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Monitoring the movement of mobile communication devices

  • US 9,140,773 B2
  • Filed: 07/29/2005
  • Issued: 09/22/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for monitoring movement, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of receiving units, the plurality of receiving units being distributed over an area such that the spacing between the receiving units is between one-third and one-half the range over which the receiving units are sensitive; and

    a control unit in communication with each of the plurality of receiving units;

    wherein each receiving unit is configured;

    to receive and to interpret mobile communication signals transmitted by plural mobile communication devices,to decode an identifier from a received mobile communication signal,to calculate a direction from which said mobile communication signal was received,to record a time at which said mobile communication signal was received, andto report to the control unit the identifier, the direction and the time relating to the mobile communication signal received from the mobile communication device;

    wherein the control unit is configured;

    to receive from a first of said plurality of receiving units, a first identifier, a first direction and first time data relating to a first mobile communication signal received from the mobile communication devices,to receive, from a second of said plurality of receiving units, a second identifier, a second direction and second time data relating to a second mobile communication signals received from mobile communication devices,if the first identifier is the same as the second identifier, to determine whether the first and second time data fall within a time window of predetermined width,if the first identifier is the same as the second identifier and the first and second time data fall within a time window of predetermined width, to use the first and second direction data to determine a position of the mobile communication device from which the first and second mobile communication signals were received,if the first and second time data do not fall within a time window of predetermined width, to discard the data, andto use the first and second directions and first and second time data to determine and record the movement of the mobile communication devices within the area.

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