System and method for tracking and monitoring prisoners using impulse radio technology

• US 6,489,893 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDC Acquisition Holdings, Inc (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Payment, Timothy T., Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W., Welch, William D. Jr., Tucker, William J., Kelly, Donald A., Finn, James S., Meigs, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/709,956
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/573.7, 340/539, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/991
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/76 wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method are provided that utilize the communication capabilities and positioning capabilities of impulse radio technology to overcome the shortcomings in conventional prison monitoring systems. Basically, the present invention enables prison personnel to track the movements of a prisoner and/or monitor the vital signs of a prisoner using impulse radio technology that is well suited for a prison environment.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and monitoring a prisoner, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an ultra wideband impulse radio unit to the prisoner;

determining a position of the prisoner from the interaction between the ultra wideband impulse radio unit and at least two of a plurality of reference ultra widehand impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout a prison;

receiving, at a central station, information from the ultra wideband impulse radio unit relating to the prisoner;

displaying, at the central station, at least a portion of the information relating to the prisoner including the position of the prisoner within the prison; and

using the ultra widehand impulse radio unit and another ultra widehand impulse radio unit at the central station to establish two-way communications between prison personnel at the central station and the prisoner, wherein the ultra wideband impulse radio unit is used to determine the position of the prisoner and also used to establish the two-way communications between the prison personnel and the prisoner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the prisoner includes a vital sign of the prisoner.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of tracking the prisoner within a prison.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying further includes indicating an alarm whenever the prisoner roams outside of an authorized location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying further includes indicating an alarm whenever the prisoner tampers with the ultra wideband impulse radio unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said reference ultra wideband impulse radio units further supports an ultra wideband impulse radar operation which enables the at least one reference ultra wideband impulse radio unit to sense the movement of another person not carrying an ultra wideband impulse radio unit within the prison.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using further includes enabling the prison personnel using the central station to eavesdrop on the prisoner.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using further includes enabling the prison personnel using the central station to notify the prisoner using the ultra wideband impulse radio unit that a rule has been violated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using further includes enabling the prison personnel using the central station to verify the identity of the prisoner using voice recognition technology.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling a sensor to the ultra wideband impulse radio unit, wherein the sensor is capable of monitoring at least one vital sign of the prisoner.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said prison personnel using a mobile ultra wideband impulse radio unit can interact with other prison personnel using the central station.

12. A system, comprising:

an ultra wideband impulse radio unit, attached to a prisoner, capable of transmitting a signal containing information relating to the prisoner;

a plurality of reference ultra wideband impulse radio units distributed at known locations throughout a prison at least two of which interact with the ultra wideband impulse radio unit to enable the determination of a position of the prisoner;

a central station capable of obtaining the information and further capable of displaying at least a portion of the information relating to the prisoner including the position of the prisoner within the prison; and

said central station including an ultra wideband impulse radio unit that interacts with the ultra wideband impulse radio unit attached to the prisoner to establish two-way communications between prison personnel at the central station and the prisoner, wherein the ultra wideband impulse radio unit attached to the prisoner is used to determine the position of the prisoner and also used to establish the two-way communications between the prison personnel and the prisoner.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a sensor, coupled to the ultra wideband impulse radio unit, capable of monitoring at least one vital sign of the prisoner.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said central station is further capable of indicating an alarm whenever the prisoner roams outside of an authorized location.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said central station is further capable of indicating an alarm whenever the prisoner tampers with the ultra wideband impulse radio unit.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of said reference ultra wideband impulse radio units further supports an ultra wideband impulse radar operation which enables the at least one reference ultra wideband impulse radio unit to sense the movement of another person not carrying an ultra wideband impulse radio unit within the prison.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein prison personnel using the central station are capable of eavesdropping on the prisoner.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein prison personnel using the central station are capable of notifying the prisoner that a rule has been violated.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein prison personnel using the central station are capable of verifying the identity of the prisoner using voice recognition technology.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said prison personnel using a mobile ultra wideband impulse radio unit can interact with the central station.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a fastening mechanism operable to attach said apparatus to a prisoner;

an ultra wideband impulse radio unit, coupled to said fastening mechanism, operable to interact with a plurality of reference ultra wideband impulse radio units such that prison personnel can track a position of the prisoner, wherein the position of the prisoner is determined by;

synchronizing the reference ultra wideband impulse radio units;

synchronizing the ultra wideband impulse radio unit to the synchronized reference ultra wideband impulse radio units;

collecting and time-tagging range measurements between the ultra wideband impulse radio unit and at

least two of the reference ultra wideband impulse radio units; and

calculating the position of the prisoner within a prison carrying the electronic monitor containing the ultra wideband impulse radio unit using the collected and time-tagged range measurements; and

an interface unit operatively coupled to said wideband impulse radio unit which interacts with a remote central station including an ultra wideband impulse radio unit to establish two-way communications between prison personnel at the central station and the prisoner, wherein the ultra wideband impulse radio unit attached to the prisoner is used to determine the position of the prisoner and also used to establish the two-way communications between the prison personnel and the prisoner.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a sensor, coupled to said ultra wideband impulse radio unit, operable to monitor at least one vital sign of the prisoner.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an interface unit operable to sound an alarm whenever the prisoner roams outside of an authorized location.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said interface unit is operable to sound an alarm whenever the prisoner tampers with the apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said interface unit enables prison personnel to eavesdrop on the prisoner.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said interface unit enables prison personnel to verify the identity of the prisoner using voice recognition technology.