Tracking system with separated tracking device

• US 8,421,617 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Joseph W., Eriksen, Jb Bittner, Pellegrini, Ronald L., Bertagna, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US13/323,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/693.5, 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 455/404.2, 701/214, 701/215, 701/220
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A separated tracking device includes a first portion including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system, a wireless communication device operative to communicate the location data from the first portion to a second portion of the tracking device, the second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit the location data to a remote server. In a particular embodiment, the first portion of the tracking device is attached to a first shoe and the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a second shoe. In another embodiment, the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a hand-held device. A method for manufacturing a separated tracking device and a method of operating a separated tracking device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. In an electronic device adapted to be worn or carried by a user, a method of communicating location to a remote system, said method comprising:

establishing a short-range wireless connection with another electronic device adapted to be worn or carried by said person;

receiving, via said short-range wireless connection, information from said another electronic device indicative of a location of said person;

transmitting data indicative of said location of said person to a remote system;

receiving control data specifying operational parameters for said another electronic device from said remote system; and

transmitting information based at least in part on said control data to said another electronic device via said short-range wireless connection.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is attached to an article of footwear.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said another electronic device is attached to a separate article of footwear.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said article of footwear and said separate article of footwear are, together, a pair of footwear.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said data to said remote system includes transmitting said data via a wide area network.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of transmitting said data to said remote system includes transmitting said data via a wireless telephone network.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting data buffering in said another electronic device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting sampling frequency in said another electronic device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting reporting frequency in said another electronic device.

10. A non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium having code embodied therein for causing an electronic device to:

establish a short-range wireless connection with another electronic device adapted to be worn or carried by a person;

receive, via said short-range wireless connection, information from said another electronic device indicative of a location of said person;

transmit data indicative of said location of said person to a remote system;

receive control data specifying operational parameters for said another electronic device from said remote system; and

transmit information based at least in part on said control data to said another electronic device via said short-range wireless connection.

11. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said electronically readable storage medium is attached to an article of footwear.

12. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said another electronic device is attached to a separate article of footwear.

13. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein said article of footwear and said separate article of footwear are, together, a pair of footwear.

14. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said code causes said electronic device to transmit said data to said remote system via a wide area network.

15. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein said code causes said electronic device to transmit said data to said remote system via a wireless telephone network.

16. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting data buffering in said another electronic device.

17. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting sampling frequency in said another electronic device.

18. The non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein said information based at least in part on said control data includes information affecting reporting frequency in said another electronic device.

19. A tracking device comprising:

a first portion including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system and to generate location data based on said signals, said location data indicative of a location of said tracking device;

a second portion spaced apart from said first portion, said second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit data based at least in part on said location data to a remote system; and

a wireless communication device operative to establish a connection between said first portion and said second portion; and

wherein

said first portion transmits said location data to said second portion; and

said second portion receives configuration data from said remote system and transmits said configuration data to said first portion.

20. The tracking device of claim 19, wherein said configuration data includes information affecting sampling frequency by said first portion.

21. The tracking device of claim 19, wherein said configuration data includes information affecting reporting frequency by said first portion.

22. The tracking device of claim 19, wherein said configuration data includes information affecting data buffering by said first portion.