Tracking unit
First Claim
1. A tracking system for assisting in theft recovery, the system comprising:
- a tracking unit, the unit comprising;
a housing simulating a size and weight of a bundled package of currency;
a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed within said housing and configured to receive GPS signals for determining location of the tracking unit;
a wireless telephone transceiver disposed within said housing and configured to establish a communications link, transmit the location of and an identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link, and to receive a command signal via the communications link;
a radio frequency (RF) beacon transmitter disposed within said housing configured to transmit an RF beacon; and
a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said wireless telephone transceiver, and said radio frequency beacon transmitter, said controller configured to direct the wireless telephone transceiver to establish the communications link and transmit the location and identifier, said controller further configured to, in response to the command signal, select an active operating mode of the tracking unit, wherein a first active operating mode comprises the wireless telephone transceiver active and the RF transmitter inactive, and a second active operating mode comprises the wireless telephone transceiver inactive and the RF transmitter active; and
a remote monitoring unit configured to receive the information transmitted by the tracking unit via the communications link and to transmit the command signal via the communications link when prompted by a system user.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tracking unit for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies or other property includes a housing containing a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals from overhead satellites, a cellular phone transceiver, a microprocessor, and a battery. Following a theft, the microprocessor activates the cellular phone transceiver to dial the telephone number of a central monitoring station. The microprocessor obtains location data from the GPS receiver and transmits the location data, along with identification information, to the central monitoring station. The tracking unit also includes a separate, conventional RF beacon transmitter for allowing authorities to home-in on the tracking unit within a large building or other structure, either after the GPS signals are lost, or after the location of the tracking unit is localized to a specific building or area.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A tracking system for assisting in theft recovery, the system comprising:
-
a tracking unit, the unit comprising; a housing simulating a size and weight of a bundled package of currency; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed within said housing and configured to receive GPS signals for determining location of the tracking unit; a wireless telephone transceiver disposed within said housing and configured to establish a communications link, transmit the location of and an identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link, and to receive a command signal via the communications link; a radio frequency (RF) beacon transmitter disposed within said housing configured to transmit an RF beacon; and a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said wireless telephone transceiver, and said radio frequency beacon transmitter, said controller configured to direct the wireless telephone transceiver to establish the communications link and transmit the location and identifier, said controller further configured to, in response to the command signal, select an active operating mode of the tracking unit, wherein a first active operating mode comprises the wireless telephone transceiver active and the RF transmitter inactive, and a second active operating mode comprises the wireless telephone transceiver inactive and the RF transmitter active; and a remote monitoring unit configured to receive the information transmitted by the tracking unit via the communications link and to transmit the command signal via the communications link when prompted by a system user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A tracking system comprising:
-
a tracking unit, the unit comprising; a housing that resembles a bundled package of currency; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed within said housing for receiving GPS signals for determining location of the tracking unit; a first communications module disposed within said housing and configured to operate pursuant to a first communications protocol for establishing a communications link, the first communications module configured to transmit the location of and an identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link and to receive a command signal via the communications link; a second communications module disposed within said housing and configured to transmit a beacon signal via a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said first communications module, and said second communications module, said controller configured to cause the first communications module to establish the communications link and transmit the location and identifier, and further configured to select an active operating mode of the tracking unit in response to receipt of the command signal, wherein a first active operating mode comprises the first communications module active and the second communications module inactive, and a second active operating mode comprises the first communications module inactive and the second communications module active; and a remote monitoring unit configured to receive the information transmitted by the tracking unit via the communications link and to transmit the command signal via the communications link when prompted by a system user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification