Apparatus and Method for Providing Location Information on Individuals and Objects using Tracking Devices
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first tracking device comprising a first transceiver;
a monitoring station to track location information of the first tracking device;
a user interface to remotely access the monitoring station, the user interface comprises;
i.) a graphical rendering of a keypad that comprises both numeric and letter designations; and
ii.) a tool useful to select a series of keystrokes on the graphical rendering of a keypad that substantially prevents unauthorized communication of the series of keystrokes;
wherein upon successful completion of a secure login process associated with the user interface, a first request signal is communicated to obtain location coordinates of a first tracking device;
wherein the first tracking device transmits a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code; and
wherein a second tracking device having a second transceiver to receive the first reply signal, compares the first identification code to a stored identification code, and communicates to the monitoring station a second reply signal that comprises the location coordinates of the first tracking device in part responsive to verification of the first identification code.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring objects and individuals. The system includes a first tracking device and a monitoring station to track location information. A user interface provides to remotely access the monitoring station. The user interface includes a graphical rendering to select a series of keystrokes. The graphical rendering prevents unauthorized recording of the series of keystrokes. A first request signal communicated obtains location coordinates of a first tracking device. The first tracking device transmits a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code. A second tracking device receives the first reply signal, compares the first identification code to a stored identification code and communicates to the monitoring station a second reply signal that comprises the location coordinates of the first tracking device.
464 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first tracking device comprising a first transceiver;
a monitoring station to track location information of the first tracking device;
a user interface to remotely access the monitoring station, the user interface comprises;
i.) a graphical rendering of a keypad that comprises both numeric and letter designations; and
ii.) a tool useful to select a series of keystrokes on the graphical rendering of a keypad that substantially prevents unauthorized communication of the series of keystrokes;
wherein upon successful completion of a secure login process associated with the user interface, a first request signal is communicated to obtain location coordinates of a first tracking device;
wherein the first tracking device transmits a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code; and
wherein a second tracking device having a second transceiver to receive the first reply signal, compares the first identification code to a stored identification code, and communicates to the monitoring station a second reply signal that comprises the location coordinates of the first tracking device in part responsive to verification of the first identification code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising:
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a first tracking device having a first transceiver configured to receive a first request signal in response to successful completion of a secure login process on a keyboard rendering on a remote user terminal that is substantially untraceable by keystroke recording software, and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code; and
a second tracking device having a second transceiver that is configured to;
(i) receive the first reply signal;
(ii) compare the first identification code to a stored identification code;
(iii) determine location coordinates of the first tracking device; and
(iv) communicate a second reply signal that comprises the location coordinates to a monitoring station connected to the user terminal in part responsive to verification of the first identification code.
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6. A system comprising:
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a non-secure user interface to provide selective sharing of location information between users of an Internet accessible information database, the non-secure user interface to provide a graphical rendering of a keypad having keys that respond to numeric or letter entries and a tool configured to enter a user'"'"'s identification code and a user'"'"'s password on the keys of the keypad;
wherein the graphical rendering of the keypad and the tool substantially prevent entry of the user'"'"'s identification code and the user'"'"'s password being recorded without permission;
a first tracking device having a first transceiver to receive a first request signal and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises first location data in response to successful entry of the user'"'"'s identification code and the user'"'"'s password;
a first microprocessor to process a first request signal provided through the user interface, and a first identification code communicated as part of a first reply signal; and
a second tracking device having a second tracking transceiver to receive the first reply signal, and verify the first identification code as a recognized code, and in response communicate a second reply signal that comprises a second identification code to the first tracking device;
wherein the first tracking device calculates, in response to the second reply signal, a distance between the first and the second devices, and communicates an adjustment signal that comprises at least one of verbal and audio queues that indicates directional information of the first tracking device relative to the second tracking device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing a first mobile transceiver station to communicate between a first tracking device and a monitoring station;
providing a second mobile transceiver station to communicate between the first tracking device and the monitoring station;
providing a non-secure user interface to remotely access the monitoring station, the non-secure user interface having a graphical rendering of an input device that substantially prevents unauthorized recording of a user'"'"'s identification code and a user'"'"'s password during a login process from a non-secure user terminal;
selectively sharing account information of an Internet information database in response to successful completion of the login process with the authorized user;
providing a map and a designation tool to the authorized user to use in selecting a zone on the map;
communicating a first request by the authorized user for position coordinates of the first tracking device;
receiving the first request signal by the first tracking device; and
transmitting a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code in response to the first request signal;
wherein the first tracking device is adapted to receive a second identification code from the monitoring station and compares this code to a stored identification code, and upon determining that the second identification code matches the stored identification code, transmit its position coordinates to the monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for locating a tracking device, comprising:
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entering on a non-secure user webpage a user identification and a user'"'"'s password to access an location coordinate Internet database in a remote monitoring station that is securely selectively shared among authorized users;
wherein the user identification and the user'"'"'s password are substantially prevented from being recorded by unauthorized devices or software during an entry process on a keypad;
retrieving a user'"'"'s identification code from the location coordinate Internet database upon successful entry of the user identification and the user'"'"'s password;
activating the tracking device;
receiving a signal sent from the remote monitoring station to the tracking device, the signal including the user'"'"'s identification code;
recognizing the user'"'"'s identification code as a location request pertaining to the tracking device;
requesting positioning coordinates;
formatting a response to the location request including the positioning coordinates, the response including location data pertaining to the tracking device in part response to a level of the signal;
transmitting the response to a server; and
rendering the tracking device location within a map that contains a user-defined arbitrary shaped safe zone on a secure user webpage capable of remotely accessing the location coordinate Internet database. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of determining location via a tracking device associated with an individual or an object to be located, the method comprising:
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receiving a location request from a user in response to successful entry of a login identification code and password during a login process on a non-secure webpage;
wherein during the login process, the login identification code and password are substantially secured from being recorded by unauthorized recording devices;
activating a positioning apparatus associated with the tracking device;
transmitting to the tracking device;
a first signal from a monitoring station;
a second signal from a wireless location and tracking system;
a third signal from a mobile transceiver; and
a fourth signal from an adjacent tracking device;
determining which of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal match defined selection criteria stored in the tracking device;
determining location data in part based on a signal selected utilizing the defined selection criteria;
transmitting the location data to the monitoring station for analysis to determine a location of the tracking device; and
informing the user of the location of the tracking device on a map. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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a remote located monitoring station;
a non-secure wireless monitoring device associated with a remote user is capable of utilizing a non-secure user interface or a secure user interface to access the remote located monitoring station upon successful completion of a login process, the login process comprising entry of a user'"'"'s identification code and a user'"'"'s password on a keypad;
wherein the keypad has keys comprising both numeric and letter designations on at least one of the keys and the entry of the user'"'"'s identification code and the user'"'"'s password are substantially prevented from being recorded without permission in a memory location or by unauthorized software routines;
a first tracking device comprising a substantially opaque composite plastic outer shell that is substantially sealed from environmental conditions and has not exposed contacts or connectors;
wherein the first tracking device is capable of being remotely programmed and providing a wireless positioning signal to a monitoring station; and
a mapping apparatus provided as part of a secure web page that maps first location coordinates of the first tracking device on a map comprising an arbitrarily shaped safe zone;
wherein the remote user is capable of locating, tracking, and communicating with the first tracking device through a monitoring station; and
wherein the monitoring station is adapted to monitor the first location coordinates and second location coordinates of a second tracking device so that positioning information of each is accessible to the remote user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A device monitoring system comprising:
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a group of tracking devices receiving permission to utilize at least one other tracking device of the group of tracking devices for a specified time period to coordinate velocity and location coordinate information when at least one of the group of tracking devices is out of a line of site of a GPS tracking system;
location tables to store values of past and present location coordinates of the group of tracking devices;
a message queue to store messages to pass among members of the group of tracking devices; and
a zone management system to designate zones as safe zones or danger zones and to alert members of the group of tracking devices by email, phone, or text message if one of the group of tracking devices enters by more than an designated error margin at least one of the danger zones for a substantial period. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification