Alarm and alarm management system for remote tracking devices

• US 8,013,736 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Track Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SecureAlert Incorporated
• Inventors: Derrick, Bruce G., Derrick, David
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/792,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.13, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A system and method of implementing an alarm hierarchy in a remote tracking device tracked by a monitoring center is described. The remote tracking device is worn by a wearer and includes a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor operable to monitor the status of the remote tracking device and to compare the location of the remote tracking device to a set of programmed rules. Detected alarm conditions and corresponding automated responses are escalated, respectively, in response to detecting the alarm conditions remain unresolved.

Claims

1. A tracking device configured for use in implementing an alarm hierarchy, the tracking device comprising:

a location determining mechanism;

a wireless communication mechanism;

memory storing a set of programmed rules; and

a processor operable to monitor the status of the tracking device and to compare the location of the tracking device to the set of programmed rules,

wherein the tracking device implements a method that includes;

invoking an automated response to an initial indication of an alarm condition based on a change to the status of the tracking device or a violation of the programmed rules, the automated response providing an indication of the alarm condition to the wearer;

establishing communication with the monitoring center when the alarm condition persists, the monitoring center providing instructions to the wearer based on the alarm condition; and

activating a warning mechanism in the tracking device when the wearer does not comply with the instructions from the monitoring center.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the automated response is the tracking device playing one or more prerecorded messages.

3. The tracking device of claim 2, wherein the one or more prerecorded messages are stored in the tracking device.

4. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein establishing communication with the monitoring center includes establishing a two-way voice communication using the wireless communication mechanism.

5. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the warning mechanism is an audible alarm.

6. The tracking device of claim 5, wherein the audible alarm is a high decibel siren.

7. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the tracking device sends an indication of the alarm condition to the monitoring center upon the initial indication of the alarm condition.

8. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein remote activation of the warning mechanism is enabled by the monitoring center using a signal sent to the processor over the wireless communication mechanism.

9. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the initial indication of the alarm condition is based on a low battery condition detected at the tracking device.

10. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the initial indication of the alarm condition is based on poor or unavailable communication detected at the tracking device.

11. A method of implementing an alarm hierarchy in a tracking device tracked by a monitoring center, wherein the tracking device is worn by a wearer and includes a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor operable to monitor the status of the tracking device and to compare the location of the tracking device to a set of programmed rules, and wherein the method comprises:

detecting, at the tracking device, an initial alarm condition based on at least one predetermined rule and a current state of the tracking device monitored at the tracking device;

the tracking device responsively generating a first alarm comprising a first automated response at the tracking device to the initial alarm condition based on the occurrence of the initial alarm condition;

detecting at the tracking device that the initial alarm condition remains unresolved; and

the tracking device responsively generating a second alarm comprising a second automated response from the tracking device in response to detecting that the initial alarm condition remains unresolved, the second automated response being a different type of automated response than the first automated response.

12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the first automated response comprises one or more audible instructions or notifications rendered by the tracking device.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the second automated response includes an audible siren generated at the tracking device.

14. The method recited in claim 12, wherein detecting that the initial alarm condition remains unresolved includes determining that the wearer of the tracking device is failing to comply with the one or more audible instructions or notifications.

15. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the current state is a battery condition and wherein the initial alarm condition is based on detecting a low battery condition at the tracking device.

16. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the current state is a communication state and wherein the initial alarm condition is based on an inability of the tracking device to communicate with the monitoring center.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the initial alarm condition is based the tracking device being out of a cellular range required for establishing a communication link with the monitoring center.

18. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the current state is a detected location of the tracking device.

19. A method of implementing an alarm hierarchy in a tracking device tracked by a monitoring center, wherein the tracking device is worn by a wearer and includes a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor operable to monitor the status of the tracking device and to compare the location of the tracking device to a set of programmed rules, and wherein the method comprises:

detecting, at the tracking device, an alarm condition that is based on at least one predetermined rule and a current state of the tracking device;

the tracking device responsively generating an automated response at the tracking device to the alarm condition;

detecting, at the tracking device, that the initial alarm condition remains unresolved;

escalating the alarm condition to a next level in response to detecting that the alarm condition remains unresolved;

initiating an additional automated response in response to detecting the alarm condition remains unresolved;

detecting, at the tracking device, that the alarm condition remains unresolved following the additional automated response; and

escalating the alarm condition to a subsequent level in response to detecting that the alarm condition remains unresolved following the additional automated response.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein the method further includes initiating a subsequent automated response in response to detecting that the alarm condition remains unresolved following the additional automated response.

21. The method recited in claim 19, wherein the method further includes receiving input at the tracking device that only temporarily suspends application of the at least one predetermined rule and so as to only temporarily suspend the alarm condition.