Remote tracking and communication device

• US 8,031,077 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Track Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SecureAlert Incorporated
• Inventors: Robidoux, Gerard E., Kalhok, David J., Larson, Stephen N. D., Walker, Scott S., Boutet, Patrick Y. D., McNab, David S., Davidson, B. Kent, Langlois, Jean-Sebastien, Derrick, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/875,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 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;

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

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; and

tamper detection circuitry contained at least partially within the housing and operably coupled to the processor, the tamper detection circuitry being operably configured to detect a discontinuity in one or more circuits passing outside of the housing and that form part of the tamper detection circuitry;

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 housing of the tracking device and adapted to affix the tracking device securely to the user;

a first circuit element passing through the length of the tamper resistant strap, the first circuit element composing a part of the tamper detection circuitry that is contained at least partially within the housing; and

a second circuit element passing through the length of the tamper resistant strap, the second circuit element composing a part of the tamper detection circuitry that is contained at least partially within the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second circuit elements are separated within the tamper resistant strap.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second circuit elements are composed of different materials.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second circuit elements are configured to carry different types of circuit signals.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first circuit element is an optical fiber.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second circuit element is an electrically conductive material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuitry includes at least one optical receiver and at least one light emitter coupled to at least one of the first and second circuit elements.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuitry includes at least one electrical signal emitter and at least electrical signal receiver coupled to at least one of the first and second circuit elements.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuitry includes:

at least one electrical signal emitter and at least electrical signal receiver coupled to the first circuit element; and

at least one optical receiver and at least one light emitter coupled to the second circuit element.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuitry monitors signal continuity through a first circuit, which includes the first circuit element, and through a second circuit, which includes the second circuit element.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the tamper detection circuitry also monitors continuity through a third circuit which includes a fastener that is affixed to the housing or which uses the fastener to complete the third circuit.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one fastener is a screw.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the screw is connected to the housing in such a way as to help affix a pressure block to the housing.

14. 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;

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; and

tamper detection circuitry contained within the housing and operably coupled to the processor, the tamper detection circuitry being operably configured to detect a discontinuity in one or more circuits of the tamper detection circuitry;

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 housing of the tracking device and adapted to affix the tracking device securely to the user; and

a fastener which composes part of, and thereby serves to complete, a circuit of the tamper detection circuitry, wherein the fastener is affixed to the housing in such a way as to connect the tamper resistant strap to the housing.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device further includes a pressure block to interconnect the housing and the tamper resistant strap.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a screw which is used to mount the pressure block to the housing.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device further includes:

a first circuit element passing through the length of the tamper resistant strap and being connected to the tamper detection circuitry.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device further includes:

a second circuit element passing through the length of the tamper resistant strap and being connected to the tamper detection circuitry and which is offset from the first circuit element within the tamper resistant strap.

19. A method comprising:

using a tracking device to identify an alarm condition, wherein the tracking device comprises;

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, between the tracking device and a call center, 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 a user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the alarm condition is identified in response to at least one of the following:

detecting the tracking device is located within a particular exclusion zone;

detecting the tracking device is located outside of a particular inclusion zone;

or

the tracking device has been or is being tampered with.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further includes initiating an alert at the tracking device in response to the alarm condition.