System and method for group tracking

• US 9,053,625 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The F3m3 Companies Inc.
• Original Assignee: The F3m3 Companies Inc.
• Inventors: Daniel, Isaac Sayo
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORTELL, JOHN F
• Application Number:
  US12/315,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,378 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• 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: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for group tracking wherein at least one individual within a tracked group is provided with an article of footwear equipped with a wireless tracking device. The wireless tracking device is configured for bi-directional communications with a monitoring center, wherein the wireless tracking device is adapted to determine and store absolute location information of the individual wearing the wireless tracking device and the location information of at least one other individual within the tracked group. Each individual'"'"'s tracking device has a unique identifier for identifying the individual with a monitoring center at a remote location and/or portable monitoring unit.

Claims

1. A system for tracking a group of individuals comprising:

(a) a portable monitoring unit, provided to at least one individual within a tracked group, configured for tracking at least one other individual, within the tracked group, equipped with a wireless tracking device that includes an activation button, which may be selectively depressed to activate and/or deactivate transmission of the individual'"'"'s location information to the portable monitoring unit and a monitoring center, and wherein said wireless tracking device is also configured for activating at least one other wireless tracking device within the tracked group being monitored, and configured for bi-directional communications with the portable monitoring unit and the monitoring center, and wherein said wireless tracking device is adapted to determine and store absolute location information of said individual with said wireless tracking device and the location information of at least one other individual within said tracked group;

(b) a geo fence established by the monitoring center, the geo fence having geo-fencing limitations for the at least one individual and the tracked group in real-time based on the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity relative to the portable monitoring unit as they travel where the geo-fence is in constant motion and the geo fence is defined by first determining location of a majority of the tracked group'"'"'s members and then setting a maximum allowed distance between each member of the tracked group and the majority of the tracked group'"'"'s members, and wherein the monitoring center sets new geo-fencing limitations to incorporate an authorized presence of a member of the tracked group who has moved away from the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity;

(c) means for receiving an activation signal from a communications means of another wireless tracking device within said tracked group and means for determining said wireless tracking device'"'"'s direct access to a satellite network system;

(d) means for dynamically creating a relay path of transmission to said satellite network system by querying nearby wireless tracking devices within the tracked group until at least one wireless tracking device with direct access to said satellite network system is determined; and

(e) means for transmitting an encrypted signal using a short range wireless protocol that contains location information of at least one individual within said tracked group along said dynamically created relay path of transmission, where said individual'"'"'s location information is received and stored for transmission along the dynamically created relay path via said satellite network system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving an activation signal is further configured for receiving at least one encrypted alarm signal from a monitoring center.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said short range wireless protocol includes any one or more of the following:

WiHLoN™

, Bluetooth®

, ZigBee, 802.11 series.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless tracking device has a unique identifier for identifying said individual with monitoring center.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said satellite network system may include one of the following:

a geosynchronous or low earth orbit satellite.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said location information may comprise of:

said individual'"'"'s absolute geographical location, the date and time said location information was determined or said individual'"'"'s location relative to other individuals within the tracked group.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said location information being transmitted to monitoring center or the portable monitoring unit may therefore include anyone or more of the following:

the absolute geographical location for one, some or all individuals wearing the wireless tracking device in the tracked group.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring center sets the new geo-fencing limitations upon receipt of a false alarm from the tracked group'"'"'s leader regarding the member'"'"'s authorized presence away from the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity.

8. A method for tracking a group of individuals comprising:

(a) providing at least one individual within a tracked group with a portable monitoring unit, configured for tracking at least one other individual within the tracked group, equipped with a wireless tracking device that includes an activation button, which may be selectively depressed to activate and/or deactivate transmission of the individual'"'"'s location information to the portable monitoring unit and a monitoring center, and wherein said wireless tracking device is also configured for activating at least one other wireless tracking device within the tracked group being monitored, and configured for bi-directional communications with the portable monitoring unit and the monitoring center, and wherein said wireless tracking device is adapted to determine and store absolute location information of said individual wearing said wireless tracking device and the location information of at least one other individual within said tracked group;

(b) determining location of a majority of the tracked group'"'"'s members;

(c) establishing a geo fence by the monitoring center, the geo fence having geo-fencing limitations for the at least one individual and the tracked group in real-time based on the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity relative to the portable monitoring unit as they travel where the geo-fence is in constant motion and the geo fence is defined as the maximum allowed distance between each member of the tracked group and the majority of the tracked group'"'"'s members, and setting new geo-fencing limitations to incorporate an authorized presence of a member of the tracked group who has moved away from the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity;

(d) receiving an activation signal from a communications means of another wireless tracking device within said tracked group and determining said wireless tracking device'"'"'s direct access to a satellite network system;

(e) dynamically creating a relay path of transmission to said satellite network system by querying nearby wireless tracking devices within the tracked group until at least one wireless tracking device with direct access to said satellite network system is determined; and

(f) transmitting an encrypted signal using a short range wireless protocol that contains location information of at least one individual within said tracked group along said dynamically created relay path of transmission, where said individual'"'"'s location information is received and stored for transmission along the dynamically created relay path via said satellite network system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein further comprising receiving at least one encrypted alarm signal from a monitoring center.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said short range wireless protocol includes any one or more of the following:

WiHLoN™

, Bluetooth®

, ZigBee, 802.11 series.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said tracking device has a unique identifier for identifying said individual with monitoring center.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said satellite network system may include one of the following:

a geosynchronous or low earth orbit satellite.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said location information may comprise of but is not limited to:

said individual'"'"'s absolute geographical location, the date and time said location information was determined, said individual'"'"'s location relative to other individuals within the tracked group.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said location information being transmitted to monitoring center or the portable monitoring unit may therefore include anyone or more of the following but is not limited to:

the absolute geographical location for one, some or all individuals wearing the wireless tracking device in the tracked group.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the new geo-fencing limitations are set upon receipt of a false alarm from the tracked group'"'"'s leader regarding the member'"'"'s authorized presence away from the tracked group'"'"'s center of gravity.