System and method for tracking individuals

• US 9,961,489 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Net Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Global Net Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Elias, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/644,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A tracking device and a method of tracking are provided. The tracking device includes a first location tracking circuit, a second location tracking circuit, at least one biometric identification circuit, a data storage device, and a processor. The first location tracking circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless location system and to generate at least one first signal indicative of a location of the tracking device using wireless communications with the at least one wireless location system. The second location tracking circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless local-area network and to generate at least one second signal indicative of the location using wireless communications with the at least one wireless local-area network. The at least one biometric identification circuit is configured to detect at least one biometric characteristic of a user. The processor is configured to: generate information regarding the location in response at least in part to one or both of the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal, and determine whether the user is an authorized user of the tracking device.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

a first location tracking circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless location system and to generate at least one first signal indicative of a location of the tracking device using wireless communications with the at least one wireless location system;

a second location tracking circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one wireless local-area network and to generate at least one second signal indicative of the location of the tracking device using wireless communications with the at least one wireless local-area network;

at least one biometric identification circuit configured to detect at least one biometric characteristic of a user and to generate at least one third signal indicative of the at least one biometric characteristic of the user;

a data storage device configured to store at least one fourth signal indicative of at least one biometric characteristic of an authorized user of the tracking device;

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuit configured to wirelessly transmit at least one identification signal to an RFID system securing a restricted area, the RFID system configured to allow the user to access the restricted area in response at least in part to the at least one identification signal indicating that the authorized user of the tracking device is authorized to access the restricted area; and

a processor in operative communication with the first location tracking circuit, the second location tracking circuit, the at least one biometric identification circuit, the RFID circuit, and the data storage device, the processor configured to;

generate information regarding the location of the tracking device in response at least in part to one or both of the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal,

determine whether the user is the authorized user of the tracking device in response at least in part to a comparison of the at least one third signal and the at least one fourth signal,

control transmission of the at least one identification signal by the RFID circuit to the RFID system by allowing transmission of the at least one identification signal by the RFID circuit when the user is the authorized user of the tracking device and preventing transmission of the at least one identification signal by the RFID circuit when the user is not the authorized user of the tracking device, and

control at least one of the first location tracking circuit and the second location tracking circuit in response to the comparison of the at least one third signal and the at least one fourth signal.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless location system comprises a global positioning and navigation satellite network system and the at least one wireless local-area network comprises at least one of a WiFi network and a Bluetooth network.

3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to wirelessly transmit the information regarding the location of the tracking device in real time to a location tracking system.

4. The tracking device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to wirelessly transmit the information regarding the location of the tracking device in real time to the location tracking system in response at least in part to the comparison of the at least one third signal and the at least one fourth signal.

5. The tracking device of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to wirelessly transmit the information regarding the location of the tracking device via a wireless local-area network.

6. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the first location tracking circuit comprises at least one antenna and the second location tracking circuit comprises the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one wireless location system and the at least one wireless local-area network.

7. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one biometric identification circuit comprises a fingerprint scanner and the at least one biometric characteristic of the user comprises a fingerprint pattern of the user.

8. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit in operable communication with the processor and configured to be in operable communication with a wireless low-power wide-area network in operable communication with a location tracking system, the processor further configured to transmit the information regarding the location of the tracking device via the communication circuit to the location tracking system.

9. The tracking device of claim 8, wherein the wireless low-power wide-area network comprises a LoRa wide-area network.

10. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a power storage device configured to provide power to the first location tracking circuit, the second location tracking circuit, the at least one biometric identification circuit, the data storage device, and the processor.

11. The tracking device of claim 10, further comprising at least one inertial sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an acceleration of the tracking device, wherein the processor is further configured to control power flow from the power storage device in response at least in part to the signal indicative of the acceleration of the tracking device.

12. The tracking device of claim 10, further comprising a charger circuit configured to supply power to the power storage device, the charger circuit comprising a solar charger, a wireless charger, or both.

13. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to be actuated by the user and in operative communication with the processor, the processor further configured to wirelessly transmit the information regarding the location of the tracking device in real time to a location tracking system in response at least in part to actuation of the switch.

14. A method for tracking, the method comprising:

detecting at least one biometric characteristic of a user of a tracking device;

generating at least one third signal indicative of the at least one biometric characteristic of the user;

determining whether the user is an authorized user of the tracking device in response at least in part to a comparison of the at least one third signal and at least one previously-stored fourth signal indicative of at least one biometric characteristic of the authorized user of the tracking device;

in response to determining that the user is the authorized user of the tracking device;

controlling wireless transmission of at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) signal to an RFID system securing a restricted area, the RFID system configured to allow the user to access the restricted area in response at least in part to the at least one RFID signal indicating that the authorized user of the tracking device is authorized to access the restricted area, wherein said controlling comprises allowing transmission of the at least one RFID signal when the user is the authorized user of the tracking device and preventing transmission of the at least one RFID signal when the user is not the authorized user of the tracking device; and

generating information regarding a location of the tracking device, wherein said generating comprises one or both of;

wirelessly communicating with at least one wireless location system and generating at least one first signal indicative of the location of the tracking device using wireless communications with the at least one wireless location system; and

wirelessly communicating with at least one wireless local-area network and generating at least one second signal indicative of the location of the tracking device using wireless communications with the at least one wireless local-area network.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the at least one fourth signal indicative of at least one biometric characteristic of the authorized user.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the information regarding the location of the tracking device to a location tracking system via a communication circuit in communication with a low-power wide-area network in communication with the location tracking system.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the information regarding the location of the tracking device to a wireless low-power wide-area network in operable communication with a location tracking system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless low-power wide-area network comprises a LoRa wide-area network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said wirelessly transmitting the information regarding the location of the tracking device to the location tracking system is performed in real time and in response to determining that the user is the authorized user of the tracking device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one wireless location system comprises a global positioning and navigation satellite network system and the at least one wireless local-area network comprises at least one of a WiFi network and a Bluetooth network.