Sea vessel tagging apparatus and system
First Claim
1. An underwater tagging and identification device for a sea vessel comprising:
- a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by an underwater beacon;
an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal to a remote underwater acoustic receiver;
a memory storage device; and
a data processor;
wherein during operation, said tagging and identification device receives an underwater electromagnetic data signal and data encoded in said data signal is decoded by said processor and stored in said memory storage device; and
said acoustic transmitter transmits said identification signal when triggered by reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said radio receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a tagging and identification device and system for tracking and monitoring sea vessels as they enter sea ports, estuaries and/or other channels. The tagging device of the present invention comprises a receiver, for receiving an underwater electromagnetic signal transmitted by an underwater beacon. An acoustic transmitter is provided for transmitting an identification signal to an acoustic receiver deployed nearby. The acoustic identification signal is transmitted after an electromagnetic trigger signal is received from the underwater beacon. The tagging and device may further comprise a memory device which can store data relating to position and time of the see vessel to which it is attached. The tagging and identification device of the present invention is covert, compact and is capable of extended active deployment without replenishment of batteries etc. The identification tagging device and system of the present invention is capable of being deployed for tracking the location of sea vessels without the knowledge of the vessel crew. The system of the present invention allows third a third party to monitor suspect vessels as they enter specific ports or estuaries.
42 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An underwater tagging and identification device for a sea vessel comprising:
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a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by an underwater beacon; an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal to a remote underwater acoustic receiver; a memory storage device; and a data processor; wherein during operation, said tagging and identification device receives an underwater electromagnetic data signal and data encoded in said data signal is decoded by said processor and stored in said memory storage device; and
said acoustic transmitter transmits said identification signal when triggered by reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said radio receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification comprising:
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a sea vessel tagging and identification device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal, an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal, a memory storage device, and a data processor; at least one beacon located underwater which transmits an electromagnetic trigger signal; wherein during operation, said tagging and identification device receives an underwater electromagnetic data signal and data encoded in said data signal is decoded by said processor and stored in said memory storage device; and
said acoustic transmitter transmits said identification signal on reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said radio receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A sea vessel tagging and data storage device comprising:
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a radio receiver, for receiving an underwater electromagnetic data signal transmitted by an underwater transmitter; an acoustic transmitter for transmitting stored data to a remote underwater acoustic receiver; a memory storage device and a data processor; wherein during operation said tagging device receives said underwater electromagnetic data signal and said processor decodes data of said data signal and stores said decoded data in said memory storage device; and
said acoustic transmitter transmits stored data to said remote underwater acoustic receiver on reception by said radio receiver of an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by said underwater transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system for sea vessel tagging comprising:
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a sea vessel tagging and data storage device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic data signal transmitted by an underwater transmitter; a memory storage device and a data processor; an acoustic transmitter for transmitting stored data to a remote underwater acoustic receiver; at least one beacon located underwater which transmits an electromagnetic data signal; wherein during operation said tagging and data storage device receives said underwater electromagnetic data signal;
said processor decodes data of said data signal and stores said decoded data in said memory storage device; and
said acoustic transmitter transmits stored data to said remote underwater acoustic receiver on reception by said radio receiver of an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by said underwater transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for sea vessel tagging comprising the steps of:
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attaching a tagging and identification device to a sea vessel, the device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by an underwater beacon, an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal to a remote underwater acoustic receiver, a memory storage device and a data processor; reception of an underwater electromagnetic data signal; decoding of data encoded in said data signal by said processor; storing decoded data in said memory storage device; transmission of an electromagnetic trigger signal by a beacon located underwater to a radio receiver of said tagging and identification device; transmission of an acoustic identification signal by said tagging device to a remote underwater acoustic receiver.
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33. A method for sea vessel tagging comprising the steps of:
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attaching a tagging and data storage device to a sea vessel, the device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic data signal transmitted by an underwater transmitter;
a memory storage device, a data processor, an acoustic transmitter for transmitting stored data to a remote underwater acoustic receiver anda beacon located underwater; transmission of an electromagnetic data signal by said beacon located underwater to said radio receiver of said tagging and identification device; decoding of said data signal by said data processor of said radio receiver; storage of decoded data of said data signal by a memory storage device of said tagging device; transmission of an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said underwater transmitter; transmission of stored data to said remote underwater acoustic receiver on reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal.
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Specification