Global cellular position tracking device

• US 6,388,612 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Neher
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Neher
• Inventors: Neher, Timothy J
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US09/536,009
• Time in Patent Office: 779 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 370/312, 370/313, 370/479, 63/31, 63/7, 63/11, 63/153, 224/164, D10/32, D11/87
• US Class Current: 342/357.54
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A global positioning and tracking system for locating objects including a plurality of tracking devices each releasably secured to an object and a central monitoring station. Each tracking device includes a processing device for storing an identification code unique to the tracking device, determining a location of the tracking device and generating a position signal based upon the determined location, a cellular transmitter/receiver for receiving and initiating cellular transmissions. The central monitoring station receives a location request and identification code from a user and initiates a cellular transmission including the identification code to a telephone number assigned to the tracking units. Upon receipt of the cellular transmission each tracking unit compares the identification code with its stored identification code. The tracking unit with a stored identification code determined to match the received identification code generates and transmits a position signal to the central monitoring station via cellular transmission channels. The central monitoring station then relays the position signal to the user. The user is able to provide a location request to the central monitoring station by at least one of a telephone communication and an electronic message via an Internet connection. Each tracking device is also able to generate a distress signal for transmission to the central monitoring unit upon detection of an emergency situation or automatically upon breaking of the circuit of the tracking unit.

Claims

1. A global positioning and tracking system for locating an object, said global positioning and tracking system comprising:

a) a tracking device releasably secured to the object including;

iv) a processing device for storing an identification code, determining a location of the tracking device and generating a position signal;

v) a cellular receiver for receiving cellular transmissions to a telephone number specific to the at least one tracking device; and

vi) a cellular transmitter for transmitting said position signal;

b) a central monitoring station for receiving a location request and identification code from a user and initiating said cellular transmission including the identification code, wherein upon receipt of said cellular transmission and identification code said at least one tracking unit will compare the identification code with said stored identification code and upon determining said stored identification code matches said received identification code generating said transmitting said position signal to said central monitoring station via cellular transmission channels, said central monitoring station relaying said position signal to the user upon receipt; and

c) a decorative face plate forming part of a wrist band within which said tracking device is mounted, said decorative face plate including first and second bands of rigid inflexible material extending from opposite sides of said face plate forming a loop for surrounding a portion of the object, the free end of one band including a pair of prong shafts for locking the first and second bands together, one of said bands having a hinged section extending from the free end thereof;

wherein said processing device, cellular receiver and said cellular transmitter are embedded within said face plate; and

a transmission wire extends from one end of said face plate through said first and second bands to the opposite end of said face plate for completing a circuit in said processing device so that when said first and second bands are apart said tracking unit is non-functional and when said first and second bands are engaged said tracking unit is functional, and said wrist band including the decorative face plate and bands being free of any electronic display, said device lacking any visible indication of its function.

2. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tracking units, each tracking unit storing a unique identification code.

3. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of tracking units are all assigned a general telephone number for receiving communications from said central monitoring station.

4. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 3, wherein said central monitoring station includes a data base for storing identification codes of all of said plurality of tracking devices, said central monitoring station comparing said identification codes received with the location request to said identification codes stored in said data base for determining if an identification code received with a location request is valid prior to initiating a cellular transmission.

5. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 3, wherein said processing means of each of said plurality of tracking devices further includes a memory for storing said unique identification code.

6. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of tracking devices includes a means for generating a distress signal for transmission to said central monitoring station upon detection of an emergency situation.

7. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of tracking devices further includes a switch for activating said means for generating a distress signal.

8. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user is able to provide a location request to said central monitoring station by at least one of a telephone communication and an electronic message via an Internet connection.

9. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 8, wherein said central monitoring station will provide said position signal to the user as a voice message when said location request is provided via a telephone communication.

10. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 8, wherein said central monitoring station will provide said position signal to the user as an electronic message over an Internet connection when said location request is provided via an electronic message.

11. The global positioning and tracking system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one tracking device is made of at least one of high tensile strength plastic fiber and stainless steel.