Tracking system and associated method
First Claim
1. An apparatus (10, 26) for tracking a movable asset (16) and providing tracking information to a monitoring device (22), including:
- a tracker tag (12) adapted to selectively receive position and time data from multiple global positioning system satellites (240) of a global positioning system satellite constellation (24), the position data representing a position of each global positioning system satellite from which data was received with respect to center of Earth (37) and the time data representing a time of day associated with the position data, the tracker tag disposed along an exterior of the movable asset at a location facilitating reception of the position and time data, the tracker tag combining the position and time data from the multiple global positioning system satellites for selectively transmitting combined position and time data via a data communication network (18), wherein the tracker tag is adapted to receive command and control information via the data communication network, wherein the tracker tag is electrically isolated from the asset and inoperative from equipment associated with the asset; and
a tracking information server (14) for command and control of the tracker tag, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively transmit command and control information to the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to receive combined position and time data from the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively receive command and control information from the monitoring device via a tracking information network (20), wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively process the combined position and time data based on preprogrammed instructions and command and control information to produce the tracking information, wherein the tracking information is associated with the asset and selectively accessible to the monitoring device via the tracking information network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tracking system (10) for tracking movable assets (16) and a method for using the system are provided. The tracking system includes a monitoring device (22), a tracking information network (20), a data communication network (18), a tracker tag (12), and a tracking information server (14). The tracker tag operates independent from the asset and uses GPS technology. The tracking information server provides tracking information and related information to a subscriber. The method is for tracking the movable asset and providing tracking information to the subscriber. In one embodiment, the tracker tag is in communication with an Iridium satellite constellation (28) and the tracking information is displayed to the subscriber when the asset is substantially anywhere in the world. In another embodiment, the monitoring device is in communication with the Iridium satellite constellation and the tracking information is displayed to the subscriber when the subscriber is substantially anywhere in the world, preferably via the Internet (36).
188 Citations
60 Claims
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1. An apparatus (10, 26) for tracking a movable asset (16) and providing tracking information to a monitoring device (22), including:
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a tracker tag (12) adapted to selectively receive position and time data from multiple global positioning system satellites (240) of a global positioning system satellite constellation (24), the position data representing a position of each global positioning system satellite from which data was received with respect to center of Earth (37) and the time data representing a time of day associated with the position data, the tracker tag disposed along an exterior of the movable asset at a location facilitating reception of the position and time data, the tracker tag combining the position and time data from the multiple global positioning system satellites for selectively transmitting combined position and time data via a data communication network (18), wherein the tracker tag is adapted to receive command and control information via the data communication network, wherein the tracker tag is electrically isolated from the asset and inoperative from equipment associated with the asset; and a tracking information server (14) for command and control of the tracker tag, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively transmit command and control information to the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to receive combined position and time data from the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively receive command and control information from the monitoring device via a tracking information network (20), wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively process the combined position and time data based on preprogrammed instructions and command and control information to produce the tracking information, wherein the tracking information is associated with the asset and selectively accessible to the monitoring device via the tracking information network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A tracking system (170, 176), including:
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a monitoring device (22) for displaying tracking information associated with a movable asset (16); a tracking information network (20) in communication with the monitoring device for communicating the tracking information to the monitoring device; a data communication network (18); a tracker tag (12) adapted to selectively receive position and time data from multiple global positioning system satellites (240) of a global positioning system satellite constellation (24), the position data representing a position of each global positioning system satellite from which data was received with respect to center of Earth (37) and the time data representing a time of day associated with the position data, the tracker tag disposed along an exterior of the movable asset at a location facilitating reception of the position and time data, the tracker tag combining the position and time data from the multiple global positioning system satellites for selectively transmitting combined position and time data via the data communication network, wherein the tracker tag receives command and control information via the data communication network; and a tracking information server (14) for command and control of the tracker tag, wherein the tracking information server selectively transmits command and control information to the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server receives combined position and time data from the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server selectively receives command and control information from the monitoring device via the tracking information network, wherein the tracking information server selectively processes the combined position and time data to produce the tracking information, wherein the tracking information is selectively accessible to the monitoring device via the tracking information network. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for tracking a movable asset and providing tracking information to a subscriber, including the steps:
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a) associating the subscriber with a tracker tag and the tracker tag with the moveable asset, wherein the tracker tag is disposed along an exterior of the movable asset at a location in which the tracker tag has line of sight access to the sky during normal movement of the asset, wherein the tracker tag is electrically isolated from the asset and inoperative from equipment associated with the asset; b) granting the subscriber using a monitoring device access to a Web site via a tracking information network, wherein the Web site includes at least one tracking information Web page that displays a map suitable for monitoring movement of the asset; c) receiving position and time data from at least four global positioning system satellites of a global positioning system satellite constellation at the tracker tag, the position data representing a position of each global positioning system satellite from which data was received with respect to center of Earth and the time data representing a time of day associated with the position data; d) communicating the position and time data to a tracking information server via a data communication network; e) processing the position and time data in a trilateration fashion to produce XYZ and time data, the XYZ data representing a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude, respectively, and the time data representing a time of day associated with the XYZ data; f) displaying the XYZ and time data on the at least one Web page and overlaying a symbol on the map at a coordinate associated with the XYZ data; and g) repeating steps c) through f) for a predetermined time at a predetermined interval. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification