System and method for locating physical assets
First Claim
1. An asset location system comprising:
- a first locating device ID′
associated with a first asset, said first LD having a first wireless communication unit, said first wireless communication unit comprising a public radio network ‘
PRN’
enabled communication unit for communicating over a first PRN with at least one of;
an operations control centre ‘
OCC’
;
a second LD associated with a second asset;
or a mobile location tracking system, said first LD including a second wireless communication unit, said second wireless communication unit using a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the first PRN enabled communication unit, the first LD being configured to use said second wireless communication unit to communicate either;
a) directly over a private radio frequency network ‘
PRFN’
with the second LD associated with the second asset where the second wireless communication unit is a PRFN enabled communication unit;
orb) with at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system on a second PRN using a different technology or protocol to the first PRN,when a communication cannot be transmitted between the first LD and at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system using the first PRN.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stolen asset locating and recovery system comprises: a first locating device (LD) associated with a first asset. The first LD has a first wireless communication unit comprising a public mobile radio network (PMRN) enabled communication unit for communicating over a PMRN such as a GSM/GPRS network with any of: an operations control center; a second LD associated with a second asset; or a mobile location tracking system. The first LD has a second wireless communication unit. The second wireless communication unit uses a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the PMRN enabled communication unit. In the case where the second communication unit is a private radio frequency network (PRFN) operated by the asset location system service provider, the first LD is configured to use said second communication unit to communicate directly over said PRFN with the second LD in order to convey information such as a preprogrammed sequence of signals which assists locating and recovering said asset. In the event that the second communication unit is enabled for communication on a public radio network (PRN), the first LD is configured to communicate with any of the operations control center, the second LD, or the mobile location tracking system on a PRN such as an IEEE802.11 enabled wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IEEE802.16 enabled wireless metropolitan area network when it is determined at the first LD that the communication cannot be transmitted between said first LD and any of the operations control center, the second LD, or the mobile location tracking system using the PMRN.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An asset location system comprising:
-
a first locating device ID′
associated with a first asset, said first LD having a first wireless communication unit, said first wireless communication unit comprising a public radio network ‘
PRN’
enabled communication unit for communicating over a first PRN with at least one of;
an operations control centre ‘
OCC’
;
a second LD associated with a second asset;
or a mobile location tracking system, said first LD including a second wireless communication unit, said second wireless communication unit using a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the first PRN enabled communication unit, the first LD being configured to use said second wireless communication unit to communicate either;a) directly over a private radio frequency network ‘
PRFN’
with the second LD associated with the second asset where the second wireless communication unit is a PRFN enabled communication unit;
orb) with at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system on a second PRN using a different technology or protocol to the first PRN, when a communication cannot be transmitted between the first LD and at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system using the first PRN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26)
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23. A first locating device ‘
- LD’
for an asset location system, said LD comprising;a first wireless communication unit, said first wireless communication unit comprising a public radio network ‘
PRN’
enabled communication unit for communicating over a first PRN with at least one of;
an operations control centre ‘
OCC’
;
a second LD associated with a second asset;
or a mobile location tracking system; anda second wireless communication unit, said second wireless communication unit using a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the first PRN enabled communication unit; wherein said first LD is configured to; a) use said second wireless communication unit to communicate directly over a PRFN with the second LD associated with the second asset where the second wireless communication unit is a PRFN-enabled communication unit;
orb) communicate with at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system on a second PRN using a different technology or protocol to the first PRN; when a communication cannot be transmitted between the first LD and at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system using the first PRN. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27, 29)
- LD’
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24. A method of locating an asset using an asset location system in which a first locating device ID′
- is associated with a first asset, said first LD having a first wireless communication unit, said first wireless communication unit comprising a public radio network ‘
PRN’
enabled communication unit for communicating over a first PRN with at least one of;
an operations control centre ‘
OCC’
;
a second LD associated with a second asset;
or a mobile location tracking system, said first LD including a second wireless communication unit, said second wireless communication unit using a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the first PRN enabled communication unit, the method comprising;a) using said second wireless communication unit at said first LD to communicate directly over a private radio frequency network ‘
PRFN’
with the second LD associated with the second asset where the second wireless communication unit is a PRFN enabled communication unit;
orb) using said second wireless communication unit to communicate with at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system on a second PRN using a different technology or protocol to the first PRN; when a communication cannot be transmitted between the first LD and at least one of the OCC, the second LD associated with the second asset, or the mobile location tracking system using the first PRN. - View Dependent Claims (28)
- is associated with a first asset, said first LD having a first wireless communication unit, said first wireless communication unit comprising a public radio network ‘
Specification