Tracking apparatus for baggage

• US 8,902,059 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Umm Al-Qura University
• Original Assignee: Umm Al-Qura University
• Inventors: Mahmoud, Mohamed F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/594,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/568.6, 340/572.1, 340/571, 342/357.25, 342/357.54
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for tracking an item transported with the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a global positioning system (GPS) module for determining a location of the item based on GPS signals received from one or more GPS satellites. The apparatus further comprises a mobile communications controller for generating a message including the determined location of the item, wherein the mobile communications controller sends the generated message to at least one mobile device. The mobile communications controller may also send the generated message to a remote server maintaining location tracking information for one or more items.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking an item transported with the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) module configured to determine a location of the item based on GPS signals received from one or more GPS satellites;

a power timer controller; and

a mobile communications controller having processing circuitry configured to

generate a message including the determined location of the item, wherein the mobile communications controller transmits the generated message to at least one mobile device based on timing information programmed into the mobile communications controller, and

generate and send, in response to successful transmission of the generated message, an acknowledgement packet to the power timer controller,

wherein the power timer controller, in response to receiving the acknowledgement packet, disconnects power from the GPS module and the mobile communications controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the timing information comprises a preset time interval;

based on the preset time interval, the mobile communications controller periodically generates and transmits updated location information for the item to at least one mobile device, wherein the updated location information comprises a location of the item determined by the GPS module; and

the mobile communications controller further transmits the updated location information to a remote server maintaining location tracking information for one or more items.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a clock for generating time stamps;

wherein the updated location information further includes an identifier corresponding to the item and a time stamp corresponding to the determined location of the item.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a battery unit for supplying power to operate the apparatus;

an electronic switch, wherein the electronic switch is movable between an on position and an off position,

wherein the power timer controller includes a memory unit for maintaining the preset time interval, and turns the electronic switch to the on position at the preset time interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the battery unit supplies power to the GPS module and the mobile communications controller only when the electronic switch is turned to the on position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mobile communications controller includes a memory unit for maintaining contact information for the at least one mobile device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the GPS module includes a memory unit for maintaining all determined locations of the item.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory unit of the GPS module further includes a lookup table maintaining location coordinates of different cities worldwide.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the GPS module:

determines location coordinates of the item based on the GPS signals received; and

determines a city having location coordinates nearest to the location coordinates of the item based on the lookup table;

wherein the updated location information further includes the determined city having location coordinates nearest to the location coordinates of the item.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mobile communications controller further includes an audio visual interface for receiving one or more of the following user inputs:

contact information for the at least one mobile device, the preset time interval, and a clock setting that sets the clock to a local time of a location.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

each message generated by the mobile communications controller comprises an e-mail message; and

the contact information for the at least one mobile device includes one or more e-mail addresses corresponding to the at least one mobile device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

each message generated by the mobile communications controller comprises a short message service; and

the contact information for the at least one mobile device includes one or more mobile numbers corresponding to the at least one mobile device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

upon receiving the acknowledgement packet, the power timer controller turns the electronic switch to the off position; and

wherein the battery unit is disconnected from the GPS module and the mobile communications controller when the electronic switch is turned to the off position.

14. A system for tracking an item, the system comprising:

a tracking apparatus that is transported with the item, wherein the tracking apparatus comprises;

a global positioning system (GPS) module configured to determine a location of the item based on GPS signals received from one or more GPS satellites;

a power time controller; and

a mobile communications controller having processing circuitry configured to

generate a message including the determined location of the item, wherein the mobile communications controller transmits the generated message to at least one mobile device based on timing information programmed into the mobile communications controller, and

generate and send, in response to successful transmission of the generated message, an acknowledgement packet to the power timer controller,

wherein the power timer controller, in response to receiving the acknowledgement packet, disconnects power from the GPS module and the mobile communications controller.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the timing information comprises a preset time interval;

based on the preset time interval, the mobile communications controller periodically generates and transmits updated location information for the item to at least one mobile device, wherein the updated location information comprises a location of the item determined by the GPS module; and

the mobile communications controller further transmits the updated location information to a remote server maintaining location tracking information for one or more items.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a clock for generating time stamps, wherein the updated location information further includes a time stamp corresponding to the determined location of the item;

a battery unit for supplying power to operate the tracking apparatus;

an electronic switch, wherein the electronic switch is movable between an on position and an off position

wherein the power timer controller includes a memory unit for maintaining the preset time interval, and turns the electronic switch to the on position at the preset time interval;

wherein the battery unit supplies power to the GPS module and the mobile communications controller only when the electronic switch is turned to the on position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

upon receiving the acknowledgement packet, the power timer controller turns the electronic switch to the off position; and

wherein the battery unit is disconnected from the GPS module and the mobile communications controller when the electronic switch is turned to the off position.

18. A method for tracking an item, the method comprising:

receiving global positioning system (GPS) signals received from one or more GPS satellites;

determining, via a GPS module, a location of the item based on GPS signals received;

generating, via a mobile communications controller, a message including the determined location of the item;

transmitting the generated message to at least one mobile device based on programmed timing information; and

generating and sending, in response to successful transmission of the generated message, an acknowledgement packet to a power timer controller,

disconnecting, via the power time controller and in response to receiving the acknowledgement packet, power from the GPS module and the mobile communications controller.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

based on a preset time interval included in the programmed timing information, periodically generating and transmitting updated location information for the item to at least one mobile device, wherein the updated location information comprises a location of the item determined by the GPS module; and

transmitting the updated location information to a remote server that maintains location tracking information for one or more items;

wherein the updated location information further includes an identifier corresponding to the item and a time stamp corresponding to the determined location of the item.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining location coordinates of the item based on the GPS signals received; and

determines a city having location coordinates nearest to the location coordinates of the item;

wherein the updated location information further includes the determined city having location coordinates nearest to the location coordinates of the item.