Asset tracking apparatus and method

• US 6,975,222 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W, LLC
• Original Assignee: Baldev Krishan
• Inventors: Yee, Benjamin K., Lee, Huey K., Krishan, Baldev
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/394,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.31, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS

Abstract

An asset securing and tracking system (30) operates in conjunction with a wireless communication network (65) for tracking a portable asset (35). The system (30) includes a tracking device (31) adapted to be attached to the portable asset (35) and communicate with the wireless communication network (65). The tracking device (31) determines the location of the asset (35) using signals from GPS satellites (55) and the terrestrial wireless communication network (65). A monitoring station (32) receives and processes a location signal regarding the geographic location of the portable asset (35) from tracking device (31) via the wireless communication network (65).

Claims

1. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:

a geographic positioning device;

a radio frequency transceiver;

a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver; and

a lock for securing the apparatus to the object,

wherein said geographic positioning device, said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor, and said lock are embedded in the object.

2. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:

a geographic positioning device configured to be attached to the object;

a radio frequency transceiver;

a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver;

a lock for securing the apparatus to the object; and

a frame holding said geographic positioning device, said radio frequency transceiver, and said signal processor, said frame being adapted for being secured to the object with the lock, wherein said frame is attached to an interior of to the object.

3. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:

a geographic positioning device configured to be attached to the object;

a radio frequency transceiver;

a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver;

a lock for securing the apparatus to the object; and

a frame holding said geographic positioning device, said radio frequency transceiver, and said signal processor, said frame being adapted for being secured to the object with the lock, wherein said lock is configured to removably attach said frame to the object.

4. An apparatus for tracking an object, comprising:

a geographic positioning device configured to be attached to the object;

a radio frequency transceiver;

a signal processor coupled to said geographic positioning device and to said radio frequency transceiver, said signal processor being programmed to broadcast a location signal indicating a geographic location of the object determined by said geographic positioning device through said radio frequency transceiver;

a lock for securing the apparatus to the object; and

a user interface coupled to said signal processor, wherein said user interface includes a pattern recognition device.

5. A method for tracking a portable object, comprising:

embedding a tracking device in the portable object;

tracking a location of the portable object using a first plurality of signals from a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) satellites;

transmitting a location signal indicating the location of the portable object; and

receiving and processing the location signal at a monitoring station.