Personal tracking device with low power consumption

• US 8,195,192 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Lai, Kam Yuk Claudia, Lee, Hor Yau Carrie, Ma, Kam Wah, Mak, Ping See Diana, Wai, Ping Kong Alexander, Mak, Fuk Tat Arthur, You, Jia Jane, Tong, Kai Yu, Zheng, Yongping, Chow, Hoi Lam Martin, Chung, Ching Ching Jenny
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US12/414,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An portable tracking device integrating a mobile phone module (e.g. based on GSM or 3G networks), a GPS module, a radio Beacon and ultrasonic beacon. The tracking device is normally in a hibernated state when the entire device consumes little energy and require no periodically changing or recharging batteries to power the device. It consumes power from the primary battery only when a tracking process is actually taken place. With this portable tracking device on the person who is unable to affirmatively report his or her whereabout, the remote center and/or a search team can communicate the GPS module, radio beacon and ultrasonic beacon of the tracking device via the mobile phone module based on existing wireless communication technologies, such SMS, GPRS, ect, on GSM or 3 G networks, which also serves as a means of initial rough estimation of the tracking device'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A portable tracking device, comprising

(a) a wireless communication module;

(b) a GPS module;

(c) a radio beacon; and

(d) at least a primary power supplier and a secondary power supplier;

wherein said portable tracking device is either in a standby mode in which said GPS module, wireless communication module, and radio beacon consume substantially no energy or in an operation mode which entails substantially more energy consumption and said wireless communication module, said GPS module and said radio beacon are in connection with a microprocessor having a timer which turns on said tracking device from said standby mode to said operation mode in a predetermined time interval;

wherein said portable tracking device has a first operation configuration and a second operation configuration;

wherein when in said first operation configuration said wireless communication module, said GPS module and said radio beacon are in connection to and powered by neither said primary power supplier nor said secondary power supplier and when in said second operation configuration said wireless communication module, said GPS module and said radio beacon are in connection to and powered by said primary power supplier either simultaneously or at different times; and

wherein said timer is in connection to and powered by said secondary power supplier and is configured to trigger a change of said portable tracking device from said first operation configuration to said second operation configuration in a predetermined time interval.

2. The portable tracking device of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic beacon.

3. The portable tracking device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module is a phone module.

4. The portable tracking device of claim 3, wherein said wireless communication module is a GSM or 3G phone module.

5. The portable tracking device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module is a radio transceiver module.

6. The portable tracking device of claim 1, wherein said primary power supplier is rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery.

7. The portable tracking device of claim 3, wherein said phone module and said GPS module are each connected to said microprocessor by a RS232 serial bus.

8. The portable tracking device of claim 2, wherein said radio beacon and said ultrasonic beacon are each connected to said microprocessor by a serial bus.

9. The portable tracking device of claim 2, wherein said phone module, said GPS module, said radio beacon and said ultrasonic beacon are each configured to be capable of being turned on or off independently by said microprocessor.

10. A process of tracking a person who cannot communicate his or her location to others, comprising the steps of:

(a) associating said person with a portable tracking device within which there is a GPS module, a wireless phone module, a radio beacon, a timer within a microprocessor, a primary power supplier and an optional secondary power supplier;

(b) presetting said timer to trigger activation of said device from a standby mode in which said GPS module, wireless phone module, and radio beacon consume no energy into an operation mode in which said wireless phone module is turned on and powered by said primary power supplier;

(c) informing a remote center by said wireless communication module that said tracking device is in operation;

(d) obtaining information about the location of said tracking device from a phone service provider;

(e) turning on said GPS module and determining an area where said person associated with said portable tracking device is located if GPS signal is good;

(f) turning on said raid beacon to guide a search team to an areas where said person associated with said portable tracking device is located if GPS signal is poor.

11. The process of tracking according to claim 10, wherein said portable tracking device further comprises an ultrasonic beacon.

12. The process of tracking according to claim 11, further comprising a step of

(g) turning on said ultrasonic beacon when said person associated with said portable tracking device is behind a closed door.

13. The process of tracking according to claim 10, wherein said remote center communicate with said wireless phone module in said portable tracking device using a GSM or 3G network.

14. The process of tracking according to claim 13, wherein said remote center communicate with said wireless phone module in said portable tracking device by an SMS message or GPRS data pack.