Energy conserving satellite tracking tag
First Claim
1. A tracking tag for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from an orbiting global positioning satellite and for communicating with a tracking system, the tag being electrically engagable with an external power supply and a battery power supply, the tag comprising:
- a) a receiver having an antenna for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite;
b) a customer ID module for generating a unique tag identification signal;
c) a transponder having an antenna for receiving radio frequency command signals from the tracking system;
d) a power circuit for electrically engaging the battery power supply and the external power supply;
e) a programmable microprocessor in electrical communication with the power circuit, receiver, customer ID module, and transponder, the microprocessor being operative to receive the location data signal, the identification signal, the command signals, and to produce a composite output signal representative of tag identification and location, the transponder being further operative to transmit the composite output signal by radio carrier wave to the tracking system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy conserving tracking tag for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from a global positioning satellite and for communicating with a tracking system. The tag includes a receiver circuit for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite, a customer ID module for generating a unique tag identification signal, a transponder circuit for receiving command signals from the tracking system, and a power circuit electrically engageable with a battery power supply and an external power source. The tag also includes a programmable microprocessor in electrical communication with the power circuit, receiver circuit, customer ID module, and transponder circuit. The microprocessor is operative to collect the location data signal, the identification signal, and the command signals, and subsequently produce an composite output signal. The transponder is further operative to transmit the composite output signal to the tracking system by radio carrier wave.
108 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A tracking tag for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from an orbiting global positioning satellite and for communicating with a tracking system, the tag being electrically engagable with an external power supply and a battery power supply, the tag comprising:
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a) a receiver having an antenna for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite;
b) a customer ID module for generating a unique tag identification signal;
c) a transponder having an antenna for receiving radio frequency command signals from the tracking system;
d) a power circuit for electrically engaging the battery power supply and the external power supply;
e) a programmable microprocessor in electrical communication with the power circuit, receiver, customer ID module, and transponder, the microprocessor being operative to receive the location data signal, the identification signal, the command signals, and to produce a composite output signal representative of tag identification and location, the transponder being further operative to transmit the composite output signal by radio carrier wave to the tracking system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for regulating the operating mode of a tracking tag in response to sensed on-board power conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining whether the tag is powered by an external power supply;
b) selectively operating the tag in an external power mode in response to a determination that the tag is powered by the external power supply;
c) selectively operating the tag in a battery conserving mode in response to a determination that the tag is powered by the external power supply;
d) wherein the step of operating the tag in the external power mode comprises the steps of;
i) continuously activating a receiver for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from a global positioning satellite;
ii) continuously activating a transponder for receiving radio frequency command signals from a tracking system;
iii) continuously activating a customer ID module electrically connected to the tag for generating a unique tag identification signal;
iv) collecting the location data signal and the tag identification signal in response to an intermittent standard timer signal from a timing circuit;
v) producing a radio frequency composite output signal contemporaneously representative of tag location for transmission to the tracking system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for regulating the operating mode of a tracking tag in response to sensed on-board power conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining whether the tag is powered by an external power supply;
b) selectively operating the tag in an external power mode in response to a determination that the tag is powered by the external power supply;
c) selectively operating the tag in a battery conserving mode in response to a determination that the tag is powered by the external power supply;
d) wherein the step of operating the tag in the battery conserving mode further comprises the steps of;
i) powering the tag from a battery power supply;
ii) intermittently generating a battery time signal from a timing circuit;
iii) activating a receiver in response to the battery time signal for receiving a location data signal from a global positioning satellite;
iv) activating a customer ID module electrically connected to the tag in response to the battery time signal for generating a unique tag identification signal;
v) collecting the location data signal and the tag identification signal in response to activation of the receiver and the customer ID module;
vi) producing a composite output signal contemporaneously representative of tag location;
vii) activating a transponder for transmitting the composite output signal by radio carrier wave to a tracking system;
viii) disabling the receiver, the customer ID module, and the transponder until a subsequent battery time signal is generated by the timing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for regulating the operating mode of a tracking tag in response to sensed on-board power conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining whether the tag is powered from an external power source;
b) selectively operating the tag in an external power mode when it is determined that the tag is powered by the external power source, the external power mode comprising the steps of;
i) continuously activating a receiver for receiving a location data signal from a global positioning satellite;
ii) continuously activating a transponder for receiving radio frequency command signals from a tracking system;
iii) continuously activating a customer ID module electrically connected to the tag for generating a unique tag identification signal;
iv) collecting the location data signal and the tag identification signal in response to an intermittent standard timer signal from a timing circuit;
v) producing a radio frequency composite output signal representative of tag identification and location for transmission to the tracking system; and
c) operating the tag in a battery conserving mode when it is determined that the tag is not engaged with the external power supply, the battery conserving mode comprising the steps of;
i) powering the tag from a battery power supply;
ii) continuously activating a receiver for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite;
iii) continuously activating a customer ID module electrically connected to the tag for generating a unique tag identification signal;
iv) continuously activating a transponder for receiving radio frequency command signals from tracking system by radio carrier wave;
v) collecting the location data signal and the tag identification signal in response to an intermittent battery time signal from a timing circuit; and
vi) producing a radio frequency composite output signal representative of tag identification and location for transmission to the tracking system. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification