Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset

• US 7,292,159 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Tracking Systems, Inc. (5th Element Tracking LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Lawrence M., VanCleave, James P., Culpepper, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/270,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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

The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. Location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is then communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is then queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including a representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is then communicated to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.

Claims

1. A system for coordinated asset location comprising:

means adapted for receiving location data from a plurality of cellular transmitters each associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made;

means adapted for receiving identification data corresponding to a cellular transmitter associated with an asset;

means adapted for communicating received location data to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers;

means adapted for querying the database with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including data representative of a location of the selected asset;

means adapted for communicating the geographic tracking data to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset;

means adapted for storing history data representative of received location data and geographic tracking data for each of the plurality of cellular transmitters in a central repository of the associated security agency, the history data including data associated with each cellular transmitter from commencement of receiving location data for an asset and extending to recovery of the asset;

means adapted for storing service data associated with a service history corresponding to each cellular transmitter;

means adapted for isolating at least one party of interest relative to each cellular transmitter corresponding to stored history data in accordance with received identification data;

means adapted for prompting each party of interest in accordance with stored history data corresponding thereto;

means adapted for receiving into the associated security agency a request from each party of interest after prompting thereof;

means adapted for retrieving, from the central repository, history data corresponding to each isolated party of interest;

means adapted for selectively communicating history data from the associated security agency to each corresponding party of interest after receipt of a request therefrom; and

means adapted for communicating service data corresponding to each party of interest upon receipt of a request therefrom.

2. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 1, further comprising:

means adapted for periodically receiving updated location data;

means adapted for communicating the updated location data to the tracking service system so as to generate updated geographic location data therefrom; and

means adapted for communicating the updated geographic location data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of location of the selected asset.

3. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 2, further comprising:

means adapted for receiving a secondary tracking signal from a radio-frequency transmitter associated with the selected asset; and

means adapted for communicating the secondary tracking signal to at least one associated tracking vehicle.

4. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 3, further comprising means adapted for receiving tracking vehicle data from each associated tracking vehicle, which vehicle tracking data is representative of at least one of tracking vehicle location, tracking vehicle direction, tracking vehicle speed of, and signal strength of a vehicle'"'"'s received secondary tracking signal.

5. The system for coordinated asset location of claim 4, further comprising means adapted for communicating the tracking vehicle data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of a location of each associated tracking vehicle.

6. A method for coordinated asset location comprising the steps of:

receiving location data from a plurality of cellular transmitters each associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made;

receiving identification data corresponding to a cellular transmitter associated with an asset;

communicating received location data to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers;

querying the database with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including data representative of a location of the selected asset;

communicating the geographic tracking data to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset;

storing history data representative of received location data and geographic tracking data for each of the plurality of cellular transmitters in a central repository of the associated security agency, the history data including data associated with each cellular transmitter from commencement of receiving location data for an asset and extending to recovery of the asset;

storing service data associated with a service history corresponding to each tracking device;

isolating at least one party of interest relative to each cellular transmitter corresponding to stored history data in accordance with received identification data;

prompting each party of interest in accordance with stored history data corresponding thereto;

receiving into the associated security agency a request from each party of interest after prompting thereof;

retrieving, from the central repository, history data corresponding to each isolated party of interest;

selectively communicating history data and geographic tracking data from the associated security agency to each corresponding party of interest after receipt of a request therefrom; and

communicating service data corresponding to each party of interest upon receipt of a request therefrom.

7. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

periodically receiving updated location data;

communicating the updated location data to the tracking service system so as to generate updated geographic location data therefrom; and

communicating the updated geographic location data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of location of the selected asset.

8. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a secondary tracking signal from a radio-frequency transmitter associated with the selected asset; and

communicating the secondary tracking signal to at least one associated tracking vehicle.

9. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 8, further comprising the step of receiving tracking vehicle data from each associated tracking vehicle, which vehicle tracking data is representative of at least one of tracking vehicle location, tracking vehicle direction, tracking vehicle speed, and signal strength of a vehicle'"'"'s received secondary tracking signal.

10. The method for coordinated asset location of claim 9, further comprising the step of communicating the tracking vehicle data to the associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of updated images representative of a location of each associated tracking vehicle.