System, apparatus and method for locating and/or tracking assets
First Claim
1. An apparatus for tracking an asset, the apparatus comprising:
- a tag transmitter;
a satellite-based sensor; and
a controller configured to control operation of the tag transmitter and the satellite-based sensor, the apparatus being positioned on an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset;
wherein the controller is configured to;
cause the tag transmitter to transmit a blink pattern usable to determine a location of the asset based on times of arrival of the blink pattern at receivers;
collect, from the satellite-based sensor, sensor data indicating a location of the asset, each instance of the sensor data being collected during a respective collection period;
direct transmission of the sensor data to a host for determining a location of the asset, the host being configured to;
when the asset is in a first one of a plurality of predefined zones in a coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the blink pattern transmitted by the tag transmitter; and
when the asset is in a second one of the plurality of predefined zones in the coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the sensor data collected from the satellite-based sensor, the second one of the plurality of predefined zones being different than the first one of the plurality of predefined zones.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for tracking an asset within a geographic area. The system includes an antenna mast supportable by, and extending upward from, an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset. The antenna mast is capable of supporting a plurality of wireless locating units of a plurality of geo-spatial positioning systems, which are configured to locate a respective one or more locating units, and thereby the asset, within the geographic area. The system also includes a controller positionable on the object and configured to control operation of the wireless locating units. The controller is further configured to direct transmission of data to a host via one of the locating units or another wireless transmitter, and in a manner that accounts for a wireless link between the respective locating unit or other wireless transmitter and the host.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking an asset, the apparatus comprising:
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a tag transmitter; a satellite-based sensor; and a controller configured to control operation of the tag transmitter and the satellite-based sensor, the apparatus being positioned on an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset; wherein the controller is configured to; cause the tag transmitter to transmit a blink pattern usable to determine a location of the asset based on times of arrival of the blink pattern at receivers; collect, from the satellite-based sensor, sensor data indicating a location of the asset, each instance of the sensor data being collected during a respective collection period; direct transmission of the sensor data to a host for determining a location of the asset, the host being configured to; when the asset is in a first one of a plurality of predefined zones in a coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the blink pattern transmitted by the tag transmitter; and when the asset is in a second one of the plurality of predefined zones in the coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the sensor data collected from the satellite-based sensor, the second one of the plurality of predefined zones being different than the first one of the plurality of predefined zones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for tracking an asset, the system comprising:
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an antenna mast supportable by, and extending upward from, an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset; a wireless locating unit supportable by the antenna mast, the wireless locating unit including a tag transmitter and a satellite-based sensor configured to locate the asset within a geographic area, the geographic area including a plurality of predefined zones; and a controller on the object and configured to; cause the tag transmitter to transmit blink pulses usable to determine a location of the asset based on times of arrival of the blink pulses at receivers; collect, from the satellite-based sensor, sensor data indicating locations of the asset; and direct transmission of the sensor data to a host for determining a location of the asset, the host being configured to; when the asset is in a first one of the plurality of predefined zones, determine the location of the asset based on the blink pulses transmitted by the tag transmitter; and when the asset is in a second one of the plurality of predefined zones, determine the location of the asset based on the sensor data collected from the satellite-based sensor, the second one of the plurality of predefined zones being different than the first one of the plurality of predefined zones. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for tracking an asset using a wireless locating unit carried by an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset, the wireless locating unit including a tag transmitter and a satellite-based sensor, the method comprising;
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transmitting, using the tag transmitter, a blink pattern usable to determine a location of the object based on times of arrival of the blink pattern; collecting, from the satellite-based sensor, multiple instances of sensor data indicating respective locations of the object; transmitting the sensor data to a host for determining a location of the asset, and in a manner that accounts for a wireless link between the wireless locating unit and the host, the host being configured to; when the asset is in a first one of a plurality of predefined zones in a coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the blink pattern transmitted by the tag transmitter; and when the asset is in a second one of the plurality of predefined zones in the coverage area, determine the location of the asset based on the sensor data collected from the satellite-based sensor, the second one of the plurality of predefined zones being different than the first one of the plurality of predefined zones. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification