Remote tracking and communication device

• US 7,804,412 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Track Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SecureAlert Incorporated
• Inventors: Robidoux, Gerard E., Larson, Stephen N. D., Walker, Scott S., Boutet, Patrick Y. D., McNab, David S., Davidson, B. Kent, Langlois, Jean-Sebastien, Kalhok, David J., Derrick, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US12/028,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 34053911-53913, 340/693.1, 340/693.2, 340/692, 340/693.5, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 379 37- 39, 379/41, 379/45
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0258 System arrangements wherein both parent and child units can emit and receive
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A remote tracking and communication device comprising a housing which encloses a processor, a memory, a position locator, a first transmitter, and a second transmitter. Each of the latter components are electronically coupled to the processor. Both the first and second transmitters are adapted to send and receive wireless voice and data signals in a digital format. The device further comprises a first battery, which is removably affixed to the housing and electronically coupled to each component within the housing, a speaker and a microphone electronically coupled to the first transmitter, and a button electronically coupled to the processor. When pressed, the button is adapted to activate voice communications with a call center using the first transmitter.

Claims

1. A device for enabling a call center to perform remote tracking of and communication with a user, the device comprising:

a housing enclosing;

a processor;

a position locator electronically coupled to the processor;

an optical transmitter electronically coupled to the processor;

an optical receiver electronically coupled to the processor;

a first transmitter electronically coupled to the processor, the first transmitter being adapted to send and receive wireless voice and data signals; and

a speaker operable to play at least one of one or more audible messages or one or more audible tones from the processor and to enable voice communications using the first transmitter;

a microphone operable with the speaker to enable voice communications using the first transmitter;

a button in the housing, wherein the button is adapted to activate voice communications with the call center using the first transmitter; and

a tamper resistant strap coupled to the tracking device and adapted to affix the tracking device securely to the user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a primary battery removably connected to the device and providing power to the device, and a secondary battery enclosed in the housing providing power to the device when the primary battery is removed.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the primary battery is adapted to maintain the charge on the secondary battery when the primary battery is connected to the device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device notifies the user when the charge on the primary battery reaches a pre-determined level.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more audible messages or one or more audible tones are stored in a memory and are associated with a pre-defined alert condition and designated for playback using the speaker upon occurrence of the associated alert condition.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one of the one or more audible messages or one or more audible tones includes a voice message.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the device determines the occurrence of the pre-defined alert condition and in response, initiates the playback of the associated at least one of the one or more audible messages or one or more audible tones.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the pre-defined alert condition is a battery reaching a predetermined power level.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device determines a violation of one or more pre-programmed rules and in response, initiates voice communications with the call center.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the violation of the one or more pre-programmed rules is an indication that the strap has been tampered with.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the position locator is a GPS receiver.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is a cellular transceiver.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device provides the call center with a device-specific identifier and the call center creates entries in a database of data sent by the device specific to the device using the identifier.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the call center maintains the database of the data entries and associates the entries of the device with an administrator of the device.

15. A device for enabling a call center to perform remote tracking of and communication with a user, the device comprising:

a tamper-resistant housing;

a tamper resistant strap connected to the housing and securely holding the device to the user;

an internal battery providing power to the device, wherein the internal battery is within the tamper-resistant housing; and

a detachable battery removably secured to the tamper-resistant housing wherein the detachable battery is external to the tamper-resistant housing and provides power to the tracking device and charges the internal battery upon being secured to the tamper-resistant housing;

wherein the internal battery is adapted to provide power to the tracking device when the detachable battery is disconnected or depleted.

16. The device of claim 15, the housing further enclosing:

a processor;

an optical transmitter electronically coupled to the processor; and

an optical receiver electronically coupled to the processor.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the strap comprises an optical fiber extending from one end of the strap to the other end, the housing is adapted to receive both ends of the strap such that one end of the optical fiber is in alignment with the optical transmitter and the other end of the optical fiber is in alignment with the optical receiver.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein when both ends of the strap are affixed to the housing, the processor is adapted to monitor optical continuity through the fiber using the optical transmitter and the optical receiver.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein when both ends of the strap are affixed to the housing, the processor is adapted to monitor electrical continuity through a conductor.

20. The device of claim 15 further comprising a position locator including a GPS receiver.

21. The device of claim 15 further comprising a cellular transceiver being adapted to send and receive wireless voice and data signals.

22. The device of claim 21 further comprising a button, wherein the button is adapted to activate voice communications with the call center using the cellular transceiver.

23. A method comprising:

initiating an alert at a remote tracking device to notify a user of the device that a detachable battery has reached a predetermined power level;

the detachable battery being externally and removably secured to a tamper-resistant housing of the tracking device wherein upon being secured to the tamper-resistant housing, the detachable battery is electrically coupled to the tracking device and an internal battery of the tracking device;

removing the detachable battery wherein upon removal of the detachable battery the internal battery provides power to the tracking device;

recharging of the detachable battery by an external power source; and

securing the charged detachable battery to the tamper-resistant housing wherein upon being secured to the housing the detachable battery recharges the internal battery.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

processing data generated by the remote tracking device at the remote tracking device;

determining whether the data indicates that the tracking device is violating one or more pre-programmed rules; and

transmitting the processed data from the remote tracking device to a call center.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the violation of one or more pre-programmed rules comprises the detachable battery having reached the predetermined power level.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the violation of one or more pre-programmed rules comprises the internal battery having reached a second predetermined power level.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the pre-programmed rules are defined by an administrator of the tracking device.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising directly providing notification of the alert to the administrator.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein directly providing notification to an administrator of the remote tracking device includes the call center initiating voice communications with the administrator.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein initiating the alert at the remote tracking device includes the remote tracking device automatically initiating voice communications with the call center.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein initiating the alert at the remote tracking device includes activating a siren.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein initiating the alert at the remote tracking device includes playing a pre-recorded audio file.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the pre-recorded audio file comprises a pre-recorded voice message.

34. A method comprising:

initiating an alert at a remote tracking device to notify a user that a detachable battery has reached a predetermined power level;

the detachable battery being externally and removably secured to a tamper-resistant housing of the tracking device wherein upon being secured to the tamper-resistant housing of the tracking device, the detachable battery is electrically coupled to the tracking device and an internal battery of the tracking device;

removing the detachable battery wherein upon removal of the detachable battery the internal battery provides power to the tracking device;

reconnecting a charged detachable battery to the tamper-resistant housing wherein upon being secured to the housing the detachable battery recharges the internal battery; and

broadcasting a warning signal if the internal battery has reached a second predetermined power level.

35. A device for enabling a call center to perform remote tracking of and communication with a user, the device comprising:

a housing enclosing;

a processor;

a position locator electronically coupled to the processor;

a first transmitter electronically coupled to the processor, the first transmitter being adapted to send and receive wireless voice and data signals; and

a speaker operable to play pre-recorded messages from the processor and to enable voice communications using the first transmitter;

a microphone operable with the speaker to enable voice communications using the first transmitter;

a button in the housing, wherein the button is adapted to activate voice communications with the call center using the first transmitter;

a tamper resistant strap coupled to the tracking device and adapted to affix the tracking device securely to the user;

a primary battery removably connected to the device and providing power to the device; and

a secondary battery enclosed in the housing providing power to the device when the primary battery is removed.