Wireless Tag And Auxiliary Device For Use With Home Monitoring Unit For Tracking Individuals or Objects

• US 20080055109A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Satellite Tracking of People LLC (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Logan, Steven, Freathy, Stephen, Pridmore, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.49
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention is directed to a wireless location tracking device or tag and auxiliary device for use with a home monitoring unit for tracking individuals or objects. The location tracking device has position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to an auxiliary device (or HMU). The auxiliary device has second short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location. The tracking device can have a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state. The tracking device can also have a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state. The remote location can include a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device via the auxiliary device. The monitoring station can direct the tracking device to switch operational modes. In the alternative (e.g., in cases where the tag is unable to contact the CMS) the tag can maintain list of approved auxiliary devices and the tag can make the determination on whether or not switch operational modes.

Claims

1. A location tracking device for use with an auxiliary device, the tracking device comprising:

position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to an auxiliary device wherein the auxiliary device has second short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location.

2. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state.

3. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes signal strength circuitry associated with the first short range wireless circuitry and the tracking device can determine whether radio energy received by the first short range wireless circuitry is below a predetermined threshold.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the tracking device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry and the tracking device minimizes contention for frequencies or time slots associated with the first short range wireless circuitry.

5. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device via the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes.

6. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary device is a home monitoring unit having a housing and tamper detection circuitry that detects unauthorized movement or opening of the auxiliary device.

7. The tracking device of claim 6 wherein the tracking device communicates with the home monitoring unit and a passive auxiliary device having third short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device thereby extending the range of the home monitoring unit.

8. An auxiliary device for use with a location tracking device, the auxiliary device comprising:

second short range wireless circuitry that communicates with a location tracking device and long range wireless circuitry that communicates with a remote location,

wherein the location device has position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to the auxiliary device.

9. The auxiliary device of claim 8 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device via the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes.

10. The auxiliary device of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary device is a home monitoring unit having a housing and tamper detection circuitry that detects unauthorized movement or opening of the auxiliary device.

11. The auxiliary device of claim 10 wherein the tracking device communicates with the home monitoring unit and a passive auxiliary device having third short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device thereby extending the range of the home monitoring unit.

12. The auxiliary device of claim 10 wherein the auxiliary device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry and the auxiliary device minimizes contention for frequencies or time slots associated with the second short range wireless circuitry.

13. A location tracking system comprising:

a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device,

an auxiliary device having second short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the tracking device includes signal strength circuitry associated with the first short range wireless circuitry and the tracking device can determine whether radio energy received by the first short range wireless circuitry is below a predetermined threshold.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the tracking device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry and the tracking device minimizes contention for frequencies or time slots associated with the first short range wireless circuitry.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device via the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary device is a home monitoring unit having a housing and tamper detection circuitry that detects unauthorized movement or opening of the auxiliary device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tracking device communicates with the home monitoring unit and a passive auxiliary device having third short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device thereby extending the range of the home monitoring unit.

20. A location tracking method comprising:

providing a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device,

providing an auxiliary device having second short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state and a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the tracking device includes signal strength circuitry associated with the first short range wireless circuitry and the tracking device can determine whether radio energy received by the first short range wireless circuitry is below a predetermined threshold.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the tracking device includes at least one of time slot allocation circuitry and frequency allocation circuitry and the tracking device minimizes contention for frequencies or time slots associated with the first short range wireless circuitry.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the remote location comprises a monitoring station that communicates with the tracking device via the auxiliary device, wherein the monitoring station directs the tracking device to switch operational modes.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the tracking device communicates with the home monitoring unit and a passive auxiliary device having third short range wireless circuitry that communicates with the tracking device thereby extending the range of the home monitoring unit.