System and method for communication with a tracking device

• US 9,219,978 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bertagna, Patrick E., DiBella, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/313,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731-5737, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.16, 340/539.23, 342/357.2, 342/357.23, 701/200, 701/213, 701/214
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing communication with a tracking device are disclosed. An example tracking device includes a location detector, a communication device, memory, a processor, and a configuration routine. The location detector is operative to determine locations of the tracking device. The communication device is operative to communicate with a remote system. The memory stores data and code, the data including location data determined by the location detector and configuration data. The processor is operative to execute the code to impart functionality to the tracking device. The functionality of the tracking device depends at least in part on the configuration data. The configuration routine is operative to modify the configuration data responsive to communications from the remote system. Thus, functional access to the tracking device is provided to the remote system.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

a location detector operative to determine locations of said tracking device;

a communication device operative to communicate with a remote system;

memory for storing data and code, said data including location data determined by said location detector and configuration data;

a processor operative to execute said code to impart functionality to said tracking device, said functionality of said tracking device depending at least in part on said configuration data;

a configuration routine operative to modify said configuration data responsive to a communication from said remote system;

a buffering routine operative to buffer location data indicative of a plurality of said locations when said communication device is unable to communicate with said remote system;

a reporting routine operative to transmit said location data indicative of said plurality of said locations when said communication device is able to communicate with said remote system.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said configuration data modifiable responsive to said communication from said remote systems at least partially determines an interval for communicating said location data to said remote system.

3. The tracking device of claim 2, wherein:

said configuration data modifiable responsive to said communication from said remote system at least partially determines an interval for buffering said location data when said communication device is unable to communicate with said remote system; and

said interval for buffering is different than said interval for communicating.

4. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said configuration data modifiable responsive to said communication from said remote system at least partially determines an interval for buffering said location data when said communication device is unable to communicate with said remote system.

5. The tracking device of claim 4, wherein said interval for buffering said location data is a time interval.

6. The tracking device of claim 4, wherein said interval for buffering said location data is a distance interval.

7. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said configuration data modifiable responsive to said communication from said remote system at least partially determines a power state of said location detector, said power state governing the power usage of said location detector.

8. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said configuration data modifiable responsive to said communication from said remote system at least partially determines an interval for communicating diagnostic information from said tracking device to said remote system.

9. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said reporting routine is further operative to communicate operational data between said tracking device and said remote system.

10. The tracking device of claim 9, wherein said reporting routine, responsive to a request from said remote system, is operative to communicate data indicative of a battery status to said remote system.

11. The tracking device of claim 9, wherein said reporting routine, responsive to a request from said remote system, is operative to communicate data indicative of a radio signal strength to said remote system.

12. The tracking device of claim 9, wherein said reporting routine, responsive to a request from said remote system, is operative to communicate data indicative of a status of said location detector to said remote system.

13. The tracking device of claim 9, wherein said reporting routine, responsive to a request from said remote system, is operative to communicate diagnostic data to said remote system.

14. A method for communicating with a tracking device, said method comprising:

communicating with said tracking device via a wireless network;

providing configuration data to said tracking device via said wireless network, said configuration data causing said tracking device to operate according to a first configuration;

receiving processed data from said tracking device, said processed data being generated by said tracking device in said first configuration;

providing new configuration data to said tracking device via said wireless network, said new configuration data changing said first configuration of said tracking device to a different configuration; and

receiving additional processed data from said tracking device, said additional processed data being generated by said tracking device in said different configuration; and

wherein

said configuration data at least partially determines a location data reporting interval;

and at least partially determines a location data buffering interval different than said location data reporting interval.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said configuration data at least partially determines a power state of said tracking device, said power state governing the power usage of said tracking device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said configuration data at least partially determines a diagnostic reporting interval.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said processed data includes data indicative of a battery status of said tracking device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said processed data includes data indicative of a radio signal strength determined by said tracking device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said processed data includes data generated by a diagnostic routine of said tracking device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said first configuration is associated with a first tracking function; and

said different configuration is associated with a different tracking function.

21. A tracking device comprising:

a location detector operative to determine locations of said tracking device;

a communication device operative to communicate with a remote system;

memory for storing data and code, said data including location data determined by said location detector and configuration data;

a processor operative to execute said code to impart functionality to said tracking device, said functionality of said tracking device depending at least in part on said configuration data;

means for modifying said configuration data responsive to a communication from any of said remote systems;

means for buffering location data indicative of a plurality of discrete locations when said communication device is unable to communicate with said remote system; and

means for reporting said location data indicative of said plurality of discrete locations when said communication device is able to communicate with said remote system.

22. A method for communicating with a tracking device, said method comprising:

communicating with said tracking device via a wireless network;

providing configuration data to said tracking device via said wireless network, said configuration data causing said tracking device to operate according to a first configuration;

receiving processed data from said tracking device, said processed data being generated by said tracking device in said first configuration;

providing new configuration data to said tracking device via said wireless network, said new configuration data changing said first configuration of said tracking device to a different configuration; and

receiving additional processed data from said tracking device, said additional processed data being generated by said tracking device in said different configuration; and

wherein

said configuration data at least partially determines a location data buffering interval.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said configuration data at least partially determines a location data reporting interval.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said configuration data at least partially determines a power state of said tracking device, said power state governing the power usage of said tracking device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said configuration data at least partially determines a diagnostic reporting interval.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said processed data includes data indicative of a battery status of said tracking device.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said processed data includes data indicative of a radio signal strength determined by said tracking device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said processed data includes data generated by a diagnostic routine of said tracking device.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein:

said first configuration is associated with a first tracking function; and

said different configuration is associated with a different tracking function.