Antenna orientation maintaining system in a system for tracking individuals, and method of use

• US 6,646,617 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corrisoft, LLC
• Original Assignee: Isecuretrac
• Inventors: Gaukel, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/040,544
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/718, 343/765, 343/882, 343/880, 455/575, 455/90, 455/100
• US Class Current: 343/765
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

Disclosed is a multiple antenna, and/or gimbaled antenna system mounting system for maintaining electromagnetic signal reception means of an antenna system present in a remote unit in a global positioning system (GPS) based system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individual(s) from a central control station (CCS), in an essentially constant desired orientation with respect to an earth orbiting satellite source of electromagnetic signals, when, in use, change occurs in the orientation of a structural frame element of the remote unit to which the antenna system is, via the multiple and/or gimbaled antenna system mounting system, mounted.

Claims

1. At least two antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station (CCS);

said system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station (CCS) comprising a remote unit (RU), said remote unit (RU) comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system (GPS) means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite;

said remote unit (RU) further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit (CPU);

at least two of said at least two antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means being present on different sides of the plurality of sides of said non-body worn bag housing, such that the structural frame element thereof can be rotated about at least one axis with at least one of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means being positioned to maintain signal reception contact with at least one earth orbiting satellite;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation about said at least one axis, reception of global positioning system (GPS) electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite is maintained.

2. At least two antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of a monitored individual from a central control station (CCS) as in claim 1, wherein said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprises a programmable central processing unit (CPU) with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit (CPU) being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit (RU) position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station (CCS) via a downlink;

said remote unit further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit (CPU) so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit (RU) to the central control station (CCS) and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station (CCS) and providing said data to the central processing unit (CPU).

3. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station (CCS) comprising one or more remote units (RU), each said remote unit (RU) comprising a non-body worn bag, said non-body worn bag comprising a housing with a plurality of sides and a structural frame element, which non-body worn bag contains therein a global positioning system (GPS) means for determining the geographic position thereof at determined times by use of electromagnetic wave signals received from at least one earth orbiting satellite, each said remote unit (RU) further comprising a monitored individual body worn element which, in use, communicates its presence to said non-body worn bag contained programmable central processing unit (CPU);

said gimbal mounted antenna system being comprised of electromagnetic signal reception means affixed to a gimbaled stage, said gimbaled stage being affixed to an upper end of an elongated arm which has a counter-weight affixed to a lower end thereof, said elongated arm being pivotally mounted to said non-body worn bag structural frame element, such that said non-body worn bag structural frame element can be rotated without affecting an essentially constant orientation of said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means;

such that in use when said non-body worn bag structural frame element changes orientation, said antenna system electromagnetic signal reception means orientation is maintained thereby allowing continued reception of global positioning system (GPS) electromagnetic wave signals from at least one earth orbiting satellite.

4. A gimbal mounted antenna system in functional combination with a remote unit of a system for continuous electronic monitoring and tracking of monitored individuals from a central control station (CCS) as in claim 3;

wherein each said remote unit non-body worn bag further comprises a programmable central processing unit (CPU) with accompanying memory storage which is connected to the position determining means, said central processing unit (CPU) being programmed to generate time stamps and accumulate time stamped remote unit (RU) position signal data at determined time intervals, and transmit said accumulated position signal and time stamped data to the central control station (CCS) via a downlink;

each said remote unit each further comprising communication means connected to the programmable central processing unit (CPU) so as to enable transmitting data from the remote unit (RU) to the central control station (CS) and further enabling the receiving of data from the central control station (CCS) and providing said data to the central processing unit (CPU).