Systems and methods for beacon tethering in a monitoring system

• US 9,626,855 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Melton, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/966,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20160098914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present inventions are related to monitoring physical location of a monitored target, but not limited to, use of beacon location information.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, the system comprising:

a first motion sensing device operable to provide a first motion output indicating motion of a tethered device;

a second motion sensing device operable to provide a second motion output indicating motion of the tethered device, wherein a first sensitivity of the first motion sensing device is different from a second sensitivity second motion sensing device; and

a selector circuit operable to select one of the first motion output or the second motion output as a motion indication output.

2. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

the tethered device, wherein the tethered device provides a tether output indicating a connection between the tethered device and an active tether; and

wherein the first motion sensing device and the second motion sensing device are physically incorporated in the tethered device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first motion sensing circuit is enabled when the tether output indicates that the tethered device is not connected to the active tether, and wherein the second motion sensing circuit is enabled when the tether output indicates that the tethered device is connected to the active tether.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the selector circuit is operable to enable one of the first motion sensing device or the second motion sensing device based at least in part on the tether output to yield the motion indication output.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the tethered device is a tethered beacon in a monitoring system, and wherein the tethered beacon is operable to transmit a movement message when the motion indication output indicates movement.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the tethered beacon includes an identification number that is associated with a physical location of the tethered beacon, and wherein the tethered beacon is operable to transmit the identification number.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tethered device provides a tether output indicating a connection between the tethered device and an active tether, and wherein the selector circuit is operable to select the motion indication output based at least in part on the tether output.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second motion output is selected as the motion indication output when the tether output indicates that the tethered device is connected to the active tether.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first motion output is selected as the motion indication output when the tether output indicates that the tethered device is not connected to the active tether.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensitivity is more sensitive than the second sensitivity.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the active tether is a fixed location power source.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the fixed location power source is an AC wall outlet, and wherein a connection between the tethered device and the AC wall outlet is via a power cord.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein both the first motion sensing circuit and the second motion sensing circuit are operable to actively detect motion of the tethered device at the same time.

14. A method for providing location information, the method comprising:

determining whether a tethered beacon is tethered to an active tether to yield a tethered output; and

selecting one of a first motion output from a first motion sensing circuit or a second motion output from a second motion sensing circuit as a motion indication output based at least in part on the tethered output.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first motion sensing circuit exhibits a first motion sensitivity and indicates motion of the tethered beacon;

wherein the second motion sensing circuit exhibits a second motion sensitivity and also indicates motion of the tethered beacon; and

wherein the first motion sensitivity is more sensitive to motion than the second motion sensitivity;

transmitting the motion indication output.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second motion output is selected as the motion indication output when the tether output indicates that the tethered beacon is connected to the active tether.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first motion output is selected as the motion indication output when the tether output indicates that the tethered beacon is not connected to the active tether.

18. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a tethered beacon including a beacon identification, wherein the tethered beacon includes;

a tether detection circuit operable to provide a tether output, wherein the tether output is operable to indicate a connection between a tethered beacon and an active tether;

a first motion sensing circuit operable to provide a first motion output, wherein the first motion output is operable to indicate motion of the tethered beacon, and wherein the first motion sensing circuit provides a first motion sensitivity;

a second motion sensing circuit operable to provide a second motion output, wherein the second motion output is operable to indicate motion of the tethered beacon, and wherein the second motion sensing circuit provides a second motion sensitivity;

a selector circuit operable to select one of the first motion output or the second motion output as a motion indication output based at least in part on the tether output;

a transmission circuit operable to transmit the beacon identification and the motion indication; and

a monitoring device adapted to be attached to a monitor target, wherein the monitoring device includes a location system operable to identify a location of the monitoring device using a beacon system, wherein the location system is operable to receive the beacon identification and the motion indication when the monitor device is within range of the tethered beacon.

19. The monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the active tether is a fixed location power source.

20. The monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the location of the monitoring device is selected as an information set, wherein the information set is selected from a group consisting of:

a first set derived from the beacon identification when the monitor device is within range of the tethered beacon and the motion indication indicates a lack of motion of the tethered beacon, and a second set derived from a global positioning system input when either the monitor device is not within range of the tethered beacon or the motion indication indicates motion of the tethered beacon.