comprising:

a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device to a remote location and second wireless circuitry,

an auxiliary device having an ID and wireless circuitry that communicates this ID to the tracking device via the second wireless circuitry,

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes and the decision to switch operational modes, when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device, is at least partially based on the received auxiliary device ID;

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode of the at least two operational modes in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state;

wherein the tracking device has a second operational mode of the at least two operations modes in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device such that the tracking device receives the auxiliary device ID, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state;

wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the tracking device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the tracking device has one operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and another operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising an HMU with third wireless circuitry that communicates with at least one of the auxiliary device wireless circuitry and the tracking device second wireless circuitry wherein the range of the HMU is expanded when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the monitoring station establishes one of an inclusion zone and an exclusion zone based on the auxiliary device ID.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the tracking device and the auxiliary device are respectively carried by different monitored entities and the monitoring station performs one of proximity detection and predictive correlation based on the location of the tracking tag and the auxiliary device ID.

17. The tracking system of claim 11 wherein the auxiliary device comprises a housing and tamper detection circuitry that detects unauthorized movement or opening of the auxiliary device.

18. A location tracking method comprising:

providing a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the device to a remote location and second wireless circuitry,

providing an auxiliary device having an ID along with wireless circuitry that communicates the ID to the tracking device via the second wireless circuitry,

wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes and the decision to switch operational modes, when communication is established between the location tracking device and the auxiliary device, is at least partially based on the received auxiliary device ID;

wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode of the at least two operational modes in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state;

wherein the tracking device has a second operational mode of the at least two operations modes in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device such that the tracking device receives the auxiliary device ID, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state;

wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the tracking device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the tracking device has one operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and another operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the tracking device has one operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and another operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state and wherein the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device and receives the auxiliary device ID from the tracking device when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes based on the auxiliary device ID.

24. The location tracking device of claim 20 wherein the alarm is transmitted when a tamper detection mechanism in the auxiliary device detects at least one of unauthorized removal or opening of the auxiliary device.

28. A tracking system, comprising:

a monitoring device, comprising;

location circuitry that determines the location of the monitoring device;

cellular communication circuitry that transmits location data from the location circuitry;

first short range wireless communications circuitry having a shorter range than the cellular communication circuitry;

an auxiliary device including second short range wireless communications circuitry that transmits at least identification data;

the monitoring device having first and second operating modes, wherein;

the first operating mode is during times when the monitoring device is not in communication with the auxiliary device; and

the second operating mode is during times when the monitoring device is in communication with the auxiliary device through the first and second wireless communication circuitry;

wherein when in the first operating mode, the monitoring device repeatedly determines its location and transmits the determined location to a remote location via the cellular communication circuitry;

wherein when in the second operating mode, the monitoring device initially determines its location, becomes wirelessly tethered to the auxiliary mode, and subsequently reduces the operations of the location circuitry;

wherein the combination of the initially determined location and the tethered status of the monitoring device to the auxiliary device replaces location determinations for at least portions of the second operating mode;

wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the monitoring device.

30. The tracking system of claim 28, further comprising the auxiliary device being configured to support a plurality of the monitoring devices, such that auxiliary device becomes a common hub that the plurality of the monitoring devices can simultaneously be wirelessly tethered to.