Tracking system with redundant security and retransmission features

• US 8,436,725 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vision Sistemas De Localizacion, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Vision Sistemas De Localizacion, S.L.
• Inventors: Caetano Pereria, Abilio, Garca Rivera, Francisca
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/994,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 340/508, 340/539.13, 340/539.2, 340/989
• US Class Current: 340/508
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• 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 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/222 wherein jamming detection includes detecting the absence or impossibility of intelligible communication on at least one channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/90 related to allowing or preventing navigation or positioning, e.g. GPS

Abstract

System which is constituted by one or more positioning devices (2), one or more localizers (1), one or several communication networks and one or several control centers (3). The localizers (1) and the positioning devices (2) have two or more communication interfaces and two or more positioning systems. The positioning devices (2) can calculate the position through some of the positioning systems and send their position via one of the communication interfaces, avoiding inoperability if one of the positioning systems or one of the communication interfaces fails to work. The localizers can perform the function of nodes (4) and forward the data of the position of a positioning devices and make them reach the localizer which has requested that information. Both the positioning devices and the localizers are mobile units. The control centers can monitor the position of the positioning devices if necessary.

Claims

1. A tracking system which comprises:

at least one positioning device (2);

at least one localizer (1);

the at least one positioning device employs a plurality of different positioning systems and in case the at least positioning device detects that the positioning system which is being used is inoperative, it will switch to another positioning system that is operative;

the at least one localizer is a mobile unit;

the at least one positioning device including a plurality of different communication interfaces;

the at least one localizer including a plurality of different communication interfaces;

the at least one localizer and the at least one positioning device configured to communicate between each other either in a direct form through a radio-link or one or more multi-purpose network infrastructures, and in an indirect form through a network of dynamic or changing topology formed by node localizers, and in a hybrid form using one or more forms of communication, among direct, indirect and deferred mode wherein this deferred mode uses an intermediate centre (3) which monitors, stores and forwards the messages;

wherein if the at least one localizer or the at least one positioning device detects that the communication interface which is being used is inoperative, it will switch to another communication interface that is operative in order to establish communication;

wherein the selection of the communication interface is governed by a system of priorities which depend on environmental parameters;

the at least one localizer and the at least one positioning device incorporating functions for establishing themselves as network nodes (4);

the at least one positioning device configured to communicate with several localizers simultaneously; and

the at least one localizer device configured to communicate with several positioning devices simultaneously.

2. The tracking system with redundant security and retransmission features, according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one localizer includes two or more different positioning systems.

3. The tracking, according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one localizer and the at least one positioning communicate between each other in a deferred form using an intermediate centre (3) which monitors, stores and forwards the messages.

4. The tracking system, according to claim 2, characterized in that the data centre (3) monitors the position of the at least one positioning device and is accessible for the at least one localizer or other device with access permission.

5. The tracking system, according to claim 4, characterized in having a data centre which holds geo-referenced maps that can be downloaded by the at least one localizer if required.

6. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one localizer (1) and the at least one positioning device (2) communicate with each other in the hybrid form using one or more forms of communication, among direct, indirect and deferred.

7. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication interfaces can be GSM, DCS, PCS, CDMA, UMTS, TETRA, Bluetooth, 802.11 in any one of the variants or versions thereof, and Wimax.

8. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the system of priorities is fixed at all times.

9. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one localizer and the at least one positioning device use different communication interfaces, a gateway existing between them which performs the pertinent conversion of protocol, frequency or modulation.

10. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the different positioning systems can be GPS (Global Positioning System.

11. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that if the at least one localizer or the at least one positioning device detect that the positioning system which is being used is inoperative, it will switch to another positioning system that is operative.

12. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one localizer (1) is mobile, and incorporates a display screen or monitor (11) whereon are shown in graphic terms the position of the at least one positioning device (2) and its own position.

13. The tracking system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates a system of coding messages which uses encryption.

14. The tracking system, according to claim 3, characterized in having a data centre (3) with a web interface accessible through Internet and where a user can carry out any of the actions that he can carry out with the at least one localizer (1), provided the user has access permission for the at least one positioning device (2).